Day 10

The Dalles, OR to Roosevelt, WA
Distance 57.7 miles -- Cumulative 506.0
Time 4:40:34 -- Cumulative 42:15:12
Elevation Gain 2129 -- Cumulative 17,452

Gone are the lush green forests of the Olympic Peninsula and beautiful waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge. The views are still panoramic, but decidedly browner, dark brown rock with light yellow-brown grasses and only an occasional splash of green.

I road another 11 miles on I84 before crossing the Columbia River back into Washington across another nerve wracking bridge. You were right Brendan, lots of bridges. Here is the view looking back it after a healthy little climb.

The rest of the 31 miles to Roosevelt, population 143, was gently rolling, two-lane highway with a nice wide shoulder. I would ride it all the way to Florida. 

The bicycle maps I am using noted that there is limited service for 83 miles. So I stopped before I left Oregon and grabbed a couple of sandwiches. I also took a couple of extra bagels from the hotel breakfast this morning. I stopped a little after noon by the side of the road for lunch. I looked to my left and saw this on the other side of the guardrail:

I am thinking roadkill, but I didn't investigate further.

I made it to Roosevelt and discovered a convenience store/cafe. And they are open in the morning for breakfast. So now I am sitting at my campsite, drinking my beer, listening to the trains across the river, waiting for it to get dark enough to sleep. I suspect the sound of those trains will be less poetic at 3:00 in the morning.  The good news is, I don't think this is bear country.

Tomorrow I go to Umatilla, back in Oregon. And I sleep in a bed again.