PC_Day5

Day 5

Thursday, 3 June 2004
Shelton, WA to Aberdeen, WA
50.7 miles, 3h39m, 13.9 mph
Elapsed Time: 4h48m, Max speed: 34.7mph
Total Climbing: 1349ft, Max elevation: 534ft
Total mileage: 300.0

For our first day carrying our own gear we decided on a relatively unambitious 50-miler to Aberdeen on the coast. After a hearty breakfast at Denny's we loaded up and headed out. The first few miles took us down into Shelton and then up a long slow climb that didn't really seem as big as it was. This was probably because we thought things were going to be a lot harder with all our gear so we took it easy. In the end, we had the same average speed today as we did yesterday, when we rode without gear and 10 fewer miles. Go figure.

One thing about timber country: the forest service builds some nice roads for the logging industry. They are wide and smooth and have wide shoulders. Since the area we were in has been pretty well picked over, there's not much traffic either. The result is great roads with few trees to block the sun--and marginal scenery.

Here's an area where they missed a few trees.

But not here.

After a beautiful 16-mile descent through logging country we came to the town of Elma. At this point we left the Adventure Cycling Pacific Coast Trail, which turns back inland toward Centralia, and headed for the sea. By heading west now I hope to cut a day off the route and give us a rest day somewhere down the line. So after a short break in Elma, we continued west to Montesano where we ate lunch at the Subway.

The most direct route from Montesano to Aberdeen runs down US12, a major 4-lane highway with (usually) a big shoulder. Still, it was not very pleasant to have the big rigs blowing by 10 feet away at 60mph. If I had to do it again I would have found another route.

This photo makes US12 look good. It actually sucked.

Anyway, by 1:30pm we were in our room in Aberdeen with the window open listening to the traffic go by. Then we hit the pool. Tomorrow's going to be a lot tougher so we need our rest and relaxation.

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