September 24, 2024 – The End is Near

    I've gone quite a ways since Lewiston, Idaho. I slept and rested well at a Motel 6 across the river in Clarkston, Washington, and then I left for Pomeroy. I ended up camping ten miles outside of Dayton, Washington. The next day, I had an awesome ride through Dayton, Waitsburg, Walla Walla, and Touchet. I made it to the Columbia River and camped a mile or so to the west of Twin Sisters Rock. Yesterday, I traveled from there to McNary, I crossed to the North side of the Columbia River, and traveled west on Washington 14. I made it to Paterson, WA and was forced to re-evaluate my situation. 

    It's the harvest season here in this part of Washington and Oregon. The truck traffic is intense on both the north and south side of the Columbia River. So, I've tried to re-route my journey on an alternate route. I haven't had much success. There are some back roads I can travel that will lead me close to The Dalles, OR. I'll be stuck on the river roads once again leading to the bustling city of Portland. I fear the end is near. I may have to throw in the towel at this time during my journey. I'm 250 miles shy of the destination, which is Astoria, OR. I'm so close, yet so far away. Here are my two options:

1. I can call AAA at this juncture (I'm camped at Crow Butte about 13 miles west of Paterson, WA) and get them to tow me the 80 miles to The Dalles, OR. From there I can rent a car for a couple days to complete the route to Astoria, OR.

2. I can take backroads that lead to The Dalles. Then, I can rent a car for a couple days to complete the journey to Astoria, OR.

    Option one leaves me 250 miles short of completion while option 2 leaves me 150 miles short of completion. I'm leaning towards option 1 because I have a lifeline with AAA, my bottom bracket needs to be replaced, and I am unsure of road conditions/traffic on the back roads (the harvest truck traffic may be just as bad on the backroads).

    Either way, there is no safe passage to Portland and on to Astoria. I must take the river roads on either the North or South side of the Columbia River. The North side of the river is less busy, but there still is a lot of truck traffic. I hate to call it quits early, but I believe this is the safest option that will guarantee safe passage to the end of the trail.

    It's been an epic journey, but the end has come here at Crow Butte, Washington. Not completing the journey entirely by bicycle is a disappointment, but at least I'll have my sanity and my life. Riding on these river roads with truck traffic is absolutely insane. I have to accept defeat in this situation. I will lose the battle, but I feel as though by admitting defeat, I have won the war. Overall, the journey has been an epic success. I still have traveled at least 4,700 or more miles across the country. I would like to go the last 250 miles, but I accept defeat. There is simply no safe bike route from here to the end of the journey that I know of. That is all for now. Now, I must see if I can get AAA to send out a tow-truck to Crow Butte, which is way out in the middle of no where. With AAA Plus, I can get a tow of up to 100 miles, which is more than enough to get me to The Dalles, OR.