On Saturday August 16 1980 I completed my 50th day of riding and experienced my first serious qualms about the bike. The squeak in the headset area had been getting worse, and there was a “clump” sound emanating from the bottom bracket, keeping rhythmic time with my pedaling. Because of my fear of biking late in the day with these new developments, I managed only about 65 miles.
A couple of nasty hills chastened me too, notably eight miles of steady uphill before entering Grangeville. I had done a leisurely 30 miles to that point, stopping at the roadside to marvel at the view before leaving the “wilderness”. It was 2 o’clock by then, and I managed to fool around in Grangeville until nearly 3:30, by which time I had already decided that White Bird sounded a whole lot better than Riggins, 28 miles farther on.
After surmounting the 2.5 mile climb out of Grangeville, I was treated to a spectacular eight mile downhill into White Bird. I timed myself between mile markers at a minute and a half, or about 45 mph, plenty fast enough for a bike. Upon arrival in White Bird, I downed two Olympias and wished I had more.
A Bikecentennial group that had left Yorktown June 6 arrived at the campsite after a day of rafting. Stuck-up rich kids. Who else should be shepherding them but my friend Gary McFadden. The group is allowing 21 more days to reach Astoria. I’m allowing seven days to reach the coast!