Month: May 2011

SR20 in Washington continues to be cleared, but this past week of work (the crew’s fifth) shows considerably slower progress.   I’m also now concerned about continuing small avalanches that re-cover the road, especially when it rains.   Not that the odds of getting taken out by one seem very high, but I’m concerned  that the state may not allow passage until the risks are, you know, so low that even the state will allow passage. They hope the road will be open by Memorial Day, only about 6 days before we plan to be there.

Snow clearing on SR20 in Washington is going faster than I figured – they’ve only got 7 or 8 miles left now. I’m encouraged that we’ll be able to take that route.  The crews are keeping a dandy website to show the progress: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/Passes/NorthCascades/updates.htm Our start date approaches, only 20 days off now.  As I’ve already said, “We are rapidly losing our opportunities to abandon this lunatic plan.” To which Jack has most recently replied, (Yes, but) “our chances to prove our lunacy abound.” To which Frank has replied,   “I’ve had my lunatic days; however, this is my first

Yet another conditioning ride.  A surprisingly cool day, probably between 70 and 80F the whole ride with overcast skies for much of it.  Strong headwinds coming down the Beeline – much more work than I really wanted, but it is teaching me not to fret about winds too much – they can be overcome with patience. On Bush Highway by the river, a dead coyote caused me to stop and take a photo, and I then realized it was actually a fox.   I later learned that it is a Urocyon cinereoargenteus, a common gray fox, or in Spanish a

Finally into May and counting down.  Everyone has been accepted to the Ragbrai ride through the lottery system. The Washington DOT crews continue to clear the snow from SR20, and it appears they now have only about 15 miles left to clear.  The crews provide great daily updates and pictures at their website:  http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/northcascades