Flats and Shrugs or (Tacoma to Portland)

It is becoming harder and harder to keep up with the documentation of our trip as we go along.  Since we left Twisp, WA we have encountered so much and words increasingly cease to do justice to those sights.  As we've left the relative desolation and isolation of the farther Northern reaches for the more populated Southerly cities of the Northwest, we've had an increasing amount of amazing stimuli.  (Well mostly amazing.  The greatest proportion of flat tires and other bike trouble began on this leg of the trip as well.  More population,= more towns, more glass, debris, trash, metal, roadkill, you name it.  It all pops tires. ) The following are just a few of the more notable experiences we've had in the past week.  

As we departed Twisp, we again headed out on highway 20 across the North Cascades.  It was a much easier trip from East to West.  If for no other reason than we decided, having nothing left to prove, to hitch a lift to the top of  Rainy Pass and ride the remaining 70 miles downhill back to Rockport.  A nice kid named Bobby gave us a ride in his pickup the 20 or so miles from Twisp to the top.  With that, he saved us about a day of riding.  As it turns out having that extra day proved to be invaluable.  We were able to get to Aunt Liz's house in time for her to show us the Tacoma Museum of Glass.  Liz hosts the artist in residence program there bringing in famous and burgeoning artist from around the world to work in a world class "hot shop".  We got to see it all wrap up on the final day of the summer season.  

After giving us the tour behind the scenes at the Museum, Liz treated us to a fabulous dinner.  Being at Liz's gave us a great opportunity to do some bike maintenance.  Jeremy and I have both shredded a tire and had to replace them.  We've logged 800 miles at this point and little bike issues are beginning to surface.  Nothing serious though.  

On the road to Tacoma and Portland we've slept in some increasingly strange places.  A dock in the middle of a lake and a roadside park to name a couple.  Rural America has fewer campsites than you'd expect but increasingly more food at gas stations and "drive thru espresso". Both of which have given us some essential fuel for the journey.  More logging trucks, less shoulder, and rougher roads have made the journey this leg a little less enjoyable (most notably a scary freakin' bridge across the Columbia at the Oregon border). But the stress of cities and rural logging routes is leaving us increasingly more excited to get to the coast.  

For the Past few days we've enjoyed the hospitality of friends Mason and Karen, and our friend Kevin from Burlington.  The good times here in Portland are many. We're grateful for the pit stop and more time with friends seldom seen.  We're now doing our best to take advantage of the copious resources (and bike shops) of the city before we head out to the coast.  It is likely that our blogs will be fewer and farther in between as we venture there.  Services will be sparse.  Fun will be plenty!

Thanks to all of you that follow along and keep those comments flowing.  It is great to get a little encouragement from all of you and know that people are reading.  

Things are grand for us and it is clear that we are really lucky to be able to do this.  Thanks to everyone who's helped us along the way.  

Cheers, 

David