Day 6
Hermiston, OR to Walla Walla, WA
Miles: 70 mi
Elevation Gain: 3,014 ft
Today’s Ride
WooHoo! 🎉 Today we officially said goodbye to Oregon and rolled into our second state — Washington! Crossing into Walla Walla felt like a milestone, and with “only” 70 miles and just over 3,000 feet of climbing, it even felt like an easy day compared to what we’ve been tackling.
The morning took us through more of Oregon’s beautiful rolling wheat fields, and by afternoon we were happily in town, grabbing ice cream while waiting for our hotel rooms.
Settling into Routine
Six days in, I’m finding my rhythm when I am done riding: stretching, washing my kit (it’s easier to hand wash daily than fight for one washer/dryer with 23 riders), cleaning water bottles, charging all the devices (Garmin, lights, radar, heart monitor, watch — the list never ends), and laying out clothes for the next day. And, of course, taking good care of my bum — non-cyclists may not know this, but a lot of work goes into taking care of your butt, chamois cream is basically liquid gold, then you add in the Desitin and A&D ointment - when you’re in the saddle for hours every day this is mandatory!
Highlights
🚴 Crossing our first state line into Washington!
🍦 Ice cream stop in Walla Walla
🎶 Discovering the local record store Hot Poop (yes, really!) — which also happened to be the “local business” featured in my hotel room tonight. Quite fitting given what the heat and riding have done to my digestive system these past few days. 😂
💛 Group energy staying strong, despite the relentless heat
Even with the shorter distance, today was still hot and tiring, and we’re all hoping the temps cool off soon. But spirits are high, and I’m starting to really look forward to our first rest day on Sunday in Missoula, MT. Best of all, Steve will be joining me there, and I can’t wait to see him.
Crossing into Washington felt like a huge step, but when you look at the map, it’s clear we still have a very long way to go. One pedal stroke at a time. Thanks again for all the love, support, and positive vibes — your comments, messages, and encouragement mean so much! 😘
