Hear are some questions that were emailed to us by a good friend. We will attempt to answer them in order
Coldest night?
Scott:
I imagine it has been in the 40's at night on the coast but I haven't been really cold. On the 8 mile downhills, when you reach close to 40mph, I have had to put on another layer to stay warm.
Sarah:
Bates State park...kept my jacket in my sleeping bag and moved it around to warm the most freezing spots.
Hottest day?
Scott:
Today, on day 20, it got into the 80's. I don't think we have begun to experience the heat that is in store for us ahead.
Sarah:
Haven't had one yet but I hear from other riders that they are coming our way and that "beer caves" in stores will be our sanctuary
Scariest moment?
Scott:
I suppose it was the very first day crossing the bridge out of Astoria. We took the wrong route and it was super busy with cars and trucks with little shoulder room. It was Sarah's first time with traffic like that and I was surprised how much flex a tandem bike has under weight. The tandem became hard to keep in a straight line under such circumstances. She was calling out what was coming up behind us and just the anticipation, coupled with the guardrail and the traffic being right on us, was very stressful. We got to the other side with elevated pulse rates.
Sarah:
The downhill over Makenzie Pass. I was exhausted and the speed and lack of control about sent me over the edge emotionally. I almost closed my eyes but decided that that was NOT in our best interest.
Most unusual person, place or thing?
Scott:
I really enjoyed the hostel in Mitchell. It was unusual because the people who run it also Pastor the chuch that meets downstairs and they are loving cyclists to life for Christ.
Sarah:
"Rackman", just some guy in a white van that kept showing up along our route.
Most unexpected thing about the trip so far?
Scott:
I have been surprised by the poverty. People living off road out in the woods or fulltime in some very unkept RV parks. I'm not talking homeless people but people who are just trying to live.
Sarah:
Riding with a herd of horses; a terrifying thrill.
What joy have you found from the trip so far?
Scott:
Sarah has told me on many ocassions, "thank you for bringing me on this trip." At first I was skeptical but after 700 miles I am beginning to believe her. Riding through some canyons today and stopping by the side of a river for lunch and getting into a town and enjoying a smoothie and coffee tother has felt like being kids again, with my best friend, on Summer vacation.
Sarah:
I have been surprised at how easily I have become accustomed to being a nomad. It has been the simplest things that have brought joy and laughter; cows mooing in seemingly motivational encouragement, birds flying along side of us like tour guides to their world, the silence of nature in the morning, a stranger offering water or bananas.