June 21 — From Wenatche to Electric City — Wow, what a day of riding. We started earlier this morning, with breakfast at 6 instead of 6:30. That was to get an early start on the forecast heat. Well, it didn't help. The temps were in the 90s and we had a lot of climbing through almost desert like conditions on newly chip-sealed roads. Many of the riders just couldn't make it. I did the 100 miles in about 8 hours, about an hour and a half longer than it normally takes to finish a century. There were stretches where the only shade was from a "Pass with Care" sign, and I used that little bit of shade to rest for a moment. By 2 in the afternoon, even that didn't work because the sun was straight overhead. The country we were going through was really pretty, but looked more like Arizona than Washington. And we had headwinds for about 90 of the 100 miles — so much for starting in the west to have the wind at my back. Anyway, as much as I'm complaing, it was a really good ride and as I keep telling myself, one good training day for when I leave on my own with the bob. Late in the day, a group of us traded some sleeping time for a short trip to Grand Coulee dam to see the laser light show. Interesting, but not worth the lost sleep.

June 22. Today was sunny and prime for a repeat of yesterday as we were going 96 miles to Spokane. However, the temperatures were mostly in the 70s and low 80s and we had a tailwind almost the whole way. Everybodys' attitude was much better today. I was pleased that, though I'm a bit sore, I was able to finish in 6:15, and generally felt really good. The All that training time was good for something. The scenery today didn't change much and was mostly wheat fields (which we learned at the light show last night are irrigated from the water provided by the Coulee Dam). Spokane is a pretty little city, but I won't see much of it. The tour time takes quite a big chunk of the evening and add in a little personal time for laundry and blog writing, and the whole night is gone. Tonight, we're staying in Spokane at Gonzaga U. (whose I-net terminal I'm using right now), and tomorrow, it's another 98 miles to Kellog, Idaho. Again, patience is asked of everyone I owe e-mail repsonses to. We have a free day on Sunday and I'll be definitely resting and catching up.

Later. Got to get to the group meeting and get tomorrow's route.