I've mapped out a ride schedule that I plan to fairly closely stick to. That is, as Tennessee Ernie Ford would say, "God willin' and the creeks don't rise" (if you're under 50 you might want to ask someone who Ford was). The mileage for each day is the best approximation I have from consulting the Adventure Cycling and Google maps, so they're not exact, and days may shift a bit due to weather, and unexpected occurances.
I'm hoping that a number of folks from Bellingham will join me on the first day's ride—or at least part of it. I'll leave the Fairhaven Village Green at 9am on Monday, June 15. The first day shows up as 79 miles, but is relatively flat—about the same elevation gain as a ride to Lynden. We should arrive at Newhalem in the late afternoon. There's a campground at the National Park for those who might want to stay, or plan to continue over the Cascades with me.
If there are other times anyone can join me, I'd love to have the company. So, here's the proposed schedule:
Monday, June 15 - Fairhaven to Newhalem - 79 miles
Tuesday, June 16 - Newhalem to Winthrop - 72 miles - lots of climbing, but a nice descent on the East side
Wednesday, June 17 - Rest Day
Thursday, June 18 - Winthrop to Riverside - 54 miles
Friday, June 19 - Riverside to Wauconda - 40 miles
Saturday, June 20 - Wauconda to Kettle Falls - 60 miles
Sunday, June 21 - Rest Day
Monday, June 22 - Kettle Fals to Ione - 49 miles
Tuesday, June 23 - Ione to Sandpoint - 80 miles
Wednesday, June 24 thru Sunday, June 28 - Back to Bellingham (not on bike) for Chuckanut Writers Conference
Monday, June 29 - Sandpoint to Heron - 40 miles
Tuesday, June 30 - Heron to Libby - 60 miles
Wednesday, July 1 - Libby to Eureka - 70 miles
Thursday, July 2 - Eureka to Whitefish - 51 miles
Friday, July 3 - Rest Day
Saturday, July 4 - Whitefish to Apgar - 30 miles
Sunday, July 5 - Apgar to St. Mary - 48 miles - Going to the Sun Highway
Monday, July 6 - St. Mary to Cutbank - 66 miles
Tuesday, July 7 - Cutbank to Chester 66 miles
Wednesday, July 8 - Chester to Havre - 61 miles
Thursday, July 9 - Rest Day
Friday, July 10 - Havre to Malta - 89 Miles
Saturday, July 11 - Malta to Glasgow - 70 miles
Sunday, July 12 - Glasgow to Wolf Point - 50 miles
Monday, July 13 - Wolf Point to Circle - 53 miles
Tuesday, July 14 - Circle to Glendive - 49 miles
Wednesday, July 15 - Glendive to Beach - 40 miles
Thursday, July 16 - Beach to Dickinson - 61 miles
Friday, July 17 - Sunday, July 19 - in Seattle for a board meeting (again, not by bike)
Monday, July 20 - Dickinson to Bismark - 102 miles
Tuesday, July 21 - Bismark to Linton - 60 miles
Wednesday, July 22 - Linton to Mobridge - 73 miles
Thursday, July 23 - Mobridge to Gettysburg - 56 miles
Friday, July 24 - Gettysburg to Pierre - 63 miles
Saturday, July 25 - Rest Day
Sunday, July 26 - Pierre to Chamberlain - 85 miles
Monday, July 27 - Chamberlain to Lanke Andes - 83 miles
Tuesday, July 28 - Lake Andes to Yankton - 70 miles
Wednesday, July 29 - Yankton to North Sioux City - 65 miles
Thursday, July 30 - North Sioux City to Missouri Valley - 80 miles
Friday, July 31 thru Sunday, August 2 - Hastings, Nebraska for Dee's H.S. Reunion (in motorhome)
Monday, August 3 - Missouri Valley to Red Oak - 72 miles
Tuesday, August 4 - Red Oak to Creston - 54 miles
Wednesday, August 5 - Creston to Chariton - 57 miles
Thursday, August 6 - Chariton to Ottumwa - 55 miles
Friday, August 7 - Ottumwa to Mt. Pleasant - 53 miles
Saturday, August 8 - Rest Day
Sunday, August 9 - Mount Pleasant to Monmouth - 58 miles
Monday, August 10 - Monmouth to Galva - 47 miles - DESTINATION!!