First C&V tour report (lots o' photos)
 

I headed out Monday for my first tour and on a C&V bike - 4 days, approximately 315 miles. I'll spend the next couple of days updating my Crazyguyonabike journal.

Learned a bunch - like:


* don't forget the chain lube/tri flow. The Deore LX developed a really bad squeak yesterday with a good 170 miles to go. I thought maybe the chain was dry. Got some oil on it when I stopped in a town and it didn't help. Got to my friends last night and we cleaned and re-lubed the chain and I backed the screw on the pulley wheels off ever so slightly. Worked for about 5 minutes today and then started again. It was worst (i.e. really, really loud) on down shifts to a higher gear and I could usually adjust with the shifter to quiet it down. I'll take the pulleys apart and check the bearings and also all springs.

* don't do a 110 mile day in 90 degree heat - I was wiped but was on a schedule. Total time of 9 hrs and 45 minutes is a long time.

* it's fun to just enjoy the scenery, but pick a route that is scenic and not monotonously flat and desert like.

* the 1989 Peugeot Limestone hybrid with 28c Specialized Armadillo was a champ and took everything I threw at it. While not light, it was a nice ride.

* the Avocet Touring saddle is really quite comfortable.

* no matter what, it takes about an hour to take camp apart, pack and get on the road.

* while I didn't have front racks on the bike it handled rock solid on descents with no shimmies, vibrations or anything of the sort. It instilled some good confidence.

Some photos:

Day 1:

My favorite place to take a photo of a bike:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...r/SAM_0385.jpg

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Refreshing huckleberry ice cream for "lunch"

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Day 2:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...r/SAM_0406.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...r/SAM_0407.jpg

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Day 3:

Traffic jam:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...r/SAM_0436.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...r/SAM_0438.jpg

Columbia River:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...r/SAM_0441.jpg

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It was 90 degrees at this point and I was not doing real well despite trying to stay hydrated:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...r/SAM_0447.jpg

Dinner at my friends - super burrito and a beer (which I don't drink very often but it sure tasted good)

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...r/SAM_0450.jpg

Beautiful! I can't wait to read the rest. :)

Day 4 - today, the final push home. Only 55 miles

Yakima River canyon - hwy 821 in central Washington

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...r/SAM_0452.jpg

We actually caught the traffic behind the state highway dept truck and then he suddenly stops to check the new paint on the road - seriously?

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Right before my last climb of the ride

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Coming back into our valley - 16 miles from home.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...r/SAM_0459.jpg

looks beautiful and fun!

Excellent pics and story!

Bring on the super burritos! :)

Congratulations. Glad you made it back safely, and saw some beautiful scenery. 9:45 is indeed a long time in the saddle. I notice you say both "I" and "we." Were you traveling alone or with a companion? Besides the chain lube, anything else you wish you had? Or packed & didn't need? Any idea how much the loaded bike weighed?

Welcome back! Great write up and photos, Scozim.

I took several different tools but didn't use them. I wore my hard sole mtb shoes because it was a better fit for my nerve problem. Those soles work great for pounding in tent stakes. I had actually swapped the derailleur the week before the tour and looking back should have really checked it closer. It made it but it also irritated the crud out of me.

I spent a lot of time on the touring sub forum where they've got pretty good lists of things to pack. With only four days and rear panniers I decided to just buy my food and budgeted $25 a day. Ended up spending a little less because a friend bought dinner the first night and the friend I stayed with last night also bought dinner. I posted my list on my local blog here and used most of my stuff. I used clothes each night in the sleeping bag stuff sack for a pillow. Not the most comfortable but it worked.

The difference between I and we was this morning when my friend rode with me the first 15 miles or so before turning around and heading back for work.

Sounds like a successful first tour! I look forward to doing something similar soon. The tricky part will be whether or not to bring the dog... :)

Terrific! Looks like a great route with wonderful scenery - tough to beat those sort of conditions, I guess! Thanks for sharing.

Lovely! I envy you. Must do this soon.

Highway 821 is on my top ten roads list. I used to live on the other side of the mountains, in Enumclaw.


Thanks for sharing!

That looks amazing! Thanks for sharing the pics!

Looks like a blast! Now I even more motivation to do this myself!

Excellent!!! Thanks for the report too!

Great trip report! You had a real adventure in the sense that the outcome was not guaranteed. Very few have true adventures anymore. Well done!

Very cool. Inspiring for sure. I need this in my life.

Nice pictures and write up. Hope to be able to do something similar soon. Other then the pillow were there any issues with the camping?

The ground is really hard when you only have a 1/2 inch foam pad and the sleeping bag (a thin one at that). I bought a one person tent for the trip which was great for weight savings but sucked for any kind of flexibility in turning yourself around in it. I didn't have my stove with me so can't comment on cooking food. Because the temps went up I was plenty warm at night.

I'll definitely do another tour. Having someone else there would have been nice during the really mundane time in the flat lands where the STRAIGHT roads seemed to go on forever. On the flip side, there is something nice about being solo and on your own schedule.

Looks like a great time! I need to go on tour again...

Sounds like you planned it well and had a frat time. A long tour one day is on my bucket list.

I can only add a big plus 1, Scozim. Great pictures.

It would be a lot more fun to stretch it into more than just one day. A one-day tour is, well, just a ride. :D