This was the big day over Rainy and Washington Passes. The climb started right away but then eased up for a while. Now that I was past the hydro-electric stuff the scenery was much more beautiful.
 

It was a long slow climb. It never looked steep, but all I could manage was about 4 mph. One of these days I will get smart and learn to not carry so much. I found my self stopping to cool off about every 15 minutes for the last couple of miles.

 

 

This sign gave me hope although it didn't feel that easy to me.

 

 

 

 

It just kept getting more spectacular.

 

 

 

 

Finally the first of the two passes. This was the lower one at 4855'. Then it was about a mile of downhill and back to climbing again. The landscape was becoming more extreme.

 

 

 

 

Made it to the top.

 

 

 

 

Heading up to the overview.

 

 

 

 

I took quite a few photos at the top. Will have to link to an album.

 

 

 

 

Quite spectacular. Things changed immediately once over the top. The woods changed to the much drier pine forests typical of Eastern Washington, and it got much hotter. It was a long way down but eventually got to the little oasis of Mazama. There was a very modern store with really good food and just about everything else. I hung out for quite a while alternating from the shade of their patio to the cool of their air conditioned store. It was less than 10 miles from Mazama to Barn Bicycle Camping. I was surprised to find I was the only one there. What a great place! Greg and Jan thought of everything. A solar shower, with gas assisted backup, a composting toilet, a refrigerator, and wi-fi. Interestingly I was also in AT&T range for the first time in a few days. It might have been perfect were it not for the heat. As it was I did not sleep well. I set my Alan for 5 but it felt like I had just gotten to sleep. I still managed to be on the road by 6:15. In the cool of the morning the Methow valley was quite lovely.