August 6, 2019
In Port Angeles: Hurricane Ridge
Video sound track: Walking on Sunshine, by Katrina
Well, it spoils the suspense a bit to lead with the video; but I misplaced it at the top of the page and there’s no way to remove it or add space above it.
So, I can’t lead with any suspenseful narrative about how challenging the climb was and any doubts we might have had about making it to the top. You already know better - veni, ascendi, vinci. So I’ll just say that it was an awesome climb, on the best day imaginable. Pretty simple story - climb 5,200’ over 17 miles, slowly; eat lunch at the top; walk around and take in the fabulous views; descend 5,200’, rapidly. Wow!
The climb is almost a pure ascent. There is one slight dip of about ten feet, but other than that it is steadily up for 17 miles at a fairly uniform grade. The pavement surface is excellent the entire way. I keep a fairly steady pace for the first 4,000’ of the climb, averaging a bit over 7 mph; but then I start feeling a bit short of breath (from the heat, the elevation, the exertion, who knows?) and slow down for the last few miles, arriving perhaps 20 minutes after Rachael does. Not bad, and gratifying to see that we can still do climbs like this one - it’s been a while.
Heart | 5 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 2 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 2 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 2 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 3 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 3 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 2 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 6 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 4 | Comment | 4 | Link |
The optometrist will surely explain that the eye will always focus on the most handsome .. in this case the sleek vertical stripes of the GBO.
5 years ago
5 years ago
Heart | 7 | Comment | 3 | Link |
Heart | 4 | Comment | 1 | Link |
http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Tragopogon%20dubius
5 years ago
Heart | 2 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 3 | Comment | 0 | Link |
The descent is great fun, especially the last ten miles after the road rounds back to the north side of the ridge and straightens itself out. The smooth surface and gradual grade let’s you relax and just coast. The relatively few cars are respectful, approaching slowly since we aren’t going than much slower than them anyway and waiting patiently until we come to a paved pullout or long clear stretch. With a bit of a headwind slowing us down, we hardly need to touch the brakes at all.
Long descents like this are such an experience., and really distort your sense of time and distance. It feels like you’ve been flying down the mountain for ever, but looking at the GPS you see you’re still only a third of the way down.
Here are a few photos I couldn’t help stopping for on the race to the bottom; but the video gives a better sense of it. As of course you know already.
Heart | 4 | Comment | 0 | Link |
We return to the room by about 3 and indulge ourselves in our latest tradition - a mid-afternoon nap - and get up just in time for another wonderful meal at Kokopelli. If we come back to Port Angeles, we’ll eat there again, I’m sure.
And we will come back some day, as part of a loop from Victoria to here to Port Townsend again. It’s just a matter of time. And we’ll stay in town here. I walked around a bit after dinner again tonight, and found more to attract me here than before. It’s no Port Townsend, but nice enough - and there’s great riding in three directions.
Heart | 3 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 2 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Ride stats today: 40 miles, 5,200’; for the tour: 806 miles, 40,500’
Today's ride: 40 miles (64 km)
Total: 794 miles (1,278 km)
Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 8 |
Comment on this entry | Comment | 3 |
5 years ago
5 years ago
Here's to the afternoon nap! Especially after such an admirable climb .. well done, you 2!!
5 years ago