Final Day–Whoo-Hoo! Videos & Pictures…Thank You for joining me!

Here I sit…at home…safe and sound, sitting in front of my computer writing my final post.

May 14, 1804 is the very day the Lewis and Clark Expedition began their journey. Read the journals of Gass and Whitehouse at the end of this post.

This is where I finished!

It feels strange to type these words. For so many days now I have held my cell phone and typed with my thumbs as I peered into the bright screen late at night hoping I pushed the right buttons. It was hard to see the words so I’m sure words came out garbled at times.

To start the day, I felt nervous about the effort it would take to get all the way to Ft. Clatsop. Every morning on this journey I felt this way…sort of an anxious churning inside. Every day, it took me up to an hour to overcome this knot and to turn it into positive motion. I usually listened to music, read my Bible, and just eased into the day. Often I would read comments from many of you in the morning which helped me get going. The conversations with you were so encouraging and helped me immensely. When people asked me if I was alone, I said, “I am physically riding my bike by myself but I wasn’t alone. I had lots of friends with me.” You made a big difference to me. So, again, THANK YOU for joining me on this bike adventure. I hope you were inspired and found adventure and fun as you followed me.

I rode into Fort Clatsop and was greeted by lots of cheering! what a great welcome! Randy-my husband, Andi-her husband, Mom and husband-came to celebrate my arrival. I was surprised and grateful for their presence. Andi’s mom, Barb, brought wonderful homemade peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies to munch on. Barb explained how she tried to think of a way to create an authentic variety of cookie based on what Lewis and Clark had available to them at the time of their arrival. After thinking about it early this morning, she realized it wasn’t possible to make an authentic cookie because there was no such thing as flour available at the time. So she made the next best thing…authentic Americana! Yummy!

Ranger Tom came out and led everyone in a Fort Clatsop/Lewis & Clark kind of cheer to make my finish official. Thank you for all the amazing comments, good wishes, prayers, phone calls, hospitality, and most of all your friendship.

Click on the title to watch the celebration videos:

Now for some pictures! 

John and Kris, owners of the Bike Inn in Clatskanie

 

Guess where I was riding....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...arriving at Fort Clatsop!

 

Cheering and ApplauseWelcoming Party at Fort Clatsop...whoo-hoo!

Barb with the yummy Americana cookies!The wonderful welcoming committee!

 

This is where I finished!

Lewis and Clark Journal entries for May 14, 1804…

It is interesting to note that on this day over 200 years ago, the Lewis and Clark officially started their Expedition. Read the journal entries from Gass and Whitehouse:

 

Gass: 

       On Monday the 14th of May 1804, we left our establishment at the mouth of the river du Bois or Wood river, a small river which falls into the Mississippi, on the east-side, a mile below the Missouri, and having crossed the Mississippi proceeded up the Missouri on our intended voyage of discovery, under the command of Captain Clarke. Captain Lewis was to join us in two or three days on our passage.  [12]

       The corps consisted of forty-three men (including Captain Lewis and Captain Clarke, who were to command the expedition) part of the regular troops of the United States, and part engaged for this particular enterprize. The expedition was embarked on board a batteau and two periogues. The day was showery and in the evening we encamped on the north bank six miles up the river. Here we had leisure to reflect on our situation, and the nature of our engagements: and, as we had all entered this service as volunteers, to consider how far we stood pledged for the success of an expedition, which the government had projected; and which had been undertaken for the benefit and at the expence of the Union: of course of much interest and high expectation.

       The best authenticated accounts informed us, that we were to pass through a country possessed by numerous, powerful and warlike nations of savages, of gigantic stature, fierce, treacherous and cruel; and particularly hostile to white men. And fame had united with tradition in opposing mountains to our course, which human enterprize and exertion would attempt in vain to pass.  [13] The determined and resolute character, however, of the corps, and the confidence which pervaded all ranks dispelled every emotion of fear, and anxiety for the present; while a sense of duty, and of the honour, which would attend the completion of the object of the expedition; a wish to gratify the expectations of the government, and of our fellow citizens, with the feelings which novelty and discovery invariably inspire, seemed to insure to us ample support in our future toils, suffering and dangers.

Whitehouse:

       Monday 14th May 1804.  [14]    hard Showers of rain.    this being the day appointed by Capt. Clark to Set out, a number of the Sitizens of Gotian  [15] Settlement came to See us Start.    we got in readiness.    Capt. Lewis is now at St. Louis but will join us at St. Charls.    about 3 Oclock P.M. Capt. Clark and the party consisting of three Sergeants and 38 men  [16] who manned the Batteaux and perogues.    we fired our Swivel  [17] on the bow hoisted Sail and Set out in high Spirits for the western Expedition.    we entered the mouth of the Missourie haveing a fair wind Sailed abt. 6 miles and Camped on the North Side.—

Read the actual journals of the expedition

“sTINKY Toes,” a Flat Tire and Pictures!

Emma is one year old and her favorite game is stinky toes! She smiles every time. Last night I had the fun of getting to know some new best friends…a generous family that offered friendship and fellowship until way to late that night. Pastor Paul and his wife Toni along with their son Tyler, his wife Laci and two grandchildren Logan and Emma were a lot of fun to be around. Thank you! I slept on their living room floor out of the cold and wet.
Today I started the day with my 3 favorite things…a hot mug of coffee in my hand, my Bible to read, and a window to look out.
All day I rode with ease and speed. I had lovely thoughts about what I might write about, when I noticed my bike warbled funny…uh oh. Yep…flat tire! 3 miles from my campsite! I consulted with Karen, my friend who was meeting me for dinner to let her know I had a complication. I haven’t had to change a flat in over a year…so I went about it slowly so I could remember all the steps. The bike had to be unloaded, tire taken off, etc. I put a new tube on, inflated it and then realized I did not check the tire for what caused the flat. So, I deflated the tire and checked it out. I found a staple like piece of sharp wire embedded in the tire. Whew! I pulled it out and inflated the tire once more. I finished my day, cleaned up and met Karen for dinner. Thanks Karen!
Well, that about wraps it up. Time to pack it in inside my sleeping bag and tent. Enjoy pictures…

fixing my flat. Getting a grip with my knees!

 

“Oh no, I’m going to hit it…”

I pedaled just a few feet behind John. He swerved and veered his bike to avoid hitting something on the road and that’s when I thought I was going to hit it!

There are many things to avoid on the side of the road. The list goes something like this:  glass, garbage, sticks, tire pieces, gravel, rocks, roadkill (I won’t go into detail about this one), potholes, and many other things that I can’t think of at the moment.

I looked down as I prepared to run over whatever John had avoided and couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a baby duck or gosling. Poor little thing was wandering around on the road looking for its mother and we almost ran over it. I swerved to miss it and did by just a few inches. Whew! That was close!

We quickly got off our bikes to try to rescue the little one from the cars that would come

"I am safe here!"

baring down on it any moment. John got to it first and the little gosling immediately leaned on his shoe and then tried to follow him. John picked him up and took him to the side of the road to take it to safety. It took several trys to get away because the little thing waddled so quickly after John! There was nothing more that we could do but ride away and ponder the saying, “dead duck.”

What do we do with it?

Several miles later, John and I turned around to go back since we were half way through out 45 mile ride. We were looking forward to stopping at the Umpqua store for a mid ride treat and rest.

The Rest of the Story:  We saw a pickup parked at the side of the road with a mom and two girls running along the road looking for something. That something was the gosling. Just as we arrived, they nabbed the baby. They had almost run over it in the truck but then stopped to find it and take it home. The girls were thrilled and we were happy that the story ended well. What a great day we had!

"Lets take it home and feed it and keep it safe."

I spent the weekend with my sister, Lynda, in Roseburg training for my bike tour. Saturday I rode by myself on a beautiful hilly route in the rain. As I rode, cows stampeded along the fence line with me (I guess my red bags scared them!), goats also ran with me along the fence line (maybe they thought I had food) and I was never far from the Umpqua River. On Sunday John, a friend of my sisters, led me on a wonderful ride that was rich with gosling adventures, conversation and companionship.

John and I in front of the Umpqua post office and store

Thanks, John! I really enjoyed talking with you as we rode. Thanks for the muffin, too! It was the best! Riding with you made me realize how much I miss riding with others. I’m going to put some effort into looking for others to ride with in the future. Thanks to my sister as well. She loves to cook and I enjoyed the eating part! It was good to just spend time together.

Hope you all enjoy the pictures!

Somebody is excited about America! John--a wonderful bike riding friend!Yummy!

 

 

 

 

  

Roseburg area is beautiful!

 

Umpqua Bakery had great bread, coffee and a place to sit!