Bike Ride

Yesterday was a perfect day for a bike ride. Debi, Wanda and I took off on our bikes about 10:15 a.m. for a ride to Lake Chelan. We rode about 9 miles to the top of the switchbacks and were picked up by the bus about 11:10 for the rest of the trip down. (The switchbacks are steep and are about 2 miles long and we didn't want to take a chance riding down them this first trip. We heard too many stories about accidents on them.) We timed it pretty well as the bus arrived just before we arrived at the spot we planned to meet it.

Once at the lake we rode over to Refrigerator Harbor Campground where we rested, ate our lunches and explored a cave. There were tents there where some Forest Rangers were headquartered for a base camp from which they led a group of volunteers to clear the trail to Domke Lake.

After lunch we rode over the the ranger cabin to see Bob and Sue, friends who are volunteering for the Forest Service for the summer. We didn't meet up with them, but met two of the volunteers who were down there taking care of three llamas. The Forest Service uses llamas to help carry supplies into the wilderness for the trail crews. We took pictures of the llamas and after a nice visit with the volunteers, we headed back to the Lucerne boat dock to be picked up by the second transport bringing folks down from the village to catch the boat. While we were waiting, we explored the shoreline. In the winter the Chelan County PUD lets about 17 feet of water out of the lake. This causes boat passengers to have to walk up or down a ramp that is at about a 45 degree angle. You can imagine how hard it is to get luggage and freight up and down the ramp. Now with the snow melt off, the lake is coming back up to normal and within a week or two will be covering what is the winter shoreline.

Anyway we explored around the shore while waiting for our ride back up the mountain. As we were getting ready to load our bikes and backpacks into the van, Wanda's backpack started moving of it's own accord. It was funny to see her scream and drop the pack on the ground. Our savior, Dave the van driver, opened it up and dumped out a chipmunk who had feasted on her leftover lunch.

We were all dead tired by the time we got back to the village about 3:30 p.m. Strangely enough the ride did good for my aching leg muscles and bum knees. They felt good the rest of the day. We are planning another outing soon. Keep in touch!