Day 01 (June 14, 1976): The Dalles, OR – 100 miles

Route Map

Journal Excerpts

From Butch’s journal:

Those first 49 miles, we were running on adrenaline. I think we could have ridden right up the falls if someone would have told us to. We had all made the trip to Multnomah Falls before on a weekend practice ride. But as I sat there eating my lunch and enjoying the beauty of the falls, I knew that from there on we would be on roads we had never ridden before. I think that’s when I had my first real twinge of fear.

Ann’s accident happened 7 miles outside of the Dalles. I was afraid she really hurt herself bad the way she went down. I can remember how sick I felt and at the same time how much she meant to me. I bandaged her up, and she climbed on her bike and rode into the Dalles, just like nothing had happened. I never thought she would ride the next day after all she had gone through. (I learned a lot about my wife on that trip.)

We were a very tired but proud group. We had just pedaled 100 miles our first day out and stayed together as a group. Our previous best practice day was 75 miles and I knew everyone was a little apprehensive about going that far. My concern was how strong our weaker pedalers were. I knew we could go only as far as they would allow us to go. I found out my conditioning program had paid off. No one had any problems making the distance.

From Syd’s journal:

We ran into traffic in Vancouver, but we breezed through with ease, across the I-5 bridge and onto Marine Drive. Doug had the very first flat tire, then Butch with a staple, and then I had one with a bent nail.

We reached Multnomah Falls at 10:15 am, where we rested and had a snack. Sunny and warm. We had been this far before since we had taken a training ride to the Falls.

Several miles from The Dalles, Oregon, Ann slipped into some soft gravel and spilled her bike. Cut her chin which later needed stitches. She also had some gashes on her leg. Thank God, she was not hurt bad.

We got into The Dalles at 4:45 pm. We stayed at a very nice church which was all uphill from the highway. We took showers at the high school. The Athletic Director took Ann to Dr. Wilcox to get stitches.

Dinner, then to bed – on the floor. 100-mile day.

From Nancy’s journal:

Well, today was the big day. We left Battle Ground at six o’clock this morning amid many parents and a sign saying “Washington D.C. or bust my buns.” Now, as I sit here in the basement of the Baptist Church in the Dalles, I must say the sign is true. My rear end hurts so bad I can hardly sit down. I don’t know how I’ll be tomorrow, but I suppose I’ll live. My face and back are very sunburned, as it got to be rather hot...

I wasn’t too hungry at dinner so Tani and I bought a box of fruit loops and some milk. It cost us each about a total of 69 cents. On the way back from the store, Tani, Kevin, and I were so tired that we could hardly walk back up the hills to the church. We’d laugh and then collapse in the middle of someone’s yard.

Right now, I’m laying in my sleeping bag in the church basement. Everyone is sleeping in the same room. I gotta go to sleep now, before I pass out from exhaustion.

From Steve’s journal:

The big day, Battle Ground to The Dalles, 115 miles counting from Venersborg. We had 3 flats by Butch, Syd, and Doug, and 114 honks by separate cars. The last 1/4 mile was all up hill to a church in The Dalles. We took a shower and slept in a carpeted room. Left at 6:00 am and got to The Dalles at 4:30 pm, a 115-mile ride.

From Chris’ journal:

We left Battle Ground High School at 6 am and a lot of people were there to bid us good-bye. We will travel to The Dalles, Oregon – 95 miles. Butch, Syd, and Doug had flat tires. One bad thing happened to Ann. She hit the soft gravel and took a spill. We traveled about 95–100 miles & our first night is the Dalles. We stayed in a church & had to shower at the school. We got 114 honks by the cars. I did find out that water was essential, but fortunately I had two water bottles. We walked about two miles for dinner and ate cereal. We got cantaloupes for breakfast. Well, it’s 8:30 pm and I’m sacking out. Good night.
Battle Ground–The Dalles: 95 miles

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