Kruschel Fam Bike Trip

I'm back, coming to you from the Chehalis Community Campground (weekly rates available).  Quick recap of the previous two days: Ellensberg to Ohanapecosh If you ever you find yourself in Ellensberg, I'm sorry. Leaving town as quick as I could I headed west on up Umptanum road.  I add this detail because it was a significant error.  Thank you google maps for sending me two hours out of my way on a dirt road.  Still, the scenery was quite stunning. I believe you can make out Mt Rainer in the background.  The bartender in the town of Naches (where I stopped for lunch) told me that the road was part of the old wagon trail heading west.  Oregon trail stuff, how appropriate. That concludes the photos for this update, that is until I can find some decent WIFI. From the town of Naches I headed west on Hwy 12 towards Mt Rainer National Park. It was hot and the climb was steady to the top of White Pass. The photo to come will show an elevation grea...

Leaving the cozy confines of Leavenworth in late June, I headed south out of town towards Blewett Pass. It was good to be in the saddle again, but disappointing to have left ash, Jonas, and Ginette behind with Rene and Huegette. 90km to Ellensburg, a hot shower, and real bed for the first time in a week. 90km including Blewett pass. I'll admit I had not researched this leg much in advance of the trip, maybe it's good that I hadn't. Here is me climbing: Here is me climbing further: TWe  Here is a treehouse, and a river (you're welcome Steven): More climbing History of Blewett: And finally, the summit! At the summit a guy collecting wood shook my hand and said "I don't know how you did it but God bless you."  Yes indeed. On to the descent where in my head I predicted 100+ km/hr, passing cars and logging trucks while their jaws drop.  Instead, I struggled to push 20km/hr on the descent on account of an extreme headwind. Exha...

With guest blogger.... Ginette! After our 5-day adventure we decided to enjoy a day off in Leavenworth. Most would think of R&R when considering a day off, but we decided a 3 1/2 River Raft tour would be the best way to "chill out". The day began with some breakfast followed by a quick bike trip to downtown Leavenworth...I know right ...you're thinking day off & we hop on our bikes!!!!! Yet that's what we did....ride off in search of some biking essentials & a quick coffee stop. Leavenworth is a beautiful town where even the Starbucks is decked out in a Bavarian theme. Once we biked back to camp, we got ready for our river rafting adventure. It was amazing!!! The worst part was having to get into the black wets suits in the hot sun. But that torture was quickly relieved once we were in our raft. The adventure was epic and most perfect...thanks to our great guide "Sphaghetti" Sam. After paddling through some awesome rapids for 3 + hours, w...

With guest blogger/writer Ashleigh! Wow! I cannot believe it's been 5 days already. After having to skip yesterday's ride due to heat sickness/general malaise, I was determined to do the ride today, and I did it! We all did it. We started off the day cruising around part of Lake Chelan. Next was a big climb which was not the best for right in the morning, but we knew that it was better at the beginning when we were well rested. Although, after that treacherous climb, we had a soothing and cooling descent with a weird-smelling tunnel to forgive dad after taking us on that hill. We continued our fairly flat journey all the way to the outskirts of Entriat where we read this pretty cool sign about an earthquake in 1872. We took this picture near the earthquake point. In Entriat we stopped for a snack and water at a gas station, then had some flat, some up and some down. About half an hour after we had left the gas station, dad, Jonas and I had stopped for w...

After a lovely Mexican dinner and early bed time, we woke early to get a jump on the heat. Grandma and grandpa delivered breakfast to the site , but unfortunately ash could not eat or drink, suffering from heatstroke/naseau/general malaise. We contemplated burying her in a shallow grave at omak, but thought better of it soon after. Saying goodbye to Matt (fellow bike tourer on his way from California to Minnesota) we were on the road by 6:30. We continued south on old Okanagan highway through scenic orchards.  Brent's bike flatted on a climb 30km into the day, but he handled it with grace and dignity and a stream of curse words. Lunch in Brewster at 10 am and we were off for the final 40+ km of the day. To say it was volcanoe-hot gives volcanoes too much credit.  100+ degrees again and no shade to be found. This was the landscape: We pressed on, climb after climb towards Chelan. A quick note about riding with Ginette: as the heat and road gradient increase, her l...

After a good sleep and solid breakfast (thanks again grandma), we left oroville in search of omak.  On the road at 8:30 we headed south on 97, battling dogs off their leash and narrow bridges. We left 97 for the more relaxing hwy 7 and enjoyed the cherry and apple farms of rural Washington.  After a quick refuel in tonasket we got back on 97 and headed off into the desert.  At 10:30 it was 87 degrees (I've converted), without any shade to be found. Delirium set in rapidly, Ginette singing Purple Rain, Ashleigh hummed along, Jonas discussed cycling to Texas next year, and dad spat out verses of Macklemore' downtown. Running low on water, the delerium transitioned into a will to survive.  The heat attacked from above and below, radiating off the tarmac.  We passed a deer carcass, then two dead snakes. Who would be next? Then off in the distance, a shade tree. In a graveyard. As we pulled in it occurred to us, often in life's desert, respite can be found in...

With guest blogger, ash! Well, we have made it through day two, and what a beautiful journey! We started off the day with a delicious French Toast breakfast (special thanks to Grandma), packed up, and then departed for another day's ride at 9:30. After riding along the bumpy KVR, we rode through the tiny town of Kaleden and couldn't believe the beautiful unknown building. With the green vines creeping up the sides of the building, and the arched "windows", this structure was something special: We were and still aren't quite sure what this was, but it sure was an incredible sight. With the KVR coming to an end, we took a picture of us riding (after some stopping, arguing, and being in the way of other people) We also took a pic of us stopped on the bridge. Uu At the end of the KVR, we took off and rode on the highway past Tickleberry's (we had already had a massive cone the previous night), and onto Lake Vaseaux. We stopped at the end ...

Off to a great start! 81km complete and we've arrived at Banbury Green on Skaha Lake.   Pretty easy km's despite 850m of climbing, all thanks to a wind out of the north.  Morning traffic in westbank was a little crazy but the highway was uneventful.  After a donut from Dolicious we stopped to admire the high water of Okanagan Lake from Peachland.  A pretty nice view if the mountains and lake weren't in the way.  Lunch stop in summerland and we were almost there, just a short stretch on the Kettle Valley Railway.  That was it. 4 and a half hours of ride time and everyone is feeling great! Please remember:

t - 16 hours and we're on the road! Spirits are high, the school year is complete, work is wrapped up, and the bikes are ready.   Rig rundown: Brent is riding the Brodie Elan Vital touring bike.  Brooks Cambium saddle, all the accessories.  Bike has performed great in training save for the braking, but he doesn't expect to travel very fast so no problem.   Ginette takes to the road on a Brodie Elan touring bike.  Not a Brooks saddle.  Ginette isn't sure why. The bike has reached a top speed of 16 km/hr in training and has performed admirably.   Ashleigh hits the streets on a new Specialized Diverge, where Road performance meets Touring practicality and intersects with Mtn maintenance headaches. Jonas fractures the peloton with a Brodie Pact racing bike. We all expect big things from him and his steed in the Mountain stages. So yes, Brodie bicycles, if you are reading, you're welcome. On the eve of such a great a...

Leaving in four days. Are we ready? Possibly.  Our final training ride was Saturday.  Just  25 k on lakeshore Rd.  Bikes are good. Engines are ok.  The rest of the gear is organized. We are packing as much as we can carry, knowing that we have supports along the way. The basics are accounted for: Two tents 4 air mattresses 4 sleeping bags Spare tubes Stove / gas Bike tools Some food First aid  The route: Subject to change, but the route to the Oregon coast looks something like this: Checking in with the family. Excited for the trip?: G: uhhuh J: yeah A: ummmm, <pause>, yeah

After weeks (read months) of negotiations, the Kruschel Family Bike Trip is finally taking off.  Time to test the bikes. Test the gear. Test the blog.  18 trips to MEC (10 purchases, 8 returns), 4 trips to our bike mechanic (BIG THANKS Rock n Road), and approximately 500 warm up km, we are off. On May 27th we packed up and rode an astounding 18km to Bear Creek Provincial Camp Site! Ok, not so impressive. But we needed to know things worked, we needed to know what we were missing, and we needed a boost of confidence that this could actually happen.  You'll note that Ginette and Brent play the role of domestique to Ashleigh (sprinter) and Jonas (GC man). My bike weighed in at 8000lbs.  Ginette's was probably in the 6500lb range.  Ash 16.5, Jonas 15.2. The ride was a success. The camping worked.  A few lessons learned: 1. -10 degree rated sleeping bags are not needed in the summer. 2. Read the reviews before purchasing any MEC product.  Also, ins...