Eoins Blog – Day 8: Superior to Missoula

August 8, 2010 eoin No comments

Day 8: Superior to Missoula – 8th July
Getting up early with no rodeo hangovers, we rolled out of Superior and onto the I-90 again. Mark lead out of the blocks like a train, but no matter how he tried he could not shake Will and Eoin. The terrain we crossed today was mainly rolling hills with a few long drags. The roads were nice and quiet as it was a Sunday morning. We didn’t pass through anywhere of note along the way – the only break being a top-up from the support team.

Today was a day for roadkill though – we saw vultures picking at a dead deer, a snake, some mice and a few racoons. Not distracted by all this morbid excitement, we arrived into town at 1pm having covered 100kms. The scenery we covered today and yesterday has been absolutely amazing. We’ve been following the path that the Clark River has cut out through the Rockies which means on one side we have towering mountains while on the other we have a wide flowing river with emerald green water. It’s been perfect for snapping some good shots. Check out Donal’s photos.

We’ll enjoy a rest day in Missoula tomorrow.

Montana

Eoins Blog – Day 7: Wallace to Superior

August 7, 2010 eoin No comments

Day 7: Wallace to Superior – 7th August
We had been warned about the start of todays ride by the locals in Wallace. Just out of town, there is a ten mile climb with a fairy steep gradient up to the Lookout Pass – a famous skiing spot in the Silver Valley. We set out on the ride and similar to the Tour de France, we attacked the climb with vigour! It was about an hour of hard pushing before we got to the top of the 4800 foot climb which lies on the border of Idaho and Montana. We were into our third State – Woohoo!

After some pictures at the summit, we rolled down the other side of the Pass and on through the rest of the day without too much difficulty. The only hold-up was three punctures Will suffered within half an hour – after which he felt like throwing his back wheel into the gorge below. The route we took passed by tiny Saltese, De Borgia and St. Regis – but these were fairly spread out and not that big.

We rolled into Superior at 2pm having covered 110kms which was a great day. We had secured accommodation in the Big Sky Motel in Superior but again there was a mix up in the jerseys and we were left with no reservation. Fortunately the Motel owner Sharon had plenty of room about the place to fit us in. Eoin and Will slept in the basement, Mark had a roll-out bed in the office, while Rob and Donal put the heads down on an air mattress in another empty room in the Motel. [Insert round of applause here for Eoin who suggested buying the air mattress for just these circumstances. Bravo Sir!]

Superior was buzzing when we arrived, partially because of the COA Team cruising through town, but partially because the County Fair and Rodeo were taking place that night. While we were having lunch in Durangos, the local restaurant, driver Rob Shiels was recruited to perform some Irish songs at the County Fair that evening. Unfortunately none of the COA Team had realised we had crossed into the Mountain time zone that day and had lost an hour on our clocks. Turning up just as the talent show finished and the crowd dispersed, Shiels was seen to be similar to a kettle boiling with rage. But never a man to let such obstacles stand in his way, Rob set up stall at a booth at the Fair and bellowed out Irish classics including Wild Rover and Black Velvet Band (joined by Mark as a cameo).

Shortly after, the rodeo began with the arena packed with a couple of thousand people – Superior has a population of only 800 people! We saw bull riding, bucking horses, cattle slinging, and a fairly insane event that involved kids between 8-15 years old chase after a calf trying to grab a flag tied to it’s neck. After the rodeo, a local band started up and we chatted to anyone that would listen! We got a great reception and we’re glad we hit Superior at just the right time!

Idaho, Montana

On the Road – Spokane to Wallace.

August 6, 2010 donal No comments

The 6th of August, Spokane, Washington, to Wallace, Idaho.

Idaho, On the Road, Washington

Eoins Blog – Day 6: Spokane to Wallace

August 6, 2010 eoin No comments

Day 6: Spokane, Washington to Wallace, Idaho – 6th August

So the COA Team were up early today as a long day of 130kms cycling lay ahead. We began by taking the busy I-90 out of Spokane which was treacherous in parts. It was then that Will suggested we jump on a parallel road to the I-90 which “looks like it runs all the way to Wallace”. Needless to say after a few minutes of following this parallel road, we were off course by a few miles and sought out the I-90 again. By the time we rejoined the Interstate, the rush-hour traffic had thinned a lot and we had no problems getting up a great pace to arrive at the Washington/Idaho State Line after about 90 minutes. Some passing bikers were kind enough to shoot a picture for us. We kept up this blistering pace to arrive into the town of Couer D’Alene for our mid-morning snack. We had covered over 50 kilometres in a couple of hours so our sambos and Powerade were well deserved.

Just after Couer D’Alene, there was a long uphill drag for about ten kilometres before we reached the shady cover of the Couer D’Alene National Forest. On the other side of the climb, Will punctured on the downhill. Mark was scene walking away with a chisel in hand but the two incidents remain unconnected.

After a brief re-stock from the support team, we pushed on through small towns like Cataldo, Kingston, Pinhurst, Smelterville, Osburn and Kellogg – where Rob and Donal enjoyed a cable car ride to the top of the ski hill. There is no snow up there at this time of year though. Actually we keep seeing road signs like “Bridge liable to ice” and “Beware slippery when cold” – you can only laugh when we roll by in 90F heat!

We eventually made it to the small town of Wallace by 330pm – a distance of 138kms covered. We had secured accommodation in the Stardust Motel thanks to the generosity of the owner Rick Shaffer, but there was a mix up in the jerseys when we arrived which meant we had no such reservation. Luckily Rick is the owner of the best two hotels in Wallace so he kindly offered us accommodation in the Wallace Inn instead. We immediately enjoyed a dip in the swimming pool and headed for dinner O’Rourkes – the hotel’s restaurant.

Wallace is a quaint little town nestled just off the Interstate with less than a thousand people living there. The town is known as the Silver Capital of the World due to its mining exploits, and everything about the town shouts 19th Century. There’s no Starbucks, no 7-11s, and it has a real hometown feel to the place. Unfortunately for 5 twentysomethings on a Friday night, this meant there was not a lot to do about town at night. But we were glad to hit the beds early and get prepped for another long ride tomorrow.

Idaho, Washington

Eoins’ Blog – Day 5: Rest Day in Spokane

August 5, 2010 eoin No comments

Rest day – Spokane – 5th August
Having covered over 300 miles on the bikes in our first four days of cycling, our first rest day in the city of Spokane on 5th August was well deserved! Enjoying the luxurious surrounds of The Davenport Hotel in Spokane, we took the opportunity to lie-in and rest the legs for a couple of hours.

To loosen out, the cyclists hit the local park for a bit of hurling – we each brought hurleys from Ireland to spread the gospel. It was a scorcher of a day  in Spokane so we were only out hitting the ball for a hour or so, but plenty of locals enquired as to what game we were playing and how the game worked.

Meanwhile back at base the support team were busy trying to look ahead and drum up publicity in the towns we will pass through in the coming weeks.

When the cyclists returned from our puck around, Mark and Eoin jumped straight into the pool for a swim, while Will aka the Bionic Man, went out on the bike for a half hour spin to make sure his knee injury is kept stretched. Rob and Donal also took a break from the laptops and telephones to take in some sightseeing.

To round off our rest day the Team hit the Spokane nightlife – purely to spread the message of the cycle of course. Good spots for future reference are the Blue Spark and the Marquee, while Irv’s (unbeknownst to the COA Team) is the place to be if you’re not so interested in talking to people of the opposite sex! We live and learn.

Washington

Williams Blog – Day 4: Moses Lake to Spokane

August 4, 2010 william 4 comments

Date 4th Aug
Mosses Lake to Spokane
Distance 180km

I had the physio appointment this morning, Randy the physio said I had a very tight T-band. After showing me a few stretches, massaging the knee and taping it up I was ready to hit the road. Randy kindly gave me the physio half price after I told him what I was doing.

Due to me having physio we didn’t get on the road until around 9.30 which was not wise! My knee was feeling much better and we knew we had to go at a good pace due to our late start. Myself and Mark went on ahead of Eoin. The temp today was close to 95 degrees and there was a headwind the whole way! We found it really hard as we were cycling in the hottest part of the day, we were getting cooked alive!! 30 miles into the day Eoin hit a rock on the hard shoulder and fell pretty hard on his hip and knee. Hopefully Eoin will be ok to join us for the 1st leg of the Rockies tomorrow!

Myself and Mark tore into the rest of the journey and we stopped off at a town called Sprague where we topped up our food and water in the local Conoco garage. After getting talking to Joe in the shop and telling him what we were doing he told us we could take whatever we needed free of charge. Joe’s brother has cancer and we wish him all the best.

We were really feeling the aches and pains! Sore bums, sore knees and the heat in general were really taking its toll on us, well me anyway! Today is our longest day of the cycle ( I think!) so it was important we just kept going. There were a lot of rolling hills and the wind was stopping us from enjoying the down hill! And this is when Mark started playing his mind games with me! Im there clinging to the bike looking like I’m ready to fall off it when he turns to me and says “ Kerwin I actually feel grand, I’m not tired at all” We will see who is feeling grand in the morning when the random drug testers call round to our hotel room in the morning to test him! Im guessing the list of substances in his system will be a cross between Floyde Landos and Dwaine Chambers!

Anyway on we went, hanging onto the bike with whatever little energy we had left!! It was easly the most tired I have ever been and this includes my magnificent victory over a certain COA member Mark Leonard in our recent Triathlon in Athlone!

We eventually arrived in Spokane at 8.30! And we got a great view of the Rockies and what lies ahead over the next week or so!

Washington

On the Road – Moses Lake to Spokane.

August 3, 2010 donal No comments

The 4th of August, travelling from Moses Lake, Washington, to Spokane, Washington.

On the Road, Washington

Williams Blog – Day 3: Ellensburg to Moses Lake

August 3, 2010 william No comments

Date 3rd Aug
Ellensberg to Moses Lake
Distance 135km

We were out on the road at 9 o’clock, it seems the earlier we get up the later we leave. We were up before 7 but some how only managed to leave at 9 o’clock. We really felt the heat today it was up over 90 degrees. The heat was really slowing us down! Our water/powerade was actually warm after about an hour on the road and the bum pain really started to kick in!
The scenery along the route was amazing!

I booked a physio appointment (for my knee) in Moses Lake for 3 o’clock expecting to make it without too much hassle! Little did we know there was some animal climbs waiting for us along the way! The heat and the climbs really drained us of all our energy! At 1 point I had to put Mark on my handle bar, his bike on my back and carry him up the hills, Contindor esque! Due to the climbs we had to re-schedule my physio for the following morning at 8 bells. Dr Steadman was waiting for me!

We arrived in Moses Lake at approx 5 o’clock with Eoin hour behind. With the heat and climbs we were relieved to make it at all!!

Washington

Eoin in Gregg’s Cycles

August 2, 2010 rob One comment

Eoin introduces us to William and Mark’s bicycles, which are hanging from the ceiling in Gregg’s Cycles of Green Lake, Seattle.

(Pardon my chronology – this video was taken last week but due to time constraints is only being posted now)

Eoin introduces the bikes

Seattle, Washington

Williams Blog – Day 2: Snoqualmie to Ellensburg

August 2, 2010 william No comments

Date 2nd Aug

Snoqualmie Valley to Ellensbarg

Distance 130km

Well the day started well, we were up at 6.30 in the morning and out on the road for 7.30. Due to the spray from the waterfall and the fog it looked very cool out and like it was raining. Myself and Leonard still went out in the bare minimum expecting it to heat up later on in the day. Eoin wrapped up like he was going skiing in Vermont!

Eoin got the 1st puncture of the cycle at around 9 o’clock, after changing this we were back on the road. Myself and Lenny went ahead of Eoin and I got a puncture, due to our sheer stupidity neither myself or Lenny had packed any spare tubes so we had to wait for Eoin to catch up. Turns out Eoin didn’t have any spare tubes either and I was stranded!

We were approx 5 km from the next town Easton and around 80km from Ellensberg. Our support team had gone back to Seattle to pick up a few more supplies so they were 2 hours away. After much debating it was agreed the 2 lads would go on ahead to Ellensberg and I would put the bike on my back and run the rest of the way…. Nah not really! I would walk to Easton ( next town). Approx ½ mile from Easton I was stopped by the local Sheriff who happened to be from Ellensberg. He kindly offered me a lift to Ellensberg but I declined his offer and he told me where the nearest service station was. I managed to get a puncture repair kit off a generous stranger!

After helping me repair the puncture I was back on the road! I was having a lot of trouble with my left knee and having great trouble bending it so cycling was very difficult. Eoin and Lenny stopped off for food in the town Cle Ulum. I managed to pass them and they didn’t catch up with me until I had my 2nd puncture! I again repaired this with the puncture kit and we made our way to Ellensberg. We arrived at approx 6 so it was a very long day and my knee was very sore! I jumped into an ice bath for 5 mins and headed on down to the pool! The rest of the team went out to the pub for a few beers to ease the pain of the legs and bum! I rested in the hotel with ice on my knee!

Washington
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »