Heat claims it's first victim
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 love for her husband diminishes exponentially. Brent was threatened with divorce, murder, and much worse before the final ridge was crested. Three riders still made it, with Jonas leading the way up each hill.
And if it wasn't enough for him to assert his dominance on the climbs, as Ginette and Brent collapsed in the shady grass at the RV park entrance, Jonas picked up his scooter and started doing tricks for the locals.
Up next was a swim in the lake for Jonas, then some tennis with grandpa, and finally some more action at the scooter park. All this before dinner. What else can I say about this guy on the day of his 12th birthday? He's pretty phenomenal.
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 love for her husband diminishes exponentially. Brent was threatened with divorce, murder, and much worse before the final ridge was crested. Three riders still made it, with Jonas leading the way up each hill.
And if it wasn't enough for him to assert his dominance on the climbs, as Ginette and Brent collapsed in the shady grass at the RV park entrance, Jonas picked up his scooter and started doing tricks for the locals.
Up next was a swim in the lake for Jonas, then some tennis with grandpa, and finally some more action at the scooter park. All this before dinner. What else can I say about this guy on the day of his 12th birthday? He's pretty phenomenal.
Comments
Initially, I thought Grandma was caught up in the charade; but now it is obvious why the breakfast train kept on rolling. It all made sense, once Grandpa joined the festivities. They were basically attempting to enjoy ever last minute with their grandchildren before Brent took them over the proverbial cliff...
What is more; let's deal with this supposed "first victim" the "heat claim[ed]." What a back-hoe full of !@#$%...a CAT back-hoe of course.
No ma'am! The heat won nothing, I say! Brent (aka. numero uno narcissist) intentionally took his daughter through 'death valley;' it was passive aggression spawned by the sheer jealously of her writing skills. A petulant father doling out payback. Let's face it. The best blog, to date, was written by Ashleigh.
But the true hero of this journey is the wife of the madman. Perhaps she conveyed a series of marital threats; nevertheless, for the sake of the children, she continues to soldier on. Question? Was it truly a "Happy Birthday!" Jonas?...you got gumption, kid.
GO TEAM-K