97 BIKE BEST OF THE WEST

JUNE 12 - AUGUST 8, 1997

Thursday June 12, 1997 Columbia, MD - Upland, IN

Got up at 5:00 am and ran. Breakfast of banana, peanuts, homemade bread toast, butter and raspberry jam with chocolate milk. Showered and left at 7:01 am. Took US29 south to MD32 west to I70 west to I68 west to I79 north to I70 west to US35 north to IN3 north to IN26 west to Upland arriving at 5:15 EST after 597 miles. Stopped at the Ohio welcome center and a Cracker Barrel at exit 178 for chicken and dumplings, ice tea and blackberry cobbler with ice cream for $12.80. Saw Janech, Coach, Doug, Chip and Rohn and met Sue. Ed and Eileen Carothers were here. We drove to Gas City and Flores Mexican for supper at $7.77. Started raining during supper. Went to Ivanhoes for root beer float for $2.10 about 9:30. Sat in lounge and chatted. Met Cathy and her 12 year old son Jered Jelsema from Holland, Michigan and then Rose Campany from Warren, Ohio. Went to bed about 12:15 EST. It rained all night.

Friday June 13, 1997 Bus Upland, IN - Missouri

Got up at 6:15 and ran 44:29. Saw a deer. Showered and shaved. Drove to Gas City McDonalds for orange juice, sausage and pancakes and milk for $3.31. The Hertzlers arrived and we walked to Ivanhoes for lunch of chicken salad and fruit with ice tea for $6.31. Hung around and we finally pulled out at 5:53 EST.

Saturday June 14, 1997 Bus Missouri - Texas

Slept well on the bus. Picked up Tina Ross in St Louis while I slept. Woke up in Missouri. Drove through some rain. Stopped at the Harvest buffet in Tulsa for $5.67. Saw some spectacular lightning near Amarillo, Texas. Stopped at a Cracker Barrel for chicken, dumplings, mashed potatoes, green beans and ice tea for $8.17.

Sunday June 15, 1997 Bus Texas - Flagstaff, AZ

Woke up in Albuquerque, NM. Brunch at Giant Bakers Hearth for $13.70. Arrived in Flagstaff, AZ at 4:45 EST (1:45 local time) and stayed at Black Barts Campground. Dinner at Dennys in Flagstaff for $6.40. Slept on the bus.

Monday June 16, 1997 Flagstaff - Cottonwood, AZ

Got up at 5:15 and ran for 45:08. Very cold with frost. Could see snow patches on the northeast side of the San Francisco Mountains. Breakfast of pancakes, orange juice and milk at a truck stop. Packed up and was bused to Oak Creek Canyon Park at 7000' where we biked down to Sedona in 12 miles. Stopped about halfway and Bob Rousculp and I slid down a moss covered sleuth in the creek. Water very cold. Lunch of ham and cheese sandwich and fruit cup at Swiss Restaurant for $7.81. Biked from Sedona to Cottonwood at 3300' with Marie Hertzler, Rosemary Campany, Bob Rousculp, Cathy and Jared Jelsema and Jenita Porfilio. Arrived at the Dead Horse State Park about 3:30. Very hot with a dry wind at 91 degrees. Biked 39.5 miles. Showered. Rode to town to a Pizza Hut for pizza and ice tea for $10.50. Was getting dark on our return. Eileen Carothers had a flat tire and then fell trying to get on the sidewalk. Had to send the truck out to retrieve her and Ed. Meeting at 8:00 till about 9:30. To bed at 11:00. Great moon and stars.

Tuesday June 17, 1997 Cottonwood, AZ

Got up at 5:05 am at 73 degrees. Ran into Cottonwood and up 10th street then right to 89A and back taking 46:31. 8:00 am breakfast of peach yogurt, oatmeal, orange juice and banana. Got away about 9:00 riding with Jenita Porfilio, Rosemary Campany, Peggy Bohl, Bob Rousculp and John Bartlett. Turned right on historic 89A and biked through Clarksdale where we started our ascent of 4 miles at a 6% grade. The grade never varied until entering Jerome where it was very steep for about a block or two. I arrived before 11:00 or about 40 minutes. I left my bike locked to the Chamber of Commerce and walked up to the 3rd level to the Haunted Hamburger for a lot of ice tea and chicken fajita for $8.99. Walked through town on 3 levels and met with bikers I rode up with. Returned with Jenita, Bob and John for another ice tea. Rode down to the mining museum $2.50 which was interesting with a movie. Left at 3:30 for a descent to Clarksdale where we saw Coach climbing to Jerome. Stopped at the Tuzigoot Indian ruins and then at a bar for a Becks beer for $2.75. Got back to Dead Horse State Park camp about 5:30 after 25.0 miles. It was 100 degrees on the valley floor. 6:30 supper of turkey, dressing, green beans, garlic bread, brownie, and vanilla ice cream. Stripped bike, showered, shaved and washed shorts. Wrote post cards and went to bed early at 9:40. Bikes were loaded on the truck.

Wednesday June 18, 1997 Cottonwoood - Grand Canyon Village

Got up at 4:50 am. Packed up before 6:00 breakfast of orange juice, oatmeal, bagel with cream cheese, fruit salad and milk and banana. Loaded bus and headed for Flagstaff. Unloaded and started riding on US180 about 9:30. Long climb with great views of the San Francisco Mountains to our right. Wooded along the road. Stopped to take pictures of mountains with snow on north side. Had a great downhill and Bob Rousculp said he was at 49 mph and not gaining on me. After several rollers and 26 miles we stopped for a Wheels lunch of cold cut sub, brownie with nuts and lemonade. Saw a lot of flowers along the road. Headed out for 17 miles of rollers to the junction with AZ64. Stopped for a drink and then on north with Bob to Grand Canyon Camper Village at 68 miles. Stopped at McDonalds for root beer milk shake and ice water for $2.20. Mailed 2 post cards. Fell in street in camp ground when front wheel skidded in dust. Set up and showered taking two quarters. Wrote in journal. Have a rash on rear so must start A&D Ointment treatment. Went to the Steakhouse with the Carothers for steak, Corona, baked potato, salad, corn on the cob, beans and biscuits for $21.77. Bought post cards and wrote them to Charles Elms and Kara and Jason Rolfe. Great moon.

Thursday June 19, 1997 Grand Canyon Village - Kenab, UT

Got up at 4:50 and packed up. Pretty cool. Had a thorn in my front tire so I had to fix it. 6:30 breakfast of peaches, orange juice, oatmeal, pancakes and sausage. Ready to go on bus but Tina Ross had not packed up. Several people packed her up and struck her tent. Finally got underway and was bused into Grand Canyon Park. Biked into the village where Marilyn Lehman, John Bartlett, Bob Rousculp and I hiked down Bright Angel Trail about 1/2 mile. John and I biked up to the first stop on the West Rim Road. John broke the cable on his chain ring shifter. We biked back to the bus where I left John about 10:40. I soon caught Marie Hertzler, Lynn Kueppers and Dick Lehman riding the East Rim. Eventually Dick and I left them and arrived about 12:45 at the Tower for lunch of lemonade, cheeseburger and chips for $5.34. Dick and I took off down hill for 8 miles and then about 12 miles when we reached 50 mph. The wind was gusty, hot and dry. We reached Cameron after 33 miles in 59 minutes. I was very tired from the heat and hot wind. My total miles for the day was 64.7 miles. When we loaded our bikes, my rear tire cord was busted. We ate a bag lunch on the bus after getting underway about 5:20. Stopped at McDonalds in Page for a vanilla milk shake $3.49. The scenery was spectacular around Glen Canyon. We arrived at the Kanab RV Corral park in Kanab, Utah about 10:20. Set up, showered and wrote in journal until 11:45.

Friday June 20, 1997 Kanab, Utah - Hatch, Utah

Got up about 6:30 a little tired from yesterdays heat of over 100 degrees. Packed up and ate 8:00 breakfast of fruit salad, orange juice, milk, oatmeal and egg omelette. Bused into Zion National Park Lodge from the east through two tunnels which were spectacular. I had to replace my rear tire with a foldup. Rode north up the canyon and stopped to hike up to Weeping Rock. Continued north to the end of the road and hiked to end of trail where Bob Rousculp and John Bartlett waded into the river. The temperature was over 100 degrees. Saw a mule deer. Returned to the lodge for lunch of ham and swiss sandwich and lemonade for $5.23. Biked down to junction 9 where I had a flat tire and had to throw the tube away. Met the bus at 3:00 after 11.7 miles and bused to Hatch, Utah where we camped about 5:00 at the Riverside RV park and campground. Set up and showered. Beautiful view of meadow, river and mountains. Supper of spaghetti, salad, bread, lemonade and fruit salad. Walked to store for Bryce Canyon post card and Coors beer. Spectacular moon rise over the mountains.

Saturday June 21, 1997 Hatch - Fillmore, Utah

Got up at 5:50 and packed up. 7:00 breakfast of cream of wheat, orange juice, blueberry muffin and fruit salad. Bused to Bryce Canyon where we started about 9:30. Went along the rim trail to the major points. Air warm but not hot about 80 degrees. Pleasant breeze. Biked to lunch past 9 mile marker. Caught and passed Tina Ross on a long 3 mile uphill. Lunch at 12:30 of tuna salad sandwich, fruit salad, lemonade, chocolate chip cookies and tossed salad. Biked back to Sunset Point and hiked the Navajo Loop Trail of 1.9 miles with Janech Davenport and Marilyn Lehman. Spectacular. Biked a total of 23 miles. Bused to Fillmore, Utah through great mountainous scenery and set up at the Wagons West. Did laundry $2 and showered. Walked to Caleb's Country Grill for ice tea, two pork chops, baked potato, salad, brussels sprouts and raspberry pie with ice cream for $13.47. Folded laundry and wrote in journal. Turned in at 11:25. Warm night.

Sunday June 22, 1997 Fillmore - Logan, Utah

Got up at 5:52, shaved and packed up. Breakfast at 7;30 of cream of wheat, orange juice, banana and oatmeal cake. Bused to Salt Lake City arriving about 11:00. Walked to food court in mall where I had a sandwich with beef, turkey and ham, swiss, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, etc, etc, and lemonade. Took tour of Mormon temple area and went to organ recital from 2:00 to 2:30. Bused to Logan, Utah and the Riverside Campground at 4535'. Set up and then bused to JJ North's buffet for $8.87. Back to camp before 7:30.

Monday June 23, 1997 Logan, Utah - Montpelier, Idaho

Got up at 5:41 and 53 degrees. Packed up and went to 7:00 breakfast of orange juice, banana, oatmeal and bagel with strawberry cream cheese. Got underway about 8;00 and rode 3 miles into town. We started up immediately through Logan Pass a rise of over 3000' over 34 miles. We followed a rushing mountain stream until about 3 miles from the top. We stopped by a cave where the water boiled up out of the ground creating an instant stream. It was sunny and breezy with the temperature almost perfect. At the summit of 7900' there was a great view of Bear Lake. The downhill ride of 3 miles into Garden City was fast and fun. Stopped at the Cactus Cafe for raspberry pancake and milk for $6.41. Fantastic! Rode along Bear Lake and stopped for all the historic markers and the Utah-Idaho line. Jared Jelsema caught a 12" fish with his hand. Took a tour of the tabernacle in Paris, Idaho with Don as our guide. Hooked up with John Snyder, Bob Rousculp, Dick Lehman, Jennie Peters and Lynn Kueppers and rode into Montpelier at 5943' on a tailwind the last 5 miles. Butch Cassidy robbed the Montpelier bank in 1896 and got $16,500. The sheriff chased Butch on a bicycle but was soon lost. We left town and rode another 3 miles to the KOA campground about 4:30 after 76.5 miles on US89. Cleaned our bike chains and set up next to a gurgling stream. Showered and had a Coors beer. 6:15 supper of pork chop, stuffing, gravy, cole slaw, apple sauce, milk and cherry cobbler with whipped cream. Wrote in journal. A perfect day. Windy in camp!

Tuesday June 24, 1997 Montpelier, Idaho - Alpine, Wyoming

Got up at 5:41, shaved and packed up. 35 degrees and breezy at 6129'. Saw a magpie, a crow like bird that is bright black and white with a 6" tail. Started uphill at 8:00 and crossed the pass at 7600' after about 10 miles. Saw a moose on the climb. Great downhill but pretty cold. Climbed the next pass to 8100'. The top was steep and long. After another great downhill, I stopped for a cranberry drink $1.25 at the General store in Smoot, Wyoming. Rode into the Homestead Restaurant in Afton, Wyoming for pork, stuffing, mashed potatoes, milk, gravy, raspberry pie and ice cream for $10.77 with Dick Lehman, Pete Peters, Les Avery, Larry Sands and Brenda Kreutz. Teamed up with Pete Peters, Jennie Peters, Les Avery, Bob Rousculp, John Bartlett and Dick Lehman for the ride to Alpine. Made several stops at historical markers, a cheese factory and the lake near camp where we saw white pelicans with black wing tips and several other birds. Rolled into Palisport Campground in Alpine, Wyoming at 3:15 after 79 miles. Very nice ride. Set up and had an ice cream $2.09. Showered and wrote journal. Saw a bright blue bird in camp. 6:00 supper of java mountain (raisins, nuts, coconut, chicken, curry, rice), milk, brownie and cherry cobbler. Met Jim (Scotsman) riding unsupported. Met Jenita's sister Elaine, a rancher from near Jackson. Talked to Jim Jesema. Saw some beautiful bluebirds around camp.

Wednesday June 25, 1997 Alpine - Jackson, Wyoming

Got up at 6:00 and packed up. Cold and breezy. 7:00 breakfast of cream of wheat, banana, orange juice, milk and egg souffle. Got underway about 8:00 and went up the Snake River valley between two mountain ridges. Some climbing but nothing very steep or long. Saw an eagle soaring along the cliff. Saw a huge mud slide that had the road closed for a few weeks. The river was right next to the road. Stopped for orange juice and cheese crackers $1.37 in Hobart Junction. Stopped at Hot Springs and crossed a rickety bridge. Got into KOA in Teton Village about 12:00 after 41.2 miles. Lunch of cheeseburger, baked beans, tostados and cookies and lemonade. Set up and showered. 2:00 bus into Jackson. Went to Million Dollar Cowboy Saloon and Silver Dollar Saloon with silver dollars in bar. Had a $4 beer in the Silver Dollar. Had ice cream $1.50 and a beer in the Cowboy Saloon $4. Looked at 12 or more old cars from 1910 - 1925 including a Pierce Arrow, Simplex, Stutz, Stearn, Daimler, Hartford and more. Bus back at 6:00 and walked to the Bar J chuckwagon for dinner of beef, baked beans, baked potato, muffin, applesauce, cake and lemonade for $13 plus a great show. Walked back and to bed at 10:50.

Thursday June 26, 1997 Jackson, Wyoming - S Yellowstone

Got up at 5:40, shaved and packed up. Heavy frost with temperature at 30 degrees. 7;00 breakfast of banana nut muffin, oatmeal, orange juice and milk. Started at 7:50 and biked to Teton Village Jackson Hole ski area where we assembled. We then biked a back road including 1.5 miles of gravel to Grand Teton National Park entrance. Loaded bikes and bused through entrance to park to small chapel where we unloaded and biked along Teton Mountains. Enjoyed many streams and waterfalls from glaciers. Saw an elk cross the road and later one standing. Stopped for lunch of cold cut sub, tostidos, baked beans, lemonade, orange and peanut brittle. Janech rewound my film using a cassette screw and an allen wrench. Made several stops including an Indian museum. Got into Flagg Ranch Village Campground about 3:30 after 59.6 miles. Set up and showered. Walked to the lodge with John Bartlett and Larry Sands for a 16 oz micro brewed draft beer for $3.00 plus $.35 tip. 6:00 supper of knockwurst, noodle cabbage, bacon salad, applesauce, bread, brownie, ice cream and lemonade. Mosquitos were awful. Wrote post cards to Kevin and Kara. Called Anne.

Friday June 27, 1997 S Yellowstone - W Yellowstone, MT

Got up at 5:40 and packed up. Fairly warm. 7:00 breakfast of cream of wheat, orange juice, milk and omelette. Got under way at 7:50. Biked into Yellowstone from the south and crossed the Continental Divide 3 times. Passed several falls and a neat canyon along the Yellowstone River. Had two major climbs totaling about 3500' vertical. On the climb to the 2nd Continental Divide, a black bear crossed the road about 25 yards in front of me and ran through the woods. Pullling into Old Faithful Lodge area I saw a large herd of female elk. We ate in a cafe a lunch of BBQ pork, chips, lemonade and root beer float for $7.50. Bob Rousculp, John Bartlett and I walked around the geysers for about 1.5 miles but missed Old Faithful until we walked across the parking lot. We saw a large herd of male elk with large horns shortly after we left. We had to ride through about 5 miles of dirt where the road was under construction. The last 14 miles we went down the Madison River valley against a strong head wind. We rode into West Yellowstone, Montana about 5:00 after 72.9 miles. We showered at a laundromat and then went to supper of trout, linguini, salad, mixed vegetables, two Molsons and blackberry pie with ice cream for $22.90 at the Totem restaurant. 25 of us went to the Imax theater and saw the Yellowstone film (40 minutes) for $5. We boarded the bus at 9:00 and went to bed for the ride to Missoula.

Saturday June 28, 1997 Missoula, Montana

The bus stopped at 2:00 or 3:00 am and everyone slept. We started up at 6:00 and drove into Missoula arriving about 7:30 at the Municipal Pool. We changed into biking clothes and unloaded the bikes. We rode into town to the Old Town Cafe for orange juice, milk, and a Mexican omelette for $8.50. Great food and a very nice place. We walked to the farmers market by the old train station. I bought some Bing cherries for $1.99. We rode the free trolley around town. Les Avery, Pete Peters, John Bartlett and I rode to the Fairgrounds for an antique auto fair that would be held the following Saturday. We stopped at a drug store for Chapstick $.89. John and I split and stopped by Adventure Cycling (closed) and then to the Iron Horse Pub for a 16 oz glass of Amber by Bayern Brewing for $2.25 plus $.25 tip. Very good. We rode west to the KOA Campground arriving about 1:30 after 10.6 miles. Set up tents and collected bags, sleeping bag, etc. Did laundry including sheet for $1.00 wash, $.60 soap and $.50 dry. Had lunch of hot dog, potato salad and ice tea for $2.95 plus $.45 tip at the KOA Kafe. Jeff Marks biked in from the airport. Later Giles and Dotty Carter arrived. Showered. 6:00 supper of blackened fish, rice, cole slaw, lemonade, rolls and chocolate icing yellow cake. Light rain from 7:45 to 8:10. Wrote post card to brother Dave.

Sunday June 29, 1997 Misoula - Polson, Montana

Got up at 6:00. Everything dry. 7:30 breakfast of banana, orange juice, oatmeal and 2 donuts. Sky becoming more overcast and temperature dropping. Coach gave a short sermon. Got underway about 8:40. Headed west against a strong wind for about 6 miles and turned right up a pass for 6.5 miles. At 15.6 miles it started to sprinkle so we turned into a stop and had hot chocolate and cinnamon roll for $1.25. Everyone soon stopped as the rain kept increasing and the temperature dropped to 50 degrees. The bus picked us up and we stopped about 1:30 in St Ignacious at the Old Town Cafe for lunch of chicken, dumplings, mashed potatoes, vegetables and salad for $7.25. Got into KOA Campground in Polson, Montana around 4:15 and set up. 65 degrees and breezy. No rain. Only Larry Sands and Brenda Kreutz on the tandem and Pete Peters and Les Avery rode the whole 70 miles. Showered. Sun came out. Beautiful scene of the lake and mountains beyond shrouded in clouds and snow with the sun shining on the peaks. 7:00 supper of potatoes with hamburgers, onions, tomato, broccoli, mushrooms, hot cheese, sour cream and lemonade, yellow cake with chocolate icing and strawberry white cake with cream. Very good. Walked to the Diamond Horseshoe Bar for 2 16oz draft ambers by a local microbrew for $5 plus $1 tip. Called Dick Atkinson from the bar. The Caruthers, Rose, Larry and Brenda, Buckeye Bob (Rousculp) and John Bartlett were there. Still daylight at 10:15. To bed at 10:30.

Monday June 30, 1997 Polson - Kalispell, Montana

Woke up in night and stars were unbelievable. Got up at 6:00. Everything wet with dew. Not too cold and mixed clouds. Packed up. 7:30 breakfast of cream of wheat, orange juice, egg muffin and home fries. Rode out with John Bartlett about 8:15 back to Polson and up MT-23 along the east shore of Flathead Lake to Big Fork at 10:30. Back tracked 1 mile to the post office and mailed a card to Dave. Turned left on MT-82 to US-93 right and north to Kalispell arriving at the visitors center at 12:03. Saw a billboard coming into town advertising llama latte. I wore Gore-tex pants which were sweaty. Bought rain boots at Bikology for $29.99 and stopped at Applebees for Santa Fe chicken fajitas and beer for $12.29. Pulled into camp about 1:30 after 58 miles. Set up and showered. Called Dick Atkinson and he came to pick me up in his Jeep Cherokee. Went to his house which was over 6000 square feet and sold for $950,000 last year. The house and views were unbelievable. Really enjoyed seeing Dick and meeting Carol. Went to dinner of combination platter at Dos Amigos in Whitefish. Returned to camp so they could see the cook trailer at 8:48. Went to bed at 10:30.

Tuesday July 1, 1997 Kalispell - Glacier NP,Montana

Got up at 6:00 and shaved. Cool and cloudy. It had been raining lightly until I got up. 7:30 breakfast of oatmeal, orange juice and hot granola. Waited for Jeff Marks and was last to leave at 9:00. Passed some people and caught Dick Lehman in the Hungry Horse. Hustled into camp by 11:00 and Dan Porfilio came in with the car. Jeff Marks and I loaded our bikes and Dan drove us to McDonald Lake Lodge. We had lunch of lentil soup, rolls with butter, chips and ham and swiss sandwich for $6.25. We rode 5.4 miles north to Avalanche Creek Campground where we hiked 4.5 miles up to Avalanche Lake. The lake is at the end of a canyon with 3-4000' walls with 3 major falls and streams cascading down the walls. Very beautiful. Biked back to Glacier Campground at 5:35 after 50.6 miles. Set up tent. 6:00 supper of chicken, cheese, broccoli on rice, mixed vegetables and apple sauce with lemonade and 2 chocolate brownies. Got gear and stripped bike and put in tent out of rain. Wrote journal. Showered. To bed at 9:00.

Wednesday July 2, 1997 Glacier NP, MT - Calgary,Alberta

It rained most of the night. I woke up at 2:25 and had trouble sleeping until I got up at 4:00. Packed up and ate breakfast of cream of wheat, orange juice and banana nut bread at 5;00. Larry and Brenda left on their tandem at 5:00. Pete Peters, Les Avery and I rode out of camp at 5:40. It was chilly and cloudy and threatening. We rode about 17 miles to Avalanche Camp in an hour where the last few riders were just leaving the bus. Les was pacing as we passed most of the riders up the west side of the Road to the Sun. It was foggy most of the way particularly the last 3 miles. There were some breaks in the clouds where I got some pictures. The climb was continuous for about 12 miles at about a constant 6% grade. The mountain was on our left with a foot high stone wall on the right and then a precipitous drop. We passed many streams with cascades and waterfalls. Also there were several snow packs where plows had plowed the road open. Arrived at the visitors center on top of the pass at 9:00. It was windy and 40 degrees. Since I was wet from sweat and soon got chilled, Bob Rousculp and I descended the east side at 9:35. It had turned sunny which afforded us great vistas of the huge valley. We stopped several times for pictures and then about 6 miles down we stopped and hiked about 3 miles to St Mary's Falls, Virginia Falls and several cascades. We continued down to St Marys where we had lunch of ham, turkey and cheese sandwich, celery, lettuce, tomato, cheetos, apple and Squirt. Rode 1/2 mile to a coin shower and back. Walked to a store for a Sam Adams Lager $1.75 with John Bartlett, Larry Sands and Brenda Kreutz. I had biked 1 mile to Glacier Park then 32 miles to the pass and then down 19 miles to St Marys, then 1 mile to shower and back totaling 53 miles. Loaded up the bus and drove to Calgary, Alberta, Canada to the KOA West. Set up and bused to Kelseys for chicken, black beans, cheese, onions, tomato, fusilli and beer for $14.82 Canadian. To bed at 11:15.

Thursday July 3, 1997 Calgary - Canmore, Alberta

Got up at 7:00 and shaved. 8:00 breakfast of oatmeal. orange juice, and blueberry pancakes. Packed up and bused to shopping center at 10:00. Saw an elk in the streets of Calgary. 11:30 loaded bus and headed for Canmore arriving about 1:00. Beautiful setting surrounded by mountains with snow up high. Set up and walked to lunch on the deck of the Rose and Crown for chicken burrito for $6.37 Canadian plus $1 tip with John Bartlett and Dick Lehman. Walked to Baskins and Robbins for butter pecan cone for $2 Canadian. Stopped at an ATM and withdrew $80 Canadian. Walked through Canmore and then back to the Rose and Crown for a 16 oz Black Rock Original draft for $3.50 Canadian plus $.50 tip. Wrote post cards to Nelsons, Frains and Huelskamps and wrote in journal. 7:00 supper of hamburger spaghetti, fusilli, green beans, strawberry cake desert and lemonade. Walked up to 3 hoodoos across highway with John Bartlett. To bed about 9:30.

Friday July 4, 1997 Canmore - Lake Louise

Got up at 5:40 and packed up. 7:00 breakfast of egg, potato, pepper omelet, orange juice and cream of wheat. Bused into Banff National Park. Biked into Banff via Tunnel Mountain Road with John Bartlett, Les Avery and Jeff Marks. Saw some hoodoos and stopped at the hostel. Got a good overview of the Banff Hotel. Biked below the hotel past the falls and around the golf course loop. Saw many deer, elk and big black rabbits. Saw rafters coming down river. Walked through the hotel. Stopped in a grocery store and charged $21.44 Canadian for 4 lunches. Stopped along the road for lunch of beef sandwich with swiss cheese, tomato and mustard, strawberries, cherries, cookies and grapefruit drink. Mosquitos were awful. Stopped at Johnston Canyon and hiked to lower falls which had a catwalk across the river to a cave that came out to the falls. Very wet. Walked on to the upper falls which had a catwalk jutting out to about mid stream in front of a very high falls. The walk round trip was about 3 miles. We saw and photographed a brown black bear next to the road on the way in against a headwind. Arrived at Lake Louise Campground at 5:18 after 60 miles. Set up. Called Ralph for his birthday. 7:00 supper of pork chop, mashed potato and gravy, cole slaw, apple sauce, bread, butter and lemonade. Biked to town with John Bartlett for a shower $4 Canadian. Bought 2 Big Rock Traditional Ales for $3.20 Canadian.

Saturday July 5, 1997 Lake Louise, Alberta

Got up at 6:05 and ran uphill to the Lake Moraine turnoff and back in 37:53. Went to breakfast of huevos rancheros, orange juice and milk for $11.30 Canadian at the hostel in Lake Louise. Bought 500 ml of water for $2.95 Canadian. Left at 9:43 and biked up to Lake Moraine almost all uphill at a steep grade. Hiked up the Larch Valley past a frozen lake and almost to the headwall crossing 2-3 snowpacks with Jeff Marks, Andrew Peters and Bob Rousculp. It was an alpine climate. We watched with binoculars as climbers crossed snowfields as they climbed Mount Temple at 11,600+ feet. We hiked back down for a total of about 6 miles with a 3000' vertical gain. Ate lunch of chicken salad and lemonade for $5.99 Canadian. My rear tire was flat so I had to change it. Biked back the Lake Louise and hiked to Lake Agnes Teahouse with Jeff Marks and Andrew Peters for a chocolate cookie and wild blackberry lemonade for $4 Canadian. The teahouse was on a rock ledge next to a waterfalls that drained Lake Agnes which was at the end of a canyon with a glacier on the side of the mountain. Great views of the valley and Mountains beyond in the other direction. Hiked back down for a total of 6 miles and 3000' vertical change. Biked back to camp at 6:50 totaling 21.2 miles and 1500' vertical gain. 7:00 supper of chicken noodle, salad and chocolate chip vanilla pudding dessert and lemonade. Dan Porfilio drove us to a laundromat for a $4 Canadian shower, laundry $2 and dryer $1.25. Bought 2 Molson Lagers for $3.20 Canadian. A policeman told me it was illegal to drink beer in public. Walked back to camp with Jennie Peters arriving at 9:36. Folded laundry and wrote in journal. Strong winds briefly followed by rain. Dark at 10:30. To bed at 11:00.

Sunday July 6, 1997 Lake Louise - Rampart Creek Camp

Got up at 5:30 and shaved. Packed up a tent that was soaking wet. 7:00 breakfast of oatmeal, blueberry bagel with cream cheese, orange juice and banana. We had a short church service. Stopped at the information center in town and picked up a map. Left town at 9:00 on Canadian Route 1 but soon turned right Canadian Route 93 the Icefields Parkway. We climbed steadily for 25 miles gaining about 1500'. We crossed Bow Pass where it was raining and rolled into Bow Lake Lodge at 11:00 with Bob Rousculp and Dick Lehman. Great view of the lake, falls, mountains and glaciers. Very windy and cool in the pass. Ate french onion soup for $4.82 Canadian plus $1 tip on Visa. I was not charged for hot chocolate. Left at 12:15 and soon caught Les Avery and Marcel, a Dutchman 33 whose brother was an Olympic speed skater in 1988 and set the world record for 3000 meters in 1992. We saw a bear cross the road in traffic 2-300 yards ahead of us. Had some good downhills, one leading to the Saskatchewan River. Stopped and ate lunch of turkey and cheese sandwich and cookies with orange juice for $2.13 Canadian. Continued on in the sun, rain and headwinds to Rampart Creek Camp with Marcel at 3:00 after 55 miles. Set up camp on site 10 in light rain. Wrote Ron Dowell a post card. 6:30 supper of sweet and sour pork on rice, rolls, corn and apple cobbler. Biked to primitive youth hostel and back. Sat around a campfire with Bob Hertzler, Coach and Janech. Saw a rainbow. To bed at about 10:00. Mosquitos very bad.

Monday July 7, 1997 Rampart Creek - Honeymoon Lake

Got up at 5:40 and packed up. It rained a little just before I got up. 7:00 breakfast of biscuits with sausage in a gravy, 7 grain hot cereal, orange juice, milk and fruit salad. Rode with Dick Lehman to he bottom of the mountain to the Columbia Icefields. The climb was long and steep and cool. First to arrive at the visitors center where Les Avery and I took snowcat onto the glacier for $22.50 Canadian. Very stark and beautiful but very windy with sleet and rain and cold to the bone. Returned to the center for lunch of chicken noodle soup, hot dogs, fruit salad, chips and cookies. Biked down the mountain where I joined with Coach and Les Avery to Sunwapta Falls. Coach bought me and Les a beer and then I biked back to the falls. Biked into camp at Honeymoon Lake Campground in Jasper National Park after 60 miles at about 4:30. Set up. Talked to young lady, a student, working in the park. 6:30 dinner of ham, scalloped potatoes, mixed vegetables, bread, apple sauce, lemonade and chocolate marshmallow dessert. Called Anne. Hung around dining shelter stove and talked for some time. To bed at about 10:00.

Tuesday July 8, 1997 Honeymoon Lake - Whistler Camp

Got up at 6:15 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of orange juice, cream of wheat, mixed fruit and omelette. Biked out at 8:15 starting with a long downhill. It was downhill all the way to camp a distance of 32 miles except for 2 short climbs. Stopped to look for mountain goats by a salt lick but saw nothing. Stopped at Athabasca Falls which were spectacular. Rode with Les Avery into Whistler Camp at 10:48 and set up. Showered. 12:15 lunch of macaroni cheese, tuna salad sandwich, mixed fruit, cookies and lemon lime gatorade. Biked into Jasper about 2 miles and had a couple of 20 oz draft Big Rock Traditional Ale and Black Ale with Les, Brenda and Larry at the Whistler Pub. Walked around town and ate at Mendis with the 3 Peters. Had lasagna, salad and bread for $13 Canadian. Stopped for black walnut ice cream for $2.60 Canadian. Stopped at CIBC ATM for $80 Canadian. Biked back to camp with Les making it 36 miles for the day. Helped load bikes on truck. To bed at 10:00.

Wednesday July 9, 1997 Jasper, Alberta - Vanderhoof, BC

Got up at 6:30 and shaved. Light rain. 8:00 breakfast of blueberry muffin, oatmeal and orange juice. Loaded bus and took off at 9:15 west on Canada 16. Alternating rain and sun. Crossed into British Columbia. Stopped at Dome Mountain for sausage roll, apple turnover and milk for $4.60 Canadian. Stopped in Prince George Mall for lunch at China Bobs of sweet and sour pork, chicken chow mein and beef lo mein for $10.08 Canadian. Saw 3 bears along the road. Pulled into Dave's RV Park in Vanderhoof at about 4:30. Played horseshoes with Jeff Marks and set up. Helped cut up salad. 7:00 dinner of beef stroganoff, salad, roll and lemon lime gatorade. Showered and wrote journal. To bed at 10:00.

Thursday July 10, 1997 Vanderhoof, BC - Burns Lake, BC

Got up at 6:00 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of pancakes, sausage, oatmeal, hot apples and orange juice. Biked out of campground at 8:15. Biked through Vanderhoof and Ft Fraser. Stiff headwind of about 15 mph gusting to 20 mph. Terrain pretty gentle rolls through farmland. Nice wide shoulder. Morning mostly sunny and afternoon mostly cloudy to overcast by evening. Stopped at 11:15 for lunch of vegetable soup, salad, ham croissant, french fries, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and vanilla shake for $10.00 plus $1.50 tip Canadian at Tonys Kitchen in Lake Fraser. A camper hit a logging truck head-on on a bridge and a women burned up in it. Several of our people saw it and tried to rescue everyone. They were pretty shaken up. Saw a deer next to the road. Thinking our camp was 4 miles past Burns Lake, I passed the sign and continued on through town. I turned around and returned to the Lakeside Inn for a draft Molson for $3.80 Canadian. I biked back up the hill out of town and on for 4 miles to the KOA Campground at Burns Lake arriving about 4:30 after 90 miles. Set up and showered. Light rain showers off and on. Had a Snapple Kiwi drink for $1.25 Canadian. 6:30 dinner of chicken, stuffing, gravy, corn on the cob and strawberry shortcake with whipped cream.

Friday July 11, 1997 Burns Lake - Smithers, BC

Got up at 5:00, shaved and packed up. 6:30 breakfast of cream of wheat, egg muffin and orange juice. Biked out of camp at 7:05 with Les Avery and Pete Peters. Fairly warm and clear skies. Biked through Burns Lake where the streets were all torn up for 2-3 miles. Picked up Tina Ross after about 10 miles. The wind came up after about an hour and blew all day just like yesterday. Biking through very pretty valley and fairly flat. Just before lunch we spotted the snow covered mountains and biked into Houston at 11:45 for lunch of roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, mixed vegetables, salad and slaw and dessert for $12.02 Canadian at the Landmark restaurant. Biked out of town and had a steep long hill with a bad headwind. Biked into Telkwa for a Squirt for $1.27 Canadian. Stopped at the campground and waited for John Bartlett and then proceeded to Smithers and a lounge where we met Larry Sands and Brenda Kreutz. Had 2 16 oz Warburger Beers for C$10.00 plus C$2.00 tip. Biked back to Riverside Recreational Center at 6:00 after 97 miles. Set up camp beside a golf course. 6:30 supper of spaghetti, salad, bread and chocolate desert with whipped cream. Showered and had grapefruit drink for C$1.50. To bed at 10:15. Still light.

Saturday July 12, 1997 Smithers - Hazelton, BC

Got up at 6:00 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of oatmeal, orange juice, milk and ?. Biked out about 8:15 through Smithers. Very bright sun under a clear sky. Headwind kept increasing as we went. Caught Bob Rousculp after a few miles and then Dick Lehman caught us. Stopped in Mauricetown for breakfast of pancake, sausage, eggs, strawberry and whipped cream and orange juice for C$10 for an Indian missionary whose house had recently burned. Continued on and took some time to catch Dick and Bob who left before me. Wind kept increasing. Turned off Rt 16 for 4 miles to Hazelton and the KSAN Campground at 12:30 after 48.5 miles. Set up and had lunch of grilled ham and cheese sandwich, tostido chips, strawberry cookies, carrots and tomato soup. Showered and walked to the KSAN Indian Museum and Village C$2. Drank ginger ale for C$1.25. Walked to Hazelton with John Bartlett and Bob Rousculp for 2 Molson drafts for C$4 plus C$1 tip. at the Hotel lounge. Saw Janech in town and she told me she had to replace my rear wheel because it was cracked in 3 places. She will try to get a credit from Trek for the old rim. Walked back to supper of sausage, cabbage and noodles, green beans with marshmallow, coconut, pineapple and banana desert and orangeade. A lady from New Zealand stopped by to thank Larry Sands for finding her wallet. Marilyn Lehman bought 35 pounds of salmon from the Indian who caught it in the river bordering our campground. To bed at 9:15.

Sunday July 13, 1997 Hazelton - Terrace, BC

Got up at 4:55 shaved and packed up. 6:30 breakfast orange juice, cream of wheat, banana nut bread and banana. Biked out at 7:10 in a light rain with Pete Peters and Les Avery. Tina Ross caught us after about 10 miles. It was about 60 degrees so it was comfortable riding. Followed the Skeena River which is pretty big. We had periods of rain and sun most of the day. I never put rain gear on and never got completely wet. Stopped at the junction of Route 16 and Route 37 which goes to Alaska only 240 km away. Had a carton of milk and a roll for C$2.50. As we left we saw Jeff Marks coming down Route 37 from Alaska. We kidded him about riding to Alaska and back that morning. Ate lunch of ham and cheese sandwich with tomato, lettuce and mustard, corn chips, carrots and peanut brittle. Had some strong wind but it lasted less than an hour. We had light winds most of the time which made it easy biking. Stopped for some delicious strawberries for C$2. Biked into Terrace where we stopped for a Peach Clearly Canadian for C$1.25. Also bought some barbecued peanuts for C$2.59. Biked into the Wild Duck Motel and RV Park about 4:00 after 95 miles. Ed Carothers gave me a beer as I was setting up my tent. A real God send. 6:30 supper of fresh salmon, rice, vegetable, slaw, grain roll and wine. Excellent! Did laundry paying C$1.25 for soap, C$1 for laundry and C$2 to dry. Big load. Talked to 2 Canadian couples returning from Alaska. Citrus soda from machine C$1.

Monday July 14, 1997 Terrace - Prince Rupert, BC

Got up at 5:00 and packed up. 6:30 breakfast of oatmeal, sausage, pancakes, apples for pancakes and orange juice. Short service after breakfast. Biked out at 7:45. Rained off and on (mostly on) all the way to Prince Ruppert. Started with Jennie Peters, Pete Peters, Tina Ross, John Bartlett and Les Avery. All stopped after 18 miles except Les and I. We were looking for Indian petrogliphs but missed them in the rain. Stopped for lunch at 50 miles and ate in the car a sandwich of corned beef, cheese, lettuce and mustard on grain bread, carrots, cellery, 3 Oreos and barbecued corn chips. Continued along the Skeena River which got larger and larger. Mountains on both sides shrouded in clouds with many cascading waterfalls. Photographed an eagle in a tree in the fog and mist. Biked into Prince Ruppert about 3:00 and stopped at the Breakers Pub for 2 draft beers (good) and potato skins for C$20.50. Biked into Park Avenue Campground about 4:00 after 93 miles. Set up and showered. Car took us to town to Smiles Restaurant for salmon, halibut, scallops, shrimp, oysters, baked potato, salad, carrots and a beer for C$23.50. Stopped next door for desert for C$3.50 plus C$.50 tip. Called Anne. Walked back to camp with Pete and Les.

Tuesday July 15, 1997 Prince Ruppert

Got up at 6:30. It started raining pretty steady before I got up. 7:30 breakfast of cherry covered baked oatmeal, orange juice and 7 grain hot cereal. Had a meeting under the pavilion while it rained pretty hard. It finally let up. I shaved and packed up. Packed bedroll, mattress, T-shirt, shorts, rain pants and camera and bike for Ketchikan. Wore jeans, fleece, rain jacket and hiking boots. Everything else packed into the bus. Walked downtown and did some window shopping. Bought a large Hersheys almond chocolate bar and ate it. Stopped at a lumber yard for six 8" galvanized nails for C$1.72. Walked to pier where I had a fishkebob for C$2.50 and a dungeness crab for C$10.00 from a fishing boat. Walked to Breakers Pub for 2 Shaftsbury Cream Ales 500ml and burrito lunch for C$19.95. Caught a ride on Wheels bus to the city dump at 3:30 where we saw about 75 eagles and a large male black bear. Returned to Breakers Pub for a supper of seafood marinera on thin spaghetti, salad and beer for C$21.70. Walked back to camp and loaded bedroll in car and rolled .8 mile on bike to the ferry. The ferry left at 12:00 midnight BC time. Slept in sleeping bag on a lounge chair in the solarium. I slept fairly well but it was a short night.

Wednesday July 16, 1997 Ketchikan, Alaska

Arrived in Ketchikan at 4:00 am. Packed up roll and walked bikes off the ferry. Biked about .4 mile up hill to Calvary Bible Church where I helped unload our bedrolls from a taxi. Biked through town south to end of the paved road with John Bartlett, Sandy Robinson and Flora Newblatt. Met Coach, Janech and Les Avery on way back and stopped at Jimmies for breakfast of 3 pancakes with sausage and orange juice for $11.67. Walked around visitors center and downtown shopping area. Saw large salmon jumping and swimming under the bridge. Walked along Creek Street. Took incline to lunch of grilled halibut sandwich with french fries and a beer for $16.44 with John Bartlett and Jeff Marks. Had a good view from the restaurant and watched kayakers coming and going out of Creek Street. Bought some maps at center for $5.22. Biked back to the church about 2:00 in the rain. Slept until 5:30. Biked to town for dinner of calamari steaks, red potatoes, green beans, beer and caramel nut flan for $36.02 at the Steamers Restaurant. Biked north of town for about 6 miles and back because it was getting dark and dangerous on the road. Stopped for a Red Hook ESB beer $4 with John Bartlett and the Carothers. Also saw Pete Peters and Les Avery. Returned to church around 10:00 after 42 miles. Ice cream cone and Bing cherries in the church kitchen.

Thursday July 17, 1997 Ketchikan, AL - Prince Rupert, BC

Rose Campany's birthday. Left Calvary Bible Fellowship church at 12:30 am Alaska time and coasted downhill 1/2 mile to the ferry. Boarded the Mananuska about 2:00 am and got underway shortly afterwards. Bedded down on a lounge in the solarium and slept well until 8:15 am Pacific Time. Breakfast of Spanish omelette and orange juice for $8. Got off at 9:35 am and went through customs. Biked into Prince Rupert and bought a Hersheys almond chocolate bar for C$1.27 and ate it. Stopped at the Bank of Montreal ATM for C$40. Rolled down to the docks and had a fishkebob C$2.50 and a dungeness crab for C$10. Stopped in Breakers Pub for a Shaftsbury Cream Ale and potato skins for C$11.50. Biked back to Park Avenue Campground and set up. Showered, shaved and cut hair. Cleaned bike. Biked to Breakers Pub for seafood linguini alfredo (clams, scallops, shrimp, salmon and halibut) with a Shaftsbury Cream Ale and raspberry cheese cake for C$29.20. Biked back to camp after 8.6 miles and stripped bike and put on truck.

Friday July 18, 1997 Prince Rupert Ferry - Vancouver Is

Got up at 4:05 and packed up. 5:00 bag breakfast of bagel, strawberry cream cheese, orange juice, apple and raspberry yogurt. Bag lunch of ham, lettuce, cheese, 3 Oreos, celery, carrots and apple. Boarded ferry to Port Hardy at 7:30. Spent day on ferry through the Inland Passage Way. Saw 6-8 killer (Orcas) whales to our left. They were cruising in formation and rolling out of the water. Saw a Love Boat cruise ship but very little else for about 10 hours. Finally saw a town Bella Bella late in the day. 6:30 buffet dinner of halibut, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, beer, salad, clam chowder, peas and mushrooms, noodles alfredo, stuffing, red potatoes, chicken curry, sweet and sour pork and horseradish for C$22.20. Docked at 10:45 in Port Hardy. Got on bus and went to bed.

Saturday July 19, 1997 Campbell River - Little River

Stopped during the night outside Campbell River. Got underway and stopped at McDonalds about 6:40. Breakfast of pancakes, sausage and orange juice for C$4.81. The truck with the bikes showed up about 9:00. Unloaded and started biking about 9:30. Good tail wind and flat so we as we rolled along the shore. Pretty country. Flat rear tire with wire in it. Rode with Bob Rousculp. Stopped at Seal Bay and walked to beach with Bob and Marie Hertzler. Stopped at Country Kitchen for lentil soup, German salad, roll, lemonade and sausage roll for C$8.31. Biked into Sea View Campground at Little River after 42 miles about 3:00. Set up and had ice cream and ginger ale for C$.86. Kay Myers got me 2 Budweisers for C$3.20. Showered. 6:30 dinner of pork chop, rice, slaw, apple sauce, strawberry mousse, bread and orange drink. Walked to beach. Talked to Coach. To bed at 10:00. Great moon.

Sunday July 20, 1997 Little River - Parksville

Got up at 6:00 and packed up. 7:00 breakfast of hot 7 grain cereal, orange juice, french toast and banana. Short church service. Biked out of camp after 8:00. Beautiful ride around the bay with water on left. Kept moving for 42 miles to Qualicum Beach where I stopped at the Information Center. Had lunch of ham, turkey and cheese sandwich, french fries and a pint of Kooteney Dark Ale for C$13.29 at the Sandpebble Restaurant on the beach. Biked to Parksville where I walked on the beach to see the sandcastle competition. About 50,000 people on the beach. Biked into Big Tent RV Park about 2:00 after 51.8 miles. Set up and walked to A&W Root Beer for a root beer float C$4.80 (including ice creams for Flora and Sandy). Walked back and showered. Very warm and pleasant with a high about 85 degrees. Nice cool breeze makes it very comfortable.

Monday July 21, 1997 Parksville - Duncan

Got up at 6:40 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of banana, hot oatmeal, orange juice and mixed fruit. Biked out of camp after 8:00. It started raining almost immediately and rained all day. Riding on Route 19 with a lot of traffic. Stopped at a farmers market for a break of popcorn and Bing cherries for C$3.25.Finally got off on Chemainus Road and biked into town. Chemainus has about 30 large murals on sides of buildings and is internationally known for it. Ate lunch of clam chowder, shrimp salad sandwich and a vanilla milk shake for C$8.30 at the Chemainus Lighthouse. Rode with Bob Rouseculp and joined with Dick Lehman and John Bartlett for the ride from Chemainus to Duncan. Pulled into Riverside Campground at 3:15 behind Corinn after 59.3 miles. Set up and cold showered. Coach took John Bartlett and I to town in the car and I bought a yellow highlighter in a drug store for C$1.30. Stopped in Melanbees Bar and Grill for 2 beers and appleskins for C$11.68. Larry Sands and Brenda Kreutz were there and walked back with us. 6:30 supper of broccoli salad, beef stroganoff, corn apple cobbler and orange drink. Called Anne.

Tuesday July 22, 1997 Duncan - Victoria

Got up at 6:30 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of oatmeal, scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, orange juice and fruit. Biked out about 8:15. Rode fairly fast with John Bartlett and Dick Lehman. After turning toward the ferry helped Pete Peters fix a flat. Got to ferry about 9:30 and had to wait until 10:30. 24 of us crossed the ferry at C$4.50 each to Butchart Gardens at C$14.50. Left the Gardens about 12:30 with John Bartlett, Larry Sands and Brenda Kreutz. Rode to the east coast and around the shoreline south to downtown Victoria. Stopped at 2:00 at the Smugglers Cove Pub for salmon cheese melt, french fries and beer for C$13.75. The pub was a neighborhood place and we sat upstairs with the great water views. Stopped at the La Traverna in Victoria for pie, ice cream and milk for C$7.63. Rode through China Town and walked the waterfront by the harbor. Went to supper at the Wharfside Restaurant for fish and chips and beer for C$26.41. Took shoreline route to camp arriving at 7:50 at Fort Victoria RV Park after 53.5 miles. Showered and did laundry. Talked to an east German woman vacationing with her family in Canada. To bed at 10:45.

Wednesday July 23, 1997 Victoria, BC - Port Angeles, WA

Got up at 5:40 and shaved. Packed up and loaded bike on truck. 7:00 breakfast of frosted corn flakes, raspberry yogurt, chocolate filled donut, banana and orange juice. 8:00 bus to Victoria. Walked to Craigdarroch Castle C$7.50. Walked back to the harbor and through the BC Capitol Building and the Empress Hotel. Pub lunch of salmon soup, salmon pasta, pint of New Castle Brown Ale and blackberry pie with ice cream for C$23.16. Sat around the waterfront until 2:45 when we met the bus at the ferry. The ferry left at 3:15 and arrived in Port Angeles about 4:45. Bused to Al's RV Park and set up. Five new people joined us replacing Jennie Peters and the Carters who left early this morning. Jeff Marks left us yesterday. Dick and Kay also left for a couple of days. Supper of tuna salad sandwich, tomato soup, corn chips, Oreos and orange drink. Breezy and cool in the shade.

Thursday July 24, 1997 Port Angeles - Dosewallips SP

Got up at 6:05. Packed up and had 8:00 breakfast of hot oatmeal, pancakes, sausage and orange juice. Biked out about 9:00. Dick Lehman caught me after a few miles and we rode together the rest of the day. The road was rolling along the coast mostly with a nice tailwind so we rolled right along. Stopped in Discovery Bay after 30+ miles for a Squirt and cheese crackers for $1.35. Joel Jelsema joined us. Had to slow down so we didn't get to camp before 2:00. Stopped in Quilcene at the Loggers Landing Restaurant for lunch of turkey salad croissant, potato salad, ice tea and blackberry pie with ice cream for $7.41. Biked to Brinnon where we stopped for Eskimo ice cream bar for $1. Rolled into Dosewallips State Park Campground at 2:00 after 56.8 miles. Set up and showered. Walked to the Duck House for 2 Weinhardts Dark Ales for $5 plus $.50 tip on deck by the water with Sandy Robinson, Flora Newblatt and Jerry Ludlum. Joel Jelsema greased my idler wheel on the rear derailleur. Walked back to 6:00 supper of noodle turkey, salad green beans, rolls, chocolate mousse and orange drink. Chatted with several people and wrote in my journal. Went to bed at 10:00.

Friday July 25, 1997 Dosewallips SP - Shelton, WA

Got up at 5:45 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of strawberry granola, banana, cream of wheat, orange juice and milk. Got underway about 8:30. Biked with Les Avery, Pete Peters, John Bartlett and Joel Jelsema. Warm with a slight tail wind. Road rolling with a good shoulder along the west shore of Hood Canal. Stopped in Lilliwamp for orange juice and cheese crackers $1.34. Turned off US 101 left onto Washington 106 to Union where we stopped at the Hoodsport Inn for lunch of grilled chicken and bacon sandwich, french fries and a bowl of clam chowder for $10.89. Stopped in Allyn for wild blackberry ice cream cone for $1.93. Biked into Shelton where we stopped at a Dairy Queen for a root beer float for $1.93. Biked up a hill to 1900 King Street at the United Methodist Church after 73.4 miles. Set up and showered outside. 5:30 supper of spaghetti, garlic bread, slaw, lemonade, milk and peach pie by the church youth group. Walked to Orient Express with John Bartlett for 2 Weinhards Dark Ales for $5 plus $1 tip. To bed at 10:00.

Saturday July 26, 1997 Shelton - Raymond, WA

Got up at 5:45, shaved and packed up. 7:00 breakfast of omelette with potatoes and sausage, hot oatmeal, orange juice and a biscuit. Biked out about 8:15. A little cool but it soon warmed up to a hot day in the 80s. The road was mostly flat and downhill overall. Little traffic until we reached Montesano at 40 miles. Rode with Les Avery, Pete Peters, John Bartlett, Larry Sands and Brenda Kreutz. Les and Pete dropped off after Matlock. Stopped for breakfast at Savory Faire of bacon, eggs, toast, potatoes and orange juice for $8.26. Biked to Raymond without stopping. Went to the Top Notch Tavern for 3 dark ales for $5.30 plus $1 tip. Biked into Timberland RV Park about 3:30 after 67.6 miles. Set up and showered. Very warm except for an occasional breeze. 6:30 supper of salmon, rice, slaw, rolls, orange drink, brownie and ice cream. To bed at 10:00.

Sunday July 27, 1997 Raymond, WA - Sunset Beach, OR

Got up at 6:00 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of blueberry bagel with strawberry cream cheese, hot cream of wheat, orange juice and banana. Biked out at 8:05 and followed US 101 south through some hills to the coast. Biked with Les Avery, Pete Peters and John Bartlett. Les was tired so we went pretty slow. At 21.4 miles my rear tire blew with a busted cord near the bead. John had a foldup which I put on and continued. Biked across a long bridge (4 miles) into Astoria and Oregon. Stopped at the Red Lion Seafare Restaurant for brunch buffet of cantaloupe, watermelon, green mellon, strawberries, strawberry cheese blintzes, red potatoes, sausage, belgian waffle with blueberries and whipped cream, orange juice and Mexican omelette for $9.25 plus $1.50 tip. Biked into the Sunset RV Park about 2:45 after 68 miles. John and I walked over to a store and I bought 2 Weinhards Dark Ales for $1.80. Took John's foldup off my bike and returned it. Got a new tire from Wheels and put it on. Did laundry for $1 plus $.75 to dry. Janita gave me the soap. 6:30 supper of taco, chips and cheese, corn on the cob, orange drink and blueberry cake with fresh blueberries on top. To bed at 10:00.

Monday July 28, 1997 Sunset Beach, OR - Newport, OR

Got up at 5:15 and shaved. Packed up. 6:30 breakfast of hot biscuits and sausage cream gravy, hot oatmeal, orange juice and banana. Bused to Tillamook where Bob Rousculp, John Bartlett, Pete Peters and I started biking the 3 Capes route. It was quite hilly with little traffic and very scenic. Biked through some dunes and stopped after 36 miles in Pacific City at the Pelican Brew Pub for lunch of rice, ling cod, black beans, a pint of Scottish Ale, clam chowder (outstanding) and raspberry cheesecake for $14.90 plus $2 tip. Biked on to Lincoln City where we stopped for a can of Squirt for $.60. Biked on through Newport to South Beach State Park site 17 arriving at 5:30 after 90 miles. Set up. 6:30 supper of ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, bread and chocolate granola. Called Anne and left a message for Dave. Showered. Don Burkhart returned from laundry with 2 Hamms 16 oz beers for $1.20. I really needed them. Drank them and listened to classical music (Boccorini). To bed about 10:15. It was the toughest ride of the entire trip with over 5000 vertical feet climbing.

Tuesday July 29, 1997 Newport - Florence, OR

Got up at 6:20 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of egg muffin, oatmeal, orange drink and fruit salad. Biked out about 8:30. Pretty cool with some clouds. Followed US 101 along the coast all the way. Decent shoulder most of the time and rolling hills. Very pretty. Stopped in the Tally Ho for butter bun and milk for $1.95 plus $.30 tip. Saw hundreds of seals on the beach but they were the same color as the sand. Went through a tunnel. They have a flashing yellow light that warns motorists that there is a bike in the tunnel. Stopped on a high overlook near the seal cave and saw more seals on the rocks and in the water as well as a small whale rolling and blowing. Stopped in Florence at the Whistler for a Texas barbecue beef sandwich, french fries, slaw and a Mullins ESB pint for $9.20 plus $1.50 tip. Rode along the waterfront in Florence and stopped for a pint with Larry Sands and Brenda Kreutz for $3. Biked into Honeymoon State Park at 3:30 after 54 miles. Set up and showered. 6:30 supper of chicken noodle casserole, hot chocolate, green beans and pecan pie with whipped cream. Listened to the radio and went to bed at 10:00.

Wednesday July 30, 1997 Florence - Coos Bay, OR

Got up at 6:15 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of hot oatmeal, potato onion omelette, orange drink and banana. Biked fairly fast to Reedsport where we stopped for a butterhorn and milk for $3.30. Took a side trip down to a lighthouse and back. Lunch of chicken salad sandwich and fruit with a draft beer at the PV Motor Lodge in N. Bend for $9.45. Crossed a big bridge going into N. Bend. John Bartlett and I stopped at the Portside in Charleston for a cup of clam chowder, Henry Weinhards dark ale and a draft honey wheat for $9.70. Saw Larry Sands and Brenda Kreutz in the Portside. Biked into Sunset Bay State Park about 4:00 after 58 miles. Set up and showered. 6:00 supper of potatoes, broccoli, melted cheese, hamburger, raw tomatoes, raw onions, black olives, sour cream, salsa, hot chocolate and marshmallow pineapple, mandarin oranges and coconut desert.

Thursday July 31, 1997 Coos Bay, OR - Crescent City, CA

Got up at 5:45 and packed up. 7:00 breakfast of banana nutbread, orange drink, and cream of wheat and banana. Bused to just north of Pistol River. Started biking at 10:47 by myself. Averaged 17.3 mph over many hills to Brookings where I stopped at the Rancho Viejo for lunch of burrito, rice and black beans for $5.75. Continued on to the Village Camper Inn at Crescent City, California after 54.3 miles at 2:00. Waited for Sam, Myrt and Dave to return from Burger King and then returned for some ice tea. Grabbed bag and rode with Sam about 50 miles through beautiful redwood trees and canyons along a river back to Dave's house 6 miles from Selma. Went to Cave Junction to the Pizza Deli for dinner of pizza and two blackberry porter pints for $26.65. Went to bed at 10:30.

Friday August 1, 1997 Selma, OR - Arcata, CA

Got up at 5:50 and packed my bag. Breakfast of pineapple coconut juice, banana and bran check cereal. Left about 6:40 in Dave's 65 Mustang for Crescent City arriving at 8:00. The bus and truck were gone leaving only Dan Porfilio and the car. Loaded bag in car and biked out at 8:27. Went 4 miles to downtown Crescent City where I had a flat from glass that took 40 minutes to fix because of getting the tire off and then back on. Got going and hit a steep 3 mile hill. Caught Les Avery, Pete Peters, John Bartlett and Joel Jelsema fixing a tire at the 20 mile mark. Very pleasant ride through the redwoods stopping to see The Big Tree 304' tall. Stopped at the Prairie Creek Restaurant for German sausages, potato salad, salad and ice tea for $10.35. Rode on stopping in Trinidad with Joel, John Bartlett, Larry Sands and Tina Ross to see the harbor and pier. I hit something hard coming down a big hill and flatted my rear tire. Rode into Arcata to the Brewery for 2 pints of beer for $3.50 plus $.50 tip. Rode into the United Methodist Church on 11th Street at 5:45 after 78.9 miles. Rode to showers at the YMCA. 6:30 supper of spaghetti, salad, bean salad, milk, cookies, cake and pear at the church. Ron, a town policeman took 4 of us on a tour of Eureka. Very nice. To bed at 10:45.

Saturday August 2, 1997 Arcata, CA

Got up at 7:10 for 8:00 breakfast of blueberry bagel, cream of wheat, pears and orange juice. Bused to Ferndale, a Victorian town south of Eureka. Walked around town until lunch of beef sandwich with tomato, onion and horseradish and potato and bacon soup with Snapple lemonade for $6.75. Returned to Arcata about 2:00. Flat rear tire because the patch leaked so I changed the tube and patched 3 tubes. Got 4 small tube patches from Wheels. Did laundry for $1.25 wash and $.75 to dry. Biked to Humboldt Brewery with Larry Sands and found John Bartlett and Bob Rousculp there. Had 2 Red Ales for $3.50 plus fish and chips, pint of Red Ale and fish Cajun taco for $13.95. Biked back to church after 1.1 miles and patched a final tube.

Sunday August 3, 1997 Arcata - Leggett, CA

Got up at 6:15 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of orange juice, baked oatmeal with cherries and whipped cream. Bused south to Scotia where we unloaded . Biked out about 10:15 and down the Valley of the Giants. Easy riding in the deep shade of the giant redwoods. Stopped at the Miranda Cafe about 12:00 for lunch of mushroom hamburger, fries and vanilla milkshake for $8.30 plus $1.25 tip. Riding with Les Avery, Pete Peters and John Bartlett. Very hot. Alternating between US-101 and Cal-271. Went down a dead-end road about 4 miles out of Garberville and over some pretty steep hills, one about 12%. Passed a reggai concert along the river with about 10,000 people. Had a slow leak in rear and finally had to stop and fix it by removing a very fine wire. Struggled a little getting in in the heat. Arrived at the Leggett Presbyterian Church at 5:30 and rode into town about 1/2 mile for a Coors and Heineken with Larry Sands and John Bartlett for $4.83 plus $1 tip after 77.9 miles. Set up and went to 6:30 supper of chicken, rice, slaw, apple sauce, bread and cake. Took a cold shower from a fire truck.

Monday August 4, 1997 Leggett - Mendocino, CA

Got up at 6:20 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of omelette with potatoes, peppers, onions, orange juice and fruit. Biked out at 8:11 and climbed 1000' vertical hill over 3.7 miles. Winding road up and then a great downhill through the redwoods. Went over another major hill and then came out to the coast. The coast was great riding with constant up and down. Stopped in Westport for a Squirt and cheese crackers for $1.25. Stopped in Ft Bragg at the Grille for lunch of pasta salad with olives, fish, shrimp, clams, tomatoes and a pint of North Coast Red Ale for $11.37. Biked into Mendocino where "Murder She Wrote" is filmed and toured the town. Ran into Bob Rousculp and stopped in Dick's for a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and a Scrimshaw Pilsner for $4.50 plus $.50 tip. Biked up to Dorris Hammer's house in the redwoods arriving about 3:30 after 56.8 miles and 4300' climbing. Set up and showered. Sag came in and I found out that Joel Jelsema had a bad accident crossing the center line and hitting a logging truck. He did major damage to his right ankle and completely destroyed his bike. Rode into town in the car and stopped at Pattersons where Larry Sands and John Bartlett were. Had 3 Red Seal pints and pork, mashed potatoes and apple sauce for $15. Kelly Patterson, the bartender, sang a song and was very good. She is singing at Candlestick Park in September. Had ice cream and cake at Doris Hammer's home after returning.

Tuesday August 5, 1997 Mendocino - Manchester, CA

Got up at 6:40 and packed up. 8:00 breakfast of orange juice, oatmeal, french toast, sausage, banana and milk. Biked down to bus parked at the local school. Loaded gear on bus. My sleeping bag fell off of the shuttle truck and coach retrieved it with the car. Biked out about 9:15 along the coast which is very rugged with many neat little coves. Flat tire at 5 miles because of glass or shell. Stopped at 11:00 in Elk at the Greenwood Pier Cafe for delicious hot plum coffee cake and milk for $4.30. Biked up a hill with a 20% grade. Biked past campground to Point Arena and then to beach where we ate lunch of Cajun snapper, salad, french fries and a pint of Amber for $14.34 at the Galley. Biking back we took a 2 mile detour to the lighthouse against the wind. Got back to the Manchester Beach KOA about 3:00 after 50 miles. Set up and drank a Negro Modela (2 for $2.75). Showered and drank another Negro Modela. 6:00 supper of cabbage and noodles, knockwurst, corn, hot chocolate, corn bread and caramel chocolate brownie. Dorothy Hammer joined us for supper.

Wednesday August 6, 1997 Manchester - Bodega, Bay, CA

Got up at 6:20 and packed up. 7:30 breakfast of pancakes, sausage, hot oatmeal, orange juice, milk and banana. Biked out of camp with Les Avery, Pete Peters and John Bartlett at 8:15 in a fog and a good tailwind. The fog lifted after about 10 miles. Not much traffic and no shoulder but great scenery. Stopped in Gualala for a biscuit and jelly with milk for $2.63. Stopped in Stewarts Point for a Squirt $.65. Biked over a large hill that took us above the fog bank over the water. Biked into Jenner about 12:30 and stopped at Rivers End Restaurant for lunch of cheeseburger, fries and 2 Brown Ales for $17.50. Biked into Doran Beach Regional Park about 3:30 after 72 miles and 3440 vertical feet. We have biked a total of 107,000 vertical feet on this trip. Set up on the beach and showered. 6:00 supper of pork chops, scalloped potatoes, apple sauce, salad and sundae.

Thursday August 7, 1997 Bodega Bay - San Francisco, CA

Got up at 5:40 and shaved. Packed up before 7:00 breakfast of banana nut bread, bagel, orange juice, milk, hot oatmeal and banana. Bused to a mall where we unloaded our bikes. Biked through Sausalito and over the Golden Gate Bridge arriving about 1:00 after 16.5 miles. Very windy and crowded on the bridge. Ate pepperoni pizza and Snapple at the end of the bridge over the warehouse where I worked in 1961. Loaded our bikes and bused to the Super 8 room 105 in Daly City. Shared room with John Bartlett. Showered and bused back to Fishermen's Wharf at 4:00. Walked to dinner of linguini, shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, squid, bread and 2 draft Ambers for $20 at the Fior d Italia the oldest Italian restaurant the US with Jerry Ludlum and Larry Sands. Walked to the Fed-Ex office to get Larry's bike rack at 7:30. Walked through China town and back to Pier 39 in Fishermen's Wharf. Had ice cream cone for $1.94. Watched hundreds of seals bark and fight on several floats. Met bus at 10:00 and back to the Super 8 and bed at 11:00.

Friday August 8, 1997 Bus San Francisco, CA - Nevada

Got up at 6:05 and walked to breakfast of 2 eggs, potatoes, sausage, apples, milk and orange juice at La Qunita for $9 with John Bartlett. Repacked and showered and shaved. Bus left hotel at 9:15 and went up freeway to I-80 and across the Bay Bridge east. Stopped for gas and ate some crackers and orange juice for $1.94. Stopped again and ate cashews and a large Snickers bar for $2.09. Stopped in Boomtown west of Reno for supper of chicken fajitas, salad, soup and ice tea for $12.65. Left Ruth with her brother. Joel Jelsema out of the hospital and Dan Porfilio and Bob Rousculp in the car met us. Met Gary and Barbara Anderson, who biked across the country with me last year, in the casino.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 9-11, 1997

Bused across Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois to Upland, Indiana arriving at 11:15 pm on Sunday night. We slept on the bus so I left Upland at 11:55 pm in my car and drove all night to Columbia, Maryland arriving at 9:15 am after 580 miles.

Trip Costs

Trip		$3,995.00
Bus		$200.00
Cash		$400.00
Cash ATM		$221.38
Visa		$851.11
Total		$5,567.49