Summary

Hi All,

Internet access, thus far, has not been as available as I estimated. The following list of dates and camp sites describes our progress:

07/02 ... Anacortes, WA (start)

07/02 ... Sedro Woolley, WA

07/03 ... Newhalem, WA (nature's embrace, http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Newhalem,+WA&ie=UTF8&ll=48.668178,-121.250439&spn=0.019868,0.057077&z=15&om=1)

Our daily plan is to purchase our evening meal and breakfast supplies as late in the day as possible and thereby carry less weight while cycling. We cook dinner and breakfast at our camp site. (Side Note: the Coleman Dual Fuel Apex Stove is much better than the MSR Whisper Lite. The Apex is no longer in production but the Apollo is even better ( http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=9760-A25&categoryid=2005 )).

We stopped in Marblemount, WA just after mid-day and just before entering the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, part of the Northern Cascades National Park. We considered and decided not to purchase supplies here. Instead, we would set camp at the Vistors Center, clean-up, and mosey into Newhalem, WA to purchase supplies. Well, we leisurely set camp and wash-up and start chatting with other campers. Uh-Oh ... We are informed that the only store in town closed at 5:00pm. Nancy and Nancy were leaving the next day and kindly shared some left over provisions. Lesson learned! Always carry a couple ramon noodle packets, an onion, and some instant oatmeal for those emergency days. Thanks Nancy and Nancy!

The Nancies saved the day!! The kindness of strangers is inspiring.

07/04 ... Mazama, WA (Rainy & Washington kick butt)
07/05 ... Omak, WA (the Omak Stampede rules!) 07/06 ... Republic, WA

07/07 ... Colville, WA (nicest town and park), camp in the park ... not at the fairgrounds

07/08 ... Usk, WA
07/09 ... Clark Fork, ID

Kootenai Falls (just west of Libby, MT)

07/10 ... Libby, MT
07/11 ... Eureka, MT (seven bike tourists alone in the town park, 100 miles)

07/12 ... West Glacier, MT (Logan's Pass and 70 miles)
07/13 ... Cardston, Alberta CA

The MAJOR passes (Rainy, Washington, Loup Loup, Wacaunda, Sherman, and Logan) are now behind us.
Yoo Mi is getting much stronger every day. She climbed Logan's pass in 2 hours this morning. Soo Mi and I saw her at the bottom and then at the top. Park Rangers require all bikes over the pass by 11:00am. She was determined to beat the deadline!

My access time is up. I have too many stories to share!

!!! Our FAVORITE road sign !!!

Go Fast ... JIM