Nyanko's Basket

( The evidence )

HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT NUMBER 220.52 THERE NOW~ [Edit: I did the whole cycling business, including detours but not including stops, in 19 hours, 36 minutes and 9 seconds - too slow for the one-day STP though]

It was an awesome two days of cycling, even though my legs actually got so painful during the last 25 miles that I just couldn't stop cycling. ^^;; I also don't particularly want to see a bridge, a railroad crossing or a hill for the next few days. :P

Some of the highlights:

- I slept in a church on Saturday night! Unfortunately, due to a mixup, my sleeping bag went straight to Portland, so I slept for about 2 hours on the floor and then wandered over to a couch where I fell fast asleep even while people were moving around and talking. ^^;; But at least it proves that thanks to my NS training I can sleep anywhere XD

- There are towns with interesting names in Washington, such as Winlock, Roy, Castle Rock (which has no castles or rocks), Yelm, Spanaway, Centralia, Tenino, Chehalis and the town that wins the award for the most unique name I've ever heard of, Vader. Yes, you heard that right. No, I don't know whether it has any relation/connection to Darth Vader or Star Wars.

- Cycling across the Lewis & Clark bridge into Oregon was a really cool experience. The Gold Wing escorts, as well as police, stopped traffic completely on one lane just to let us go over the bridge, and it was a long climb up followed by a fast downhill over expansion joints and then a ramp onto Highway 30 in Oregon. I think I did about 26-27 mph on my bicycle. ^^;

- Surprisingly enough, my bicycle didn't give any major mechanical problems at all during the whole race (apart from an issue involving my saddlebag, my helmet and my brakes). I feel bad for the people who had mechanical problems though. One guy apparently had 3 flat tires on the first day and a fourth one just 15 miles from the finish line. :( And, of course, there was a pretty serious accident, although I think I missed it completely...

- I have a nice tan starting from just above my knees down my legs, which I blame on wearing cycling shorts. >_> No, I won't post pictures of the tan. :P

- There were a lot of very helpful volunteers, including quite a few 8-year old girls selling lemonade on the way. I also think I bought at least 6 or 7 bottles of Gatorade and related things to get me through some of the hills, including THE HILL (tm) - which is a 1 mile climb, and I'm proud to say that I made it up that hill without walking. :)

- The youngest cyclist was 6 years old and he was riding his own bicycle. I have no idea how old the oldest participant was, but I did see several people in their 50s and 60s.

- I saw quite a few cows, horses and other livestock, and some very lovely countryside and farms. I didn't see any Cows though. :P

If When I do STP next year, though, I'm definitely getting a road bike at least 6 months in advance~

So on Saturday I did my last major training for STP by cycling about 55 miles in total in 6 and a half hours. I originally intended to cycle all the way to Snoqualmie Falls, but due to a combination of factors (starting late, missing several turnoffs, going up the wrong trail and not wanting to start cycling back in pitch-black darkness) I turned around somewhere along the Preston-Fall City road (which I'd say was about 60-70% of the way there).

It was an interesting experience, and I ended up with a pretty good idea of how well I can pace myself. I also feel like I tested my endurance, especially when cycling along the Sunset-Preston "trail" (which was actually a somewhat bumpy gravel road), and the High Point Way into Preston, which had several hills and not much shade (this was around 3-4 pm in the afteroon). :P

After meeting itsacz for dinner in Issaquah, I started back and had a pretty interesting experience going along the I-90 trail (with headlights, since it was dark by then) and then climbing up 148th Ave SE past BCC and heading straight home. I can't believe I cycled on the road and merged lanes successfully. :o

Among things I saw on the way there and back:
- An Aerio parked along Main Street (in Bellevue), which reminded me of someone's car quite a bit. :P
- There were several police cars parked in Issaquah outside a police station right next to a no-parking sign. >_> This also made it hard for me to cycle around them since there was oncoming traffic
- There are a lot of hills, especially on the way to the Lake Sammamish parkway.

Next time, I definitely need to start earlier. :P