We are currently right in the middle of Washington State (well, more or less).  This afternoon we visited the Aplets and Cotlets factory in Cashmere, a sleepy little town that is 'famous' (ha!) for this little candy reminiscent of Turkish Delights.  

Let's see, last time we updated we were in Bend, OR.  I (Daisy) really liked this town, and would have loved to spend more time there.  Alas, Canada called and we headed North once again.  About 20 miles from town we stopped for dinner at a Safeway.  We had carried a ton of food, but in the middle of what seemed like endless headwinds, we decided to get the "Shanghai Tonight" special for $9.99, and remarkably it was more food than we could eat.  Ha!  While we were eating a woman offered us a ride and a camping spot in her yard.  She wanted to help us out since her son is plotting a South American bike tour.  We told her that we wanted to keep riding, but thanked her and wished her son luck.  

We ended up stopping that night at the best wild camping spot we've found yet.  There was a beautiful overlook next to the road that included a pedestrian bridge across a 300' river canyon.  Just on the other side of the bridge there was nothing but flat, sandy ground with shrubs and trees.  Taking shelter from the wind behind the trees, we were happy campers on the soft ground.

The next day was characterized by one thing:  HEADWIND.  we fought the headwind all day long.  The internet set that the wind was 20 to 25 mph, but by the end of the day it felt worse.  Eastern Oregon was beautiful, and we could see the mountains still getting snowed on, but it was really hard to fight the headwind.  At certain moments we were really discouraged, but luckily we had a fantastic diversion cheer us up:  at a rest next to the road a herd of donkeys approached and we fed them all of the carrots that were going bad in our food bag.  What fun!  

We called it quits early that night, and camped in the only place around that gave us any kind of shelter from the wind:  a giant pile of gravel.  I dug out a spot right up close and we settled in for the night.  The rain fly flapped until the morning. 

On Sunday we crossed the river into Washington.  Yippee!  I was so excited to be back in my home state.  Actually, I still am.  Even better, my parents met us in a state park next to the Columbia and are now following along with us.  During the day they slowly drive along and explore and we ride, then we meet them in a predetermined campground for the night.  My mom makes the best dinners!  It is wonderful to be greeted in camp by the screaming family dog and a lovely salad. 

Because of this luxury, we've been riding long days.  Monday was just over 100 miles through the flat and mostly featureless "Horse Heaven Viticultural Area".  Apparently the Columbia River has been siphoned off to feed grapes in what would otherwise be scrublands.  The road was in the middle of nowhere, and we almost despaired of making it back to civilization.  Little did we know that we had been gradually climbing up over 1,000'.  We thought it was flat!  And then we descended...

Yesterday, too, we road over 90 miles.  We rode through busy Yakima, stopping for ice cream, and finally got back on the Adventure Cycling route.  Yay!  We were happy to be on pretty roads again.  We spent 25 miles in a beautiful river canyon, and then emerged into the valley at Ellensburg.  The valley... and the headwind.  It was terrible.  Especially Jason, who is built like a sail to catch the wind, was suffering.  We persevered though, and made it into the mountains.  After a wonderful night with my parents in the pines, we finished a gentle Blewett Pass this morning and descended all the way to Cashmere.  If all goes well we will be on the West side of the mountains on Friday night, and in Bellingham in time to see the Farmer's Market on Saturday.  I'm soooo excited!  

 

PS - The computer I'm using won't let me arrange the pictures artfully... you'll just have to pretend!  

Feeding the donkeys!

Daisy's home state!

The Crooked River Canyon north of Bend.  Best wild camping ever!

Shelter from the wind provided by... a gravel pile!

Jason can be protective of his (many) munchies

Family Reunion!  (Except for my sister)

I love Citrus!!