Day 1 - Seattle to Easton

I rode 82.8 miles today. The day was great! It was so fun to meet all of the riders for the first time. I was feeling much better, just had to stop to blow my nose constantly! I was pretty worried about how I would ride today, considering I hadn't ridden in a little over a week, but it wasn't bad at all. We crossed our first of three mountain passes - Snoqualmie Pass at 3,000 feet. It was a beautiful ride, past huge old trees in the national forest. The pass wasn't that steep. The roads out here are not as steep as the roads in the east. It was just long and windy with beautiful scenery. I rode with Margo, Ane, David, and Michael Yee for a good part of the day. My sit bones were killing me at the end of the ride. I was riding with a selle anatomica saddle and switched it out to my backup terry butterfly saddle at the end of the day. The saddle was working great for me at home, but I couldn't get it comfortable this day at all. Hopefully the Terry will be better.

I was so concerned about having my luggage weigh less than the maximum allowed weight of 70 lbs that I left a lot of things home that I wish I had packed. It was kind of cold last night, so I went to REI in Seattle and got some long underwear and good snacks. I was very glad to have them tonight. Today's weather was 50s - 60s. It was a chilly morning and was glad to have my arm and leg warmers.

Well the first day was amazing, and I'm looking forward to each day to come!