Day 36: Occupational Hazards

Oregon and the Columbia River! A short but hot ride today brought us further into the arid stretches of eastern Washington and Oregon. A cool wind off the river kept the heat manageable in the morning, but, by the afternoon, even the wind blew hot air. We stopped by a small beach along the river to jump in and cool off.

Checking the integrity of the Oregon Welcome sign

As I near the end of my trip, this is probably as good a time as any to describe the physical effects of a cross-country journey. If you are a fan of farmer's tans, then a cross country bike ride is for you. Whether you are riding in bright sunshine or cloudy skies, a fierce tan is to be expected and it will take the shape of whatever cycling gear you are wearing. In particular, for someone like me who shaves their head, be prepared for a tan in the shape of your helmet, complete with the strap lines and stripes where the sun gets through the helmet's air vents.

Ridiculous tan line on my arm

Beyond unfortunate tan lines, the only other particular physical ailment has been the isolated bout of dehydration. In hot and humid days on the road, you lose a lot of water and electrolytes in a fairly short period of time. During the first two days of the trip in humid 90 degree weather outside New York, I started developing muscle cramps by the early afternoon. I have found that electrolyte tablets taken in the morning generally work well along with Gatorade throughout the day. A combination of acclimation and generally drier weather has staved off any additional bouts of cramping. Nevertheless, at the end of hot days, I find my face and jersey caked with salt (I'll spare you the pictures).

Reed Walker surveying the Columbia River

Beyond managing elements - sun and rain, heat and cold - I have not suffered much in the way of other ailments. I have managed to avoid sickness or food poisoning, though some cyclists I have come across have not been so fortunate. Soreness in the quads is largely confined to the hardest climbing days or days cycling into a headwind. Initially, you will experience soreness and tightness in your arms and back from sitting upright on a bike for 5-7 hours a day but the body seems to adapt within a week or so.

STAGE SUMMARY:

Starting Point - Walla Walla, WA

Ending Point - Umatilla, OR

Distance - 56.2 miles

Cumulative Distance - 2995.1 miles

Vertical Elevation - 1634 feet

Counties - Walla Walla, WA; Umatilla, OR

Wind - variable headwind