May 18 Over Steven's Pass^^^^^

Cool morning! After some bad Folger's coffee and Deli b'fast we start up the pass at 8:30 (slowly, cuz I have never pulled this kind of weight up 3100' in one stretch). The idea was to ride some of the old SR 2 that takes a more circuitous route up to Stevens Pass. Well, we got in about 5 miles of gorgeous forested, meandering old route before reaching snow and being forced back out onto the new road. But we did surprise the heck out of a black bear who hightailed it up the ridge. Slow and steady and with verbal proddings from Dan, we reached 4061' Stevens Pass at noon after a 3 hour, 3100' climb, averaging 6.5 mph. Smokin'! One can almost count the flowers at that speed!
Dan and I say goodbye and he heads west. The phone rings and it is another longtime Seattle friend, Sarah Cooke, who was en route over SR 2 to attend a conference in Wenatchee. Sarah is always good for some treats and is a veteran of more long epic trips than anyone I know. She catches me 10 miles down the pass and out pops some delish homemade quiche. Gonna be hard when I get further from home and the "treat wagon" doesn't show...
Mostly long downhill runs (tough on the wrists) bring me to the gorgeous Tumwater canyon, some nasty headwinds, and the Bavarian-ish town of Leavenworth. It's much warmer down here on the plains of eastern Washington. A quick 5 more miles past many fields of fruit orchards and one big American flag, reach me Peshastin and the home of Steve and Kristin Keene. For many years Steve gave me trumpet lessons and was the originator and conductor of Brassband Northwest, in which I play. Steve and I spend the evening troubleshooting Gary's new blogsite, camera compatibilities, and cell phone. Technology is definitely moving faster than me on my bike!