June 9, 2022
Garbage Trains
Didn't get out of the way of the sprinklers quite in time.
I guess I should have put my tent up in the weeds -
Since that is where I had to retreat to.
Packed up fast, rode over to the other side of the park to eat,
then headed up Stonehenge Road - and I mean up.
Actually - at 10% grade - walking was the means of transport.
The Stonehenge replica is a monument to those who died in WWI.
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The language on the dedication plaque is dated for many,
but the plaques for each of the local young remain moving.
The views are immense - I was the only one there in the early morning.
Then it was time for some delicious morning riding on empty roads.
You know, I am such a big advocate of riding early, eh?
Hardly a car, rolling terrain, semi-arid landscape, but wet this year.
You could smell the slightly-nutty aroma of the fresh grass.
(Reminds me of the journal "Uphill Against the Wind")
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Got to Roosevelt by 9:30 - almost 40 miles - not bad.
Had a great breakfast burrito at the little cafe & store.
I think I had a burger here back in 1987.
But the store had been closed for a long time.
And all of Roosevelt, too.
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What changed was garbage. Actually, garbage trains.
Every day, garbage from Seattle and other Northwest cities arrives.
Hundreds of containers on flatbed railcars - around the clock.
The containers are stacked in the railyard.
Then they are loaded onto trucks for the 1000-foot climb up the bluffs.
The Roosevelt grade leads up to the Republic landfill -
a state-of-the-art facility in the garbage business.
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I spoke to a couple of drivers at the cafe over breakfast.
In an 8-hour day, you can make about 8 runs.
Loading, 20 mph up the grade, weigh-in, unloading, and back.
Republic has 200+ well-paid workers in what had been a jobless area.
Seattle pays a tax on every ton of garbage - 1/3 of the local county budget.
And yet, there is a question that stands out -
Is this a metaphor for the relationship between urban and rural?
(If you go back to the Columbia Highway page
you can see a long trash train below. Lucky shot, I guess.
Actually, trash trains run on both sides of the river.
Seattle sends its trash to Roosevelt. Portland sends its to Arlington.)
Lisa and Rick caught up to me in Roosevelt
because I was having such a good time.
After they had a bite to eat, we decided to ride together for a while.
Easy riding. Warm afternoon. The promised tailwinds didn't arrive.
But, all in all, carefree riding - with trains on the tracks below.
We got to Crow Butte State Park at 2:30p.
I had a moral decision to make. I had never stopped so early.
But I was a bit tired, and there was shade, and soft drinks.
Once I got a Coke and took the snacks out, it was all over.
The camp host let us camp for free.
Lisa, Rick, and I traded stories over bananas and cookies.
It turned out to be the best choice.
Today's ride: 57 miles (92 km)
Total: 316 miles (509 km)
| Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 8 |
| Comment on this entry | Comment | 4 |
Your writing and photos are fantastic! It's been fun following along with you. If Cape Henlopen is your ultimate destination, then you'll probably be passing by pretty close to my town of Frederick, Maryland near the end of your voyage. We would love to host you when you get here. Enjoy your ride!
Stu
1 year ago
I can think of nobody better to stay with way over there in Easternland.
Of course, I will have to print some more $30 bills in my basement - with Nixon and the double Vs on the front.
Still not sure if I can swing the entire summer. Time, money, youth - - all terribly misspent.
Will keep you posted - - Juan
1 year ago
I'm 30 miles from you, in Rockville. Practically next door, considering the global composition of the membership here.
If you're ever interested in a get together for a chin wag or some cycling miles please feel free to get in touch.
1 year ago
1 year ago