Season 4 Episode 6. What would Jack Bauer do?

Season 4. Episode 6. What would Jack Bauer do?

7/26 Cle Elum to Royal City, WA 84 miles. 2783’ climb. 

The first half of today’s ride, was on old Highway 10, a quiet road along the scenic Yakima River to Ellensburg, a small college town. 

It’s the first time I’ve noticed how just like the game “Rivers, Roads and Rails”, the 3 run so often close to one another. For a stretch, we were on the road, within 50 yards of the Yakima River and the railroad.

Today started a few days of more wheat fields than we’ve ever seen.

And then there was desert. Who knew Washington had a desert? Craig, our host in North Bend, had warned us of this - it was one of the “cons” we weighed. Heather and I felt at times like we were back on the Southern Tier ride in 2021 in Arizona and West Texas.

As we arrived in the town of Vantage, we could see the short bridge on I-90 that would cross the mighty Columbia River, the waterway that influences much of the Pacific Northwest.

If we crossed this bridge on I-90, we would save 8 miles of riding. Otherwise, we had to ride further south to use a bike crossing that was SPECIFICALLY recommended to us and selected by Ride with GPS. However, in the department of “Heather and Mark think they know better”, we were eager to take this closer bridge and save the miles as it was getting hotter, and we were getting more drained. We also believe when westerners tell us to avoid a road as there is lots of traffic, (westerners want no cars) that’s different meaning for us as East coasters with a greater tolerance for cars. Was this bridge truly to be avoided? How to decide? Heather was ready to just go for it. I am the more cautious of the two. 

That’s when I had a breakthrough. As a huge fan of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) as a counter-terrorism agent in the TV show 24, I thought of what would he do: “Chloe, get me a drone shot”. And so... 

I befriended two college students at the gas station, explained our situation, and asked what they thought and if they were going that way. Carah and Sam agreed to take photo and video footage as they drove across the bridge and text it back to us. I kind of think they enjoyed this mission and contributing to our cross-country ride.

Clearly zero shoulder! Our decision was made to ride south to the Beverly crossing. Thanks Carah and Sam!

At least it was scenic riding along the Columbia.

But the hot, dry desert was taxing.

Clearly a much safer bridge!

At one point, a bike detour that was not rideable.

Then there was a long, slow climb.

At last, our destination.

We confess we had low expectations for our stop in the tiny, nondescript town of Royal City, population 2,217. We had not researched this place in our original plan and found ourselves here more out of necessity. And that is a life lesson for us! As we both feasted on a delicious smoked half chicken dinner, we agreed this restaurant would be just as at home in New York - in ambience and food quality. We met our hosts, Josh and Lisa, who are Gard vintners. They have the two simple characteristics that always make for great conversation - they are interesting and interested. Josh reviewed our route in detail for the next day to make sure we were on backroads and the less hilly option. He told us “lucky” we were not there last week when the temperature was 108. Today it topped out at 84. (I see now as I write a week later that it has since soared back up to 100.) Hmm, that luck again. 

To top it off, I enjoyed the most moan-worthy dessert. Two moans in every spoonful. And with the pistachio topping and Heather’s nut allergy, I had to eat it by myself. This could make my all-time top desserts list! And now that I’m on a statin for cholesterol, I was tempted to have seconds, but knew better.

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7/27 Royal City to Ritzville, WA 76 miles. 3144’ climb. 

Patches of fruit orchards using drip irrigation.

Fresh Washington fruit. Gets you thinking about where and how your food grows.

Lots more desert, unfortunately not dessert. A hard afternoon as heat picked up and few shade stops.

We both like seeing the wheel line irrigation systems. In some places wheat grew as far as our eye could see.

As Washington is known as The Evergreen State, it seemed we had traded the forests we would have seen in the Northern Cascades for the fields here. Sounds like a Catan game trade of timber for wheat!

Vibes like Monument Valley in the southwest.

Wheat harvested like a snowblower. I watched for minutes infatuated.

Main Street Ritzville, close to deserted.

One of several scenes we’ve seen of old bikes used as art and/or as fence installations.

More art that impressed me. Horse and stagecoach made from horseshoes.

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7/28 Ritzville to Spokane, WA 66 miles. 1316’ climb. 

We went to bed seeing that our next destination Spokane was in the “orange” zone, with air particulate matter (soot) in the 100-150 count. Not too good.

For the second half of the day, from the town of Sprague on, we wore masks because we could feel the smoke in the air. It wasn’t too bad, but with outdoor exercise for several hours, it seemed prudent to avoid respiratory issues as both of us have needed to use inhalers in the past. 

We hopped on I-90 for a short 3.6 miles. This is the third Interstate on which we’ve cycled since 2021 (previously I-10 and I-5), so it has lost some of the insanity to us. Out west, when there is no alternative, it’s legal and allowed. Or when it saves Heather and Mark 15 miles!

One of our less glamorous lunch spots in a convenience and liquor store parking lot. 

From Cheney to Spokane, we enjoyed about 17 miles of a paved bike trail. A welcome break from road traffic to end this stretch of long rides.

We both devoured our appetizer: Bocce balls which were fresh rolls stuffed with cheese and garlic. We highly recommend dining at the Gilded Unicorn, a cool setting housed in the old boiler room of the Montvale Hotel.

Copyright Mark Segal 2024.