Sea to Sea Riders Tell of Stunning Beauty

– After a grueling day Tuesday in which Sea to Sea riders had to conquer their first mountain pass, they hit the road on Wednesday morning for the 58-mile trek to Ellensburg, Wash.

Today's journey, on the way to camp at Ellensburg High School, will require some hard pedaling and one nearly 4,000-foot peak.

Blogs posted on the Sea to Sea web site give a glimpse of what riders are experiencing on the tour that will cross the United States and part of Canada.

"It was gorgeous as we climbed up Stevens Pass in Washington State," writes Nathan Beach, of Ann Arbor, Mich., in his blog. "The climb is a (fairly steep) gradient for seven miles and we gained about 3,000 feet in altitude. The Cascade Mountains are filled with waterfalls, flowers, wildlife, and beautiful whitewater rapids. It's spectacular."

Tyler Buitenwerf from Grand Rapids, Mich., says in his blog how beautiful the ride has been so far. But it's also been tough. "We went up and then up and then up some more, over Stevens Pass and then down for a long time. It was a really hard day and I am whooped. Tomorrow is more climbing but 20 less miles so it should not be too bad."

One of Tuesday's highlights, along with the scenery and fellowship, was being able to stop for ice cream, writes Randy DeWolde, a rider from Chilliwack, B.C. From there, he says, it was on to camp and some much-needed rest. "The last people came in just as supper was starting at 6 p.m. to a rousing cheer."

For Gayle Harrison the ride on Tuesday included a snowball fight near Stevens Pass and a chance to breathe air that smelled of Christmas trees. She is from London, Ont.

Jo Tipple, a rider from Ghent, N.Y., says there are varying levels of cycling abilities on the tour, but people are hanging together. For her, the descent from Stevens Pass "was escorted by the roar and majesty of the white water of the Wenachee River as storm clouds rolled in above."