Started out with no sound from Trafalgar when I tried to start it. That sucks! So I stuck a charger on the battery and within 30 minutes it fired up–thank goddess. I then searched for the beads, having realized that I was riding into hot weather. The things we forget. While Trafalgar sat idling, I frantically searched the garage for the wooden bead seat that had brought me so much comfort on my cross country adventure. If it had been a snake I would’ve need someone sucking out the venom. There it was on the shelf where I put it, so I was off. I rode up 97 with majestic snow-covered peaks on my left until I got to a point between Madras and Shanko where the hurricane force winds come alive. I’ve been riding for years, and experienced many a day of high winds, but today really took the gold for severity. I felt like I was riding a bucking bronco. Trafalgar usually gets about 50-60 mpg, but riding into this maelstrom I could only get about 30 mpg. I might as well been doing 150 miles an hour, because it felt like the masochist wind changed directions to remain directly on the nose. Despite the wind, it was a clear day and the major Cascade peaks provided a beautiful backdrop, if I could take my eyes off the road long enough to sneak a peak. Progressing down towards Biggs Junction I experienced a whirlpool effect, knocking me around like a drunkard driving in a Grand Prix event.
I stopped in Biggs Junction for fuel, ate my roast beef sandwich I packed, and tried to soften up the neck after the heavy weight bout against mother nature. So back on my mechanical steed en route a hotel in Yakima. I first stopped at Lil’ Brown Smoke Shop to relax with Ralph–a Native American who has had the pleasure of waiting on me all three visits of my career. After the cigar break, I headed to Days Inn, checked in, schlepped all my gear to the second floor room the very farthest away, only to find my key didn’t work. Once that was solved I shed the gear and now sit here with my memories of the day.
Tomorrow I’m off through Eastern Washington backroads en route Osoyoos, BC the NORWESTARS annual Memorial Day event–probably the 15+ year of that get-together.
trafalgar adventures 