Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Cannonball: Still Crazy 25 Years Later





Blogger’s note: The Cannonball bike race, begun in 1988 (?) travels from Seattle to Spokane, mostly on the shoulder of Interstate 90.  The ride crosses Lake Washington, then passes by the southern shore of Lake Sammamish, eventually winding its way up into the foothills of the western slope of the Cascade Range.  It crests these mountains at Snoqualmie Pass, elevation 3,022’.  It is not unusual to have rain on the climb; one is still on the wet side of the mountains, afterall.

As one moves into the dryer eastern Washington, the skies clear up … and the monster tail winds hopefully begin.  There are two climbs before the descent into the Columbia River Gorge.  The second, Rye Grass Summit, is on the southern edge of a large wind generator installation.

The 10 mile descent into the Gorge can often be faster than one cares to go on a bicycle.  Then one crosses the Columbia River.  The climb out of the gorge, on the east side, is mercifully only about two miles long.  Then one is in cropland, seemingly forever.

One gradually ascends and, a bit before reaching Spokane, the landscape changes to Pine Savanna.  And so in one long (or perhaps very long) day riders have had a picture of the variety of scenery the state has to offer.

I rode my first Cannonball in 1991, a year of amazing tail winds resulting in terrific finish times.  Somehow I got hooked by the whole experience.  Since then I’ve maybe only missed two years.

Starting in ~2001, the Redmond Cycling Club, long time sponsor of the event, “volunteered” me to run the thing.  So, in addition to riding it, I was always busy with the organization thereof.  At its peak, the turnout hit 41 riders.  In recent years there have generally only been a handful of hearty souls.  Most ride with support, though there were generally a small subset riding unsupported.

A few years ago (2013?) was the last official running of the event.  This probably coincided with my last finish.  But I still love the event, so for the past three years, I’ve put together some sort of version of it, generally just with a friend or two (until this year, when I rode alone).  It hasn’t even involved going all of the way to Spokane: I just like to do enough to reminisce.


2016: 25 years after my first Cannonball

I had put “Cannonball” on the calendar, knowing it did not mean I’d actually ride to Spokane.  But, as the date drew near, I hatched a plan: I’d have a hotel reservation at Moses Lake (Mile 179) and a car reservation the following day in Spokane (Mile 276).  To simplify return logistics, I’d bike to the start.

And so it was, on a wet looking morning, with a wet forecast to the pass and beyond, I set out from my house, some ten miles away from the traditional start line.  The ride had always begun at 3:00 a.m., so I told myself 2:00 a.m. would be a good time to start from home.  As it turned out, I got rolling at 4:31 a.m.

The rain had arrived the previous evening, which made me think that perhaps it was done I wouldn’t get rained on.  Hah!

By the time I reached the “start line,” there was plenty of light.  This would definitely be a different sort of Cannonball, hitting points at a much later time of day than usual.

The ride follows the I-90 bike trail, with riders not actually getting onto I-90 until about 13 miles into the course, at Issaquah.  When I reached that point, it had already begun to rain.  Not only was the forecast wet, for the early part of my ride, but this would also be the COLDEST Cannonball on record!  The high in Easton was 44 degrees!  The low there, on Friday night, 37, tied a record!

While still in the western foothills, I eventually stopped to put on some additional rain gear.  A hiker pulled over, in his car, to see if I was alright.  He was driving to the Mail Box Peak trail head to hike to the top.  I wished him luck with the weather.  Maybe he got some views, but I suspect not.

I did my usual detour at Mile 38, onto a parallel road along Olallie State Park.  This gave me a two mile break from the traffic sounds of I-90 and avoided a small climb.

It was surprisingly cold climbing the pass, though this might be because I was wet (in spite of having fairly decent rain gear).  Finally the top came (one counts the miles!).  I stopped at the Rest Stop there and got a bag of Sun Chips and a bottle of Odwalla juice.

There wasn't still snow at this time of year


Mango Tango®
Fond memory on bleak pass

Then I was off to hunt for the Iron Horse State Park Trail, which is the official detour for cyclists around the construction on the highway east of the pass.  I’d ridden this unpaved trail once before, when it was hard and bumpy.  Now, with all of the rain, it was soft, and I occasionally had to stop and put my foot out, so as now to fall over.  A couple on loaded touring bikes passed me heading west.  I kind of wanted to stop and talk, and I suspect they would have appreciated a break, but a big ride like this weighs on a person, so we just smiled and said 'hi.'  I suspect they were camping.  It's possible to make a several day tour of this trail.  After 8 miles I was back on I-90.

The rain continued, but it seemed lighter.  Then it stopped.  A few blue patches appeared in the sky.  There were even moments of sun.  I was still a bit wet, but this warmed my soul.

As I approached Cle Elum I recalled the Weigh Station, a few miles before the first exit, with its famous metal porta potty (hey, I don't make these things up).  The timing was right, so I stopped.  It also seemed like a good occasion to take off some rain gear.  As I started to bike away, I discovered a flat rear tire.  I laid the bike down and addressed the situation.  The flat was caused by a thin piece of wire from a radial tire.  There is a LOT of this along the shoulder.  I used my trusty mini-pliers to pull the wire out of the tire, then I replaced the tube.  Before I could complete this job a shower arrived.  I was scrambling to get everything put away, and to get my rain gear back on, when the shower ended.  And that would be it for rain on this trip.

Back on the road, I wrestled with the decision one can make at Cle Elum: taking old Highway 10 all of the way to the crossing of the Columbia River Gorge, or sticking with I-90.  The map at the start of the Iron Horse Trail detour implied there would be another detour for cyclists at Cle Elum.  As I came upon the first Cle Elum exit, I saw no detour signs but I did see a sign saying that the next Cle Elum exit was only a mile away.  I decided to go for it, instead of the first exit, because I didn’t need to stop for anything in Cle Elum and in this way could avoid traffic, lights and stop signs.  Once committed to missing the first exit, however, the shoulder shrunk to about two feet wide!  Yikes!  This was to be the longest mile in the history of imperial measurement!  I was happy when I could finally escape that somewhat dangerous situation.

So circumstances had made my decision for me: I’d ride old Highway 10 all of the way to the small town of Vantage on the shore of the Columbia River.  By doing this, one avoids the first climb on I-90 – Indian John Hill.  There is not the terrific view of the Enchantment Range which one gets from Indian John Hill but the proximity to the Yakima River is quite nice.  It’s also very quiet, especially once past where the traffic turns off for Blewett Pass.

A bit before reaching Ellensburg I was having trouble staying awake so took a rather pleasant ditch nap.  At Ellensburg I stopped at Pizza Hut and had a lemonade and a medium Premium Garden Veggie and ate almost the entire thing.

A pizza supreme

I continued east on Highway 10.  For a few miles there was light traffic, then almost none.  Then the road climbs up to the wind farm.  Not too steep, but I was happy when I crested it (2,612’).  The turbines were all rotating and the tail wind was healthy.

Shortly after starting down I came across a great shot of the moon rising behind some wind turbines.  All l had was my DumbPhone, with a lens that needed cleaning, but I stopped and took a shot anyway. 
Note full moon rising behind turbines

The rest of the descent was a screamer!  I hit 37.6 mph.  The sun was getting low behind me and I was hoping to NOT cross the Vantage Bridge in the dark because there is only a two foot shoulder.  I arrived while there was still a fair bit of light and was also pleasantly surprised to see that traffic was allocated to the left lane.  I correctly guessed that I could get around the barriers and have the right lane all to myself.

Things went well until nearly the end of the bridge, where a large construction related truck was taking up the entire lane.  I dismounted, waited for a break in traffic, hoisted my bike over a surprisingly tall Jersey Barrier, jumped over the barrier, got on my bike and started to pedal.  Three cars total overtook me before I got to the end of the bridge.  Not bad.

Then the climb OUT of the gorge was upon me.  As mentioned, it is “only” two miles long, and not killer steep (though does get ones attention).  And after the two miles, one continues to climb, though at less steepness.

From here it was 10 miles to George.  There’s a mini mart, with a Subway, just off the freeway.  In the distance I could see fireworks over George.  This light show lasted almost all of the way there.

I had a sandwich at Subway.  The high for the day in George had been 64 degrees.  When I went back outside the wind was blowing very strongly and it felt COLD.  I put on my jacket and reflective vest and booties.  This was the coldest Cannonball I had ever experienced.  Only once before had I ridden an entire Cannonball while wearing tights.  That time it got warm enough that I could have taken them off, but didn't have to, so did not.  This time it was NOT a choice!

It was 30 miles to Moses Lake.  The time was 10:45 p.m.  I was moving well for about 7 miles and suddenly drowsiness hit me very hard.  I was carrying no caffeine (which is not unusual: caffeine and I do not agree very well).  Now I fought mightily to keep moving.  I also tried to keep away from the rumble strips, partly because of how uncomfortable they are, but also because of what’s on the left side of them.

I struggled for a few miles and arrived at the Winchester Wasteway Rest Area.  The wind screens around the picnic tables were promising.  Without them it would have been too cold, due to the wind, but I was able to take a short nap, then set out again for the final 18 miles to my hotel.

In addition to greatly struggling on this last stretch, I started to lose my appetite for pushing on to Spokane after some sleep.  I had dreamed of getting to Moses Lake before midnight!  That was without factoring in my late start, of course.  

I somehow made it to the heart of Moses Lake.  There is a frontage road for about a mile, then one goes back onto the freeway.  My hotel was three miles on the far side of the town, in a peculiar cluster of hotels and restaurants, sort of isolated from the rest of town.  That was the world’s longest three miles!

To my horror, I arrived at the hotel at 2:38 a.m!  I was happy to discover my package had arrived before me!

Just before collapsing on the bed, I checked the yellow pages: there was a Budget car rental at the Moses Lake airport!

I did NOT recall stirring during the “night.”  I awoke at 8:00 a.m., wondering where I was!  It was quite bright outside.

I phoned Budget and they adjusted my reservation so I could pick up a car at the Moses Lake airport (or so I thought).

Then I showered, had “breakfast” (a euphemism, if ever there was one: they were out of a surprisingly high number of the very few items generally available), put on fresh bike clothes, packed excess items into the box (which I would leave at the hotel) and was just about to bike out to the airport when I decided to go to the computer in the lobby and check the confirmation e-mail.  To my shock, it said I was to pick up the car at the Wenatchee airport!!

I phoned to confirm this and was told that Budget had no location at the Moses Lake airport (contrary to what it says in the Yellow Pages).  I phoned the few other rental car places in Moses Lake: all were closed on weekends.

I set off for Wenatchee, retracing my route back to George.  It was easier now: I was NOT struggling with drowsiness.

I stopped at the rest area, though only very briefly.  As I continued on, I found a cell phone, in great condition, along the shoulder.  This too was a Cannonball tradition!

Then I started to have that out of gas feeling.  I realized I had not replenished my bag, using the supplies I had in the box back in the hotel.  There were two bars still with me from yesterday, so I scarfed them down.

I kept thinking about the time: if the wind was too much against me, or if the hills were too difficult, I might not make it to the Wenatchee airport before Budget/Avis car rental closed!

I left I-90 and turned north toward Quincy.  The sign said seven miles.  It seemed prudent to get something to eat there, but I would need to be fast.  When I got to the turn, in the heart of Quincy, I saw a McDonalds.  The medium strawberry shake and small fries did the trick.

Back on the road, I was now headed west again, toward the Columbia River.  Eventually there is an impressive two-mile-long descent to the river.  From here the route is along the river, a bit rolling, and quite scenic.

There was a brush fire up in the hills.  There were fighters in place and a helicopter with a water bucket, loaded from the river, was assisting them.

Finally I reached the tiny community of Rock Island, near the dam of the same name on the Columbia.  Pangborn Memorial Airport is on a shelf in the hills above the Columbia.  I was anticipating a tough climb … and was NOT disappointed.  One leaves the highway on Batterman Road, to make the climb.  The name was appropriate: by the time the grade leveled off, I was one battered man.  This was the only time on the entire trip that I used the granny gear.  (Yes, I’d even climbed Snoqualmie Pass in the middle ring.)

This climb was a real scorcher.  For quite a while there was no air movement and I was roasting in the heat.  As I got nearer to the top, a slight breeze mercifully picked up.  Finally the road leveled off and the last few miles of the day went passed farms and orchards. 

I got to the airport.  It was quite small.  I biked right up to the door near the rental car counters (both of them!).  It was 4:35 p.m. when I got in line!  My worries were over: now I had a car.

I put the bike in the trunk and drove back to Moses Lake, picked up my box, and headed toward Seattle.  As I approached Ellensburg, the freeway info radio station said there were major slowdowns between Cle Elum and Easton.  I stopped at Ellensburg for a burrito and hoped this break would let the traffic thin out.

Back on the road, I had fairly smooth sailing to the pass and beyond.

Once back in the metropolitan area, things went smoothly until I-405.  From there, to I-5, at least one, and sometimes two right lanes were closed for maintenance.  The traffic moved very slowly, but there was a spectacular sunset to keep us entertained.  On the bridge across Lake Washington, I was reminded how far to the north the sunsets at this time of year!

It had been one incredible weekend, a tribute to the memory of Cannonball.  I had covered 255 miles, 21 miles short of an actual Cannonball.

Garmin data can be found here:




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