Week Three: Boise Idaho to Salt Lake City Utah

Monday July 14: 92 km. 96 F sunny. Boise Idaho to Mountain Home Idaho.

Another hot dry day cycling thru scrub desert in southern Idaho. A relatively easy day. We are going to pay for these low mileage days down the road, to keep our daily average. Later this week and next week, our long days combined with much higher elevations will begin in earnest. I am looking forward to the challenge.

We found a sofa someone dumped along the side of the road and it became a Sea to Sea rest stop.

Coming into Mountain Home ID, we stopped at this funky bike shop, where everyone took turns riding this "high wheeler".

Tuesday July 15: 103 km. 97 F partly cloudy. Mountain Home Idaho to Gooding Idaho.

We actually saw clouds in the sky today for the first time in almost two weeks! It was also somewhat humid today, so it was a little more like home for many of us. More travelling thru scrub desert in southern Idaho, interspersed with some agriculture. At one point along the route the temperature hit 103 F, but that was a few hours after I went thru there, so I was spared the worst of it. A little tougher going today, but still a relative easy day for most of us.

When there are no Tim Hortons............. The Pacific North West is full of these little coffee stops. Shades of Starbucks I guess, which is based in Seattle.

Nothing grows here without irrigation

Sea to Sea riders making the grade near Gooding ID

Wednesday July 16: 132 km. 94 F sunny. Gooding Idaho to Burley Idaho

Today was the longest mileage day of the tour so far. Another hot dry day, but with a nice tail wind most of the day. This was a good test for our longer days to come. I did alright, tired by the time we were done. Made it back to camp at 3:30 PM after a 7:30 AM start. Lots of stops along the way, beginning with a stop at Ted Miller's dairy farm. Refreshments (milk of course!) were served as well as a tour of his milking operations. He milks 1,700 cows and his operation is mid size for Idaho. All cows are milked three times a day and this takes 20 hours in two ten hour shifts. The Twin Falls Reformed Church served us a wonderful lunch along the way. We always appreciate these meals, far better than warm peanut butter sandwiches that we pack ourselves. Most of the cyclists made a short detour to visit Shoshone Falls, Twin Fall ID, the highest waterfalls west of the Mississippi River.

Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls ID.

Snake River Canyon in Twin Falls ID.

Zonked out after a hard day's cycling.

Thursday July 17: 142 km. 101 F sunny. Burley Idaho to Snowville Utah.

Our longest ride to date. We began with a pretty long climb and later in the day temps in excess of 100 F. The last 80 km. was literally thru the middle of nowhere with a good stiff headwind blowing. Thank goodness for SAG wagons with lots of water. A number of people couldn't make the whole day. I did very well in the heat, glad that I ride regularly in these kind of temperatures. We are staying at the city park in the very small town of Snowville UT, with no showers available, so a makeshift shower was constructed out of a garden hose and tarps around the baseball backstop. Quite a bonding experience for all the naked guys swarming around one garden hose hanging from the backstop!

The road goes on forever................

One more state down.

Friday July 18: 110 km. 97 F sunny. Snowville Utah to Willard Utah

Another in a seemingly endless string of hot, dry and sunny days. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. When it is cold and raining all day, chilled to the bone, days like this will be fondly remembered. It was another day of travel thru the middle of nowhere for the first 80 km. We skirted the northern edge of the Great Basin which contains Great Salt Lake and the Bonneville Salt Flats. In all my travels I have never seen any landscape so perfectly flat, stetching to the horizon. However, we came upon a rather unusual sight about halfway into the ride. A huge industrial facility out in the Utah desert, miles from anywhere. It was ATK, formerly Morton Thiokol, the maker of the external rocket boosters for the space shuttle, as well as all kinds of rocket motors for the US military. They had a display of all their products for public viewing. Soon there were scores of cyclists swarming all over them. We are staying this evening at Willard State Park, just south of Brigham City UT, which has a swimming lake, a pleasant reprieve from the heat. Everyone is trying to ready themselves for tomorrow's ride, 153 km. with a 2700 ft climb to 7000 ft. in the last 50 km. All this in near 100 F heat. We shall prevail!

All kinds of rockets! The upright one on the right is an ICBM for a US submarine. Gives one an idea of the size of these submarines.

Which way to New Jersey?

Sea to Sea camp in the shadows of the Wasatch Mountains south of Brigham City UT.

Saturday July 20: 162 km. 99 F sunny. Willard Utah to Salt Lake City.

Success! This was without a doubt my toughest day cycling ever. Not just on the tour, but in all my years of cycling. Longest ride of the tour, and 5700 ft. total climbing with a net elevation gain of 2700 ft. and all the climbing in the last 30 miles of a 100 mile ride. Started cycling at 7 AM and finished at 5:40 PM, making for a long day, but it sure felt good to finish the whole route. A number of cyclists were not able to finish and had to catch a ride to camp. First CRC Church in Salt Lake City served refreshments at their church, which was only one block off our route, and again on top of the first grade coming out of Salt lake city after an 1800 ft climb in temperatures nearing 100 F. A woman totally unconnected to the Sea to Sea tour or the CRC was handing out freezie pops halfway up to all the cyclists. Maybe that was typical Utah hospitality. I drank about 15 litres of water thru out the day.

Refreshments served by First CRC of Salt Lake City on top our our first climb of the day.

Reservoir dependant on snow melt supplying Salt Lake City with drinking water.

Ski jumps used for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Park City UT.

Sunday July 20: Jordanelle State Park, Park City Utah

We spend Sunday camped at a beautiful state park on a reservoir near the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics. There was an evening celebration service held in the park with the Salt Lake City CRC churches preceded by an abundant potluck supper supplied by the good folks from these congregations.

Jordanelle State Park, Park City UT.

Potluck supper at Sea to Sea camp with local CRC churches.

Week Two: Kennewick Washington to Boise Idaho

Monday July 7: 111 km. 94 F sunny. Kennewick Washington to Pendleton Oregon

Another hot, dry day. We started out cycling along the Columbia River thru Dead Man's Gulch and then into Oregon along Cold Creek Canyon. We climbed 1300 ft. and then the last 10 miles into Pendleton OR was all downhill.

One state down. Thirteen states and one province to go!

The Columbia River with Dead Man's Gulch in the background.

Oregon wheat fields. (Oregon grows wheat???)

Tuesday July 8: 92 km. 90 F sunny. Pendleton Oregon to La Grande Oregon

We started out cycling thru golden wheat fields on a gentle upslope coming out of Pendleton OR. About 20 kms. into the ride we started into a 3,000 ft climb with a grade of 5%, still a tough climb, but much more manageble than Stevens Pass a week ago. There was a spectacular view of the valley below, lush farmland as far as the eye could see. After about 40 km. we finally got to what typically one would think Oregon was like, pine forests, logging and mountains. For the first time, we had to atually cycle on an interstate highway. Out in the western states this happens more often where there is no other road to take as the interstate was built over the old road. Kind of scary with all the traffic and big rigs, but with the wide paved paved shoulders it was OK.

Cycling out of Pendleton OR

Sea to Sea cyclists climbing a 3,000 ft. 5% grade. Lots of tired and sore legs on this ride!

Note: Anyone wishing to view hundreds of Sea to Sea photos go to flickr.com and look for photos tagged: SeatoSea08

Wednesday July 9: 79 km. 88 F sunny. La Grande Oregon to Baker City Oregon

An easy day after yesterday's difficult ride. Started the day in farmland, climbed up into scrub brush, and then finished the day in a beautiful green valley surrounded by snow capped mountains on either side.

Walter Vink from Lacombe Alberta travelling with the tour as support with his motor home acting as a SAG (Support and Gear) wagon.

Great place to stop for lunch.

Rick Gritters from Pella Iowa with his "rocket bike". He built this recumbent bike himself and has achieved speeds of 85 KM/HR with it. He is riding sea to sea with it!

Thursday July 10: 74 km. 97 F sunny. Baker City Oregon to Huntington Oregon.

Today was a short ride, very hot out. It was downhill most of the day, making for a very enjoyable ride in spite of the heat. We ended up in Huntington OR, a small town, surrounded by scrub desert, with an aging and shrinking population. About 500 people live there, we stayed at the local school which has 76 students from grade one thru twelve. I got a haircut at the local bait and tackle shop/liquor store/laundramat/beauty shop/ barbershop(I'm not kidding), where the owner refused to take any money for the haircut. A very friendly town that left a good impression on all of us.

They named a town after me, except they spelled it wrong!

The school football field where we all camped out.

Friday July 11: 58 km. 86 F sunny. Huntington Oregon to Ontario Oregon

Today was another sunny warm day. A very short ride and a nice tailwind. I was biking with Andy Hiemstra from Port Perry Ontario and he convinced me to let my wild side rule on the downhill. We reached a speed of 75 km. per hour. If anything happens, just blame it on Andy! Today was my mother's birthday. She passed away last year, so this entire ride and certainly today is in her honour. A bittersweet day indeed.

A couple of Sea to Sea cyclists riding down to the Snake River along the Oregon, Idaho border.

New time zone:

"Harley Bill" from Aylmer Ontario cruises the route on his motorcycle helping any cyclist that needs directions, water, etc. He's in for the entire tour and just having a riot!

Saturday July 12: 107 km. 90 F sunny. Ontario Oregon to Boise Idaho

Today was another in a string of hot and sunny days. It was actually a pleasant day till mid afternoon by which time I was in camp here in Boise ID. The ride today was thru rolling hills along the Snake River Valley in southern Idaho. Very nice looking green farmland, all of it irrigated however.

Another state in the books.

Saturday night at the Sea to Sea camp, Timberline High School, Boise ID

Sunday July 13:

We held a clebration service with Valley Life Community Church in Boise ID at a beautiful outdoor amphitheater.

Someone asked me before we left for Seattle if I was about the oldest person on the tour. At 52, I am closer to the median age of 46. Here are four remarkable men who are doing the entire coast to coast ride.

Arnie Issette, Michigan. Age 70.

Gerry Loonstra, Red Deer Alberta. Age 72.

Jim Beezhold, San Diego California. Age 72

Bill Vanderlinde, Pine Island Florida. Age 73.

Week One: Seattle Washington to Kennewick Washington

Monday June 30: 81 km. 90F sunny. Seattle Washington to Sultan Washington

We started our grand adventure in Puget Sound, dipping our rear tires in the Pacific Ocean, and biking to Sultan Washington. A nice easy day flat and level. The CRC churches in Seattle fed us with a wonderful breakfast before our ride at Golden Garden Beach.

Tuesday July1: 127 km. 88F sunny. Sultan Washington to Leavenworth Washington

Very tough day biking. We climbed 4000 ft up Steven's Pass with up to a 7% grade, especially the last five miles being the steepest. The entire Sea to Sea Support staff was on top when I got there. A welcome sight indeed. As difficult as the day was, it will be a good way to get us in great shape. "What doesn't kill me will make me stronger!"

A welcome sight along the way

Snow melt has all the steams rushing down the mountain sides

Even the Washington State DOT recognizes the Sea to Sea tour

Wednesday July 2: 93 km. 101F sunny. Leavenworth Washington to Ellensburg Washington

Another 4,000 ft climb over Blewett Pass. It started out at about 70 F at seven AM when we started out and heated up to 103 F by the time we got to Ellensburg. Get into the tough stuff right off the bat! At about 3 AM we got some "rain" at the school where we were camped out. Someone forgot to turn out the sprinklers. What a soggy mess! At least I now know my tent is waterproof.

Sea to Sea support vehicles and cyclists at a pit stop along the way.

A taste of thing to come. By the time we reach Colorado we will be at 12,000 ft.

Thursday July 3: 68 km. 96 F sunny. Ellensburg Washington to Yakima Washington.

The geography has changed dramatically from lush green mountain forests to desert like conditions, where the only green is along the rivers. It was a pleasant downhill ride all morning. We stayed at the Riverside Christian School in Yakima, where the local CRC church provided us with rides to the local bike shop, Wal Mart, or where ever else we needed to go. Mountains of baked goods awaited us at camp supplied by these same friendly folks.

Sea to Sea bikers along the Yakima River.

Clare Kooistra in his very unique three wheel recumbent (Clare is Jackie Vandeputte's brother)

Friday July 4: 66 km. 75 F light rain. Yakima Washington to Sunnyside Washington

Another easy day. Our first rainy day of the trip. We started out in the rain at 7;30 AM for about half an hour, then light drizzle the rest of the day. Travelling along the Yakima River among cherry, apple and pear orchards. And for all you beer lovers, field, after field of hops. All this lush farmland is only a few miles wide and then desert beyond, brown and barren hills. Apparently only one third of Washington is lush green rain forests and mountains, the rest part of the Sonoran Desert, which stretches from Mexico to Southern British Columbia. The Faith Community Church supplied us with drinks and goodies along the way in the town of Zillah WA. The CRC church in Sunnyside WA provided us with a plentiful and delicious dinner. Then snacks at the church where we watched the fourth of July fireworks. All the the cyclists flew American flags that day, supplied by a couple of Canadians on the tour none the less! We are just absolutely blown away by the support and encouragement we are receiving along the way.

The Faith Community Church in Zillah WA provided refreshments along the way.

Myself and a few other cyclists climbing a grade along the Yakima River.

Saturday July 5: 79km. 85F sunny. Sunnyside Washington to Kennewick Washington.

An easy day along the Yakima and Columbia Rivers to Kennewick WA, where the local CRC community provided rides to Wal Mart, bike shops, laundamats and wherever else we needed to go.

A new understanding of the term "river of life", where without the rivers, this part of the country would be nothing but desert.

Camping in a beautiful park along the banks of the Columbia River.

Welcome to my humble abode (for the next eight weeks!)

Sunday July 6:

The CRC church in Kennewick joined us for a celebration service and fed us lunch. Very much appreciated!

A group of recent immigrants from Myanmar and members of the Local CRC, performed a few songs for us.

June 2008 Training Rides

31 km. Huntington Indiana 84F sunny June 2

34 km. Boonville Missouri 91F partly sunny June 3

39 km. Lizard Head Pass, Telluride Colorado 60F sunny June 6

I started at 8,800 ft and climbed to the summit at 10,300 ft. Total vertical climb of 1,500 ft. Maximum grade of 7%.

70 km. Red Mountain Pass, Ouray Colorado 76F sunny June 8

Finally!! Fifth time is a charm! I have attempted to climb this pass four times in the past, but finally made it all the way to the 11,018 ft. summit. I started in the town of Ridgway at 7,000 ft., for a vertical climb of 4,000 feet. Maximum grade of 9%. It took me three and a half hours on the way up and only one hour on the way back down. A very exhausting day, but I achieved what I set out to do.

No shoulder, no guardrail! Yikes!! Don't look down!!

51 km. Ellis Kansas 60F sunny June 9

54 km. Burlington to Brantford Ontario 25C sunny June 11

82 km. Brantford Ontario 26C sunny June 13

66 km. Brantford Ontario 20C drizzle June 14

41 km. Odessa Texas 75F partly cloudy June 19

77 km. Ridgway to Placerville Colorado return 39 - 75F sunny June 21

7000 ft. elevation to 9000 ft. to 7300 ft. and return for a 3700 ft. vertical climb. Colorado Route 145 is part of the "Ride the Rockies" bike tour, a 2,000 cyclist annual event, taking place three days afte I rode here. Halfway up Dallas Divide, painted on the pavement was a sign "The burning in your legs is all in your mind!" and then near the summit, another sign "The view is worth all the pain. Savor it!" I'm sure that many times this summer, sentiments like this will come to mind.

41 km. Penrose Colorado 75F sunny June 22

40 km. Kingdom City Missouri 87F sunny June 23

54 km. Kinderhook Michigan 80F sunny June 24

53 km. Burlington to Brantford Ontario 26C sunny June 25

Well, that's it for training for the tour. 3700 km. all told. Physically I'm ready as I'll ever be. Now we are off to an adventure of a lifetime! I'm hopeful all goes well for the cyclists and the support team. I've raised about $11,000 to date, and I understand the total raised has topped 1.5 million dollars. Thanks to all the donors for the support, and we all anticipate God's blessing on the who will be helped by this "little endeavor" Now it's off to Seattle! My email address while on tour is dirksseatosea@live.ca

Sleepless in Seattle: Air Canada decided to take my bike for a tour before I did. I arrived in Seattle on Saturdy 3 PM and for some reason my bike went to San Fransisco. I couldn't get an answer from Air Canada as to when it would set here, so after spending a very anxious night and all day Sunday, my bike finally showed up at 7PM Sunday. All was intact, I put it back together, went for a short test ride and we are now ready for the start of an adventure of a lifetime.

May 2008 Training Rides

25 km. Brantford Ontario -2C sunny May 1

40 km. Brantford Ontario 15C sunny May 4

26 km. Springfield Illinois 79F hazy May 6

102 km. Albuquerque New Mexico 70F sunny May 9

94 km. Grand Junction Colorado 60F sunny May 10

Colorado National Monument. This National Park sits on a 2,000 ft mesa with an entrance on either end. I have biked eastbound through the park a number of times in the past couple of years, a climb of 2,215 ft. with a 5% average grade. West bound is much tougher, with an average grade of 8%. Today I biked both directions for a total of 4,200 ft. vertical climb, starting at 4,480 feet above sea level climbing to 6,695 ft., down to 4,580 ft. and back again. A very tiring, but gratifying day. I am often asked why I am always pushing myself physically. My simple answer is "Because I can." I am always grateful to God that at my age I can still manage to enjoy His creation in so many ways. (My own little secret is that that not so many years ago I was a 340 lb. couch potato)

161 km. Denver Colorado 75F sunny May 11

I was feeling a bit down spending Mother's Day out on the road, away from my wife Elaine, the wonderful mother of my three children, but to make the best of a bad situation, I celebrated by doing a "century" ride! Denver has a wonderful system of bike paths, many hundreds of miles of paved trails connecting all sections of the city. There were literally thousands of cyclists out today. I've never seen so many bikes of all kinds in one place.

20 km. York Nebraska 73F sunny and windy May 12

53 km. Prairie Duneland Trail, Portage Indiana 73F sunny May 13

50 km. Brantford Ontario 19C sunny May 15

53 km. Brantford Ontario 9C cloudy May 16

55 km. Waterloo Indiana 55F sunny May 20

72 km Troy Illinois 60F sunny May 21

57 km. Erick Oklahoma 78F sunny May 22

Erick Oklahoma is a decaying town on old Route 66, looking exactly like scenes directly out of John Stienbeck's "Grapes of Wrath"


Anyone had a Nehi Soda lately?

Erick Oklahoma is also the hometown of Roger Miller, whose signature song was "King of the Road" I wonder if this motel has "Rooms to let for fifty cents"?

50 km. Pecos Texas 98F sunny May 23

211 km. Albuquerque New Mexico 74F partly sunny May 24

This was my longest ride ever and when I got back to my truck after nine hours of cycling, tired but feeling pretty good about my self, I didn't unclip properly and down I went. As I lay sprawled across the motel parking lot, my euphoria about my accomplishment that day evaporated in a moment's inattention. An old saying that I have heard a number of times came to mind. "Those that the gods would humble, they first make proud"

179 km. Albuquerque New Mexico 85F sunny May 25

54 km. Amarillo Texas 70F sunny May 26

52 km. Straffordville Missouri 78F mostly cloudy May 27

53 km. Burlington to Brantford Ontario 23C sunny May 29

April 2008 Training Rides

102 km. Burlington to Paris to Brantford Ontario 10C sunny April 3

82 km Brantford to Binbrook Ontario return 9C sunny April 6
First ride on my new bike, which I will be riding on the tour this summer, a Specialized Roubaix. Due to a different geometry and more carbon fibre in the frame, it has a different feel and handling characteristics than my old bike, a Trek Pilot 1.2. This was also my first use of clipless pedals. After all these years of riding, I've decided to come out of the "stone age". After forgetting to unclip, I fell only twice! Other than a bruised elbow, knee and ego, all was well.

32 km. Dallas Divide, Ridgway Colorado 52F sunny April 12
1300 vertical climb, maximum grade 7%, at 8000 ft elevation. I was going to tackle my old nemesis, Red Mountain Pass today, but it was closed due to avalanche danger, after a late winter snowfall of 30 inches the previous day.

50 km. Penrose Colorado 65F sunny April 13

56 km. Burlington to Brantford Ontario 18C sunny and windy April 16

81 km. Brantford to Waterford Ontario return 21C sunny April 17
Spring has finally arrived here in Southern Ontario!

100 km. Brantford to Lynden 2X to Oakland to Brantford Ontario 27C sunny April 18

90 km. Brantford to Cambridge to Burlington Ontario 20C sunny April 19

32 km. Stoner Colorado 52F sunny April 25

33 km. Ridgway to Ouray Colorado return 50F sunny, windy April 26
1200 vertical climb, 700ft to 8200ft

105 km. Canon City to Pueblo Colorado return 65F sunny April 27

23 km. Salina Kansas 55F sunny April 28

53 km. Burlington to Brantford Ontario 9C sunny and windy April 30