The Journey Begins

Day 2 Neah Bay, WA to Hoh Oxbow Campground just south of the Olympic National Park

Distance 63.6 miles -- Cumulative 72.0
Time 5:21:34 -- Cumulative 5:54:12
Elevation Gain 2870 -- Cumulative 3201

It was a magnificent first day on the road -- cool weather varying from overcast/threatening to rain to mostly sunny. I was happy with my pace over moderately hilly terrain.

Before starting, I grabbed a ham and egg English muffin at the Makah Mini-Mart. As I munched it down outside standing next to my bike, a rather burly Native American man looked on inquisitively. Then he asked a question I wasn't quite expecting, "can your trailer carry an elk?"  I chuckled and he told me how he had devised a trailer with a mechanism to be pulled by three mountain bikes that he and his buddies used to haul elk out of the forest. He didn't think my trailer would be suited for his purposes.

Later I had a full breakfast and I was forced to violate my own rule "never eat anything bigger than your head" when the pancakes turned out to be about 14 inches across.

Just before lunch I caught up with another biker who appeared to be outfitted for long distance riding. He was Dutch and we chatted for a bit. It turns out my ride is not nearly as epic as I had thought. He started a couple of months ago in Alaska and is on his way to the tip of Argentina.

I'm camping tonight by the banks of the Hoh River. It is idyllic. See pictures on Instagram @mgdubee. Still trying to figure out how to post them here.