Today was another easy day, by bike riding standards. We weren't in any hurry this morning, and Lea fixed waffles with fresh strawberries for breakfast. Dennis had decided not to ride today, as his son Adam was graduating from high school in Wenatchee in the evening, and he and Lea planned to head home by mid-morning. So we re-packed everything, putting into the bike bag and a small backpack what Dave and I would need for a night on our own. Lea drove us to Dave’s office, where we checked out my bike and adjusted the new seat and toe clips. Then we waved good-bye to our faithful support and struck out on our own.
But it didn’t really feel like we were going off on a big trip alone, because today’s ride covered our regular training ground.
We followed the Greenway trail along the Naches River to where it flowed into the Yakima River, then turned south along the Yakima.
It was a beautiful morning, and we reminded ourselves to stop and take pictures, something we knew we might forget, since we’re so familiar with the scenery. We cruised along with a nice tailwind as far as the Arboretum, then followed Highway 24 east for a short distance before turning south again along the river.
Near Union Gap, we stopped to take a picture and heard some bird cries overhead. Looking up, we saw a big bird – an osprey? – with a small fish in its talons. But it was just circling around, crying, not taking its food anywhere. Then a bald eagle rose from a tree across the river and flew toward the osprey with the obvious intention of stealing the fish. The two flew around each other, diving and evading, making noises all the while. It was something to watch! Then another osprey flew at the eagle and managed to chase it away, after which the bird with the fish flew on across the river. We guessed that it had a nest somewhere over there. What a thing to have been able to watch! In a car, we would never have even noticed.
Through the gap, we got onto the Yakima Valley Highway.
It’s an easy route, with few hills and only some gentle ups and down. The tailwind did its part, and the ride was pretty easy.
North of Zillah, we saw the blackened hillsides where a brush fire had done its damage the week before. We made it to Granger (30 miles) for lunch, and decided to try a new taco stand. Unfortunately, despite the "Now Open" banner, no one was there and it was definitely closed. So we visited the mini-mart next door, also a new stop for us, and one we probably won’t repeat. Dave got sweet-n-sour chicken and fried rice, and I got a teriyaki chicken skewer and a few jo-jos. (Yes, I keep up the family tradition of noting what we eat on trips!) As “Crocodile Dundee” famously said, “You can live on it, but it tastes like…” Actually, it wasn’t quite that bad, but it was nothing to write home about. (So why am I writing it here?!)
We rode on south to Sunnyside, still pushed along by a nice breeze, but I was starting to get tired. It wasn’t so much sore legs any more, but just plain tired.
In Sunnyside, we picked up the bike trail and rode on to Grandview,
and then to Prosser. Four miles out, Dave got a flat tire from the nemesis of eastern Washington bike riders – a goat head thorn.
I was kind of glad to be off the bike for a few minutes; my new seat was taking a little bit of getting used to! We’d called ahead to The Barn Motel, and arrived there about 4:00. So, in case you thought we really were sleeping in a barn tonight, there’s your answer. It had been purchased by new owners in January, and they’re renovating rooms as fast as they can. They were very nice, and there was a restaurant on the premises, so we shared a rib steak dinner. Much better than our lunch! I was so tired, I couldn’t even stay awake to watch who was voted off “The Voice.” Dave looked it up on his phone and told me. I was really hoping that a good sleep after an easy ride would help me to recover, because we had our first long day ahead tomorrow: 86 miles to Pendleton, OR.
Stage 5 - Sleeping In The Barn
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Prosser, Washington, United States
Other Entries
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1Preface to the Ride
May 1824 days priorYakima, United Statesphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
2The Prologue
Jun 074 days priorNear Westport, United Statesphoto_camera3videocam 0comment 1 -
3Stage 1 - An inauspicious start!
Jun 074 days priorNear Westport, United Statesphoto_camera5videocam 0comment 0 -
4Stage 2 - A Glorious Day!
Jun 083 days priorMorton, United Statesphoto_camera7videocam 0comment 1 -
5Stage 3 - To the top of White Pass
Jun 092 days priorPackwood, United Statesphoto_camera9videocam 0comment 0 -
6Stage 4 - There's No Place Like Home!
Jun 101 day priorYakima, United Statesphoto_camera16videocam 0comment 2 -
7Stage 5 - Sleeping In The Barn
Jun 11Prosser, United Statesphoto_camera13videocam 0comment 0 -
8Stage 6 - Across State Lines
Jun 121 day laterPendleton, United Statesphoto_camera50videocam 0comment 0 -
9Stage 7 - A Case of the Blues (Mountains that is!)
Jun 132 days laterBaker City, United Statesphoto_camera29videocam 0comment 0 -
10Stage 8 - 100 miles of headwinds (almost)
Jun 143 days laterOntario, United Statesphoto_camera4videocam 0comment 0 -
11Stage 9 - Take it Easy
Jun 154 days laterNampa, United Statesphoto_camera20videocam 0comment 1 -
12Stage 10 - A Thousand Miles From Nowhere
Jun 165 days laterGlenns Ferry, United Statesphoto_camera20videocam 0comment 0 -
13Stage 11 - Bicycling Bliss!
Jun 176 days laterBuhl, United Statesphoto_camera16videocam 0comment 0 -
14Stage 12 - The End of the Beginning
Jun 187 days laterPocatello, United Statesphoto_camera9videocam 0comment 1
2025-02-10