No maps = nasty suprises
Trip Start
May 06, 2012
1
4
41
Trip End
Jun 26, 2012
Where I stayed
Waterville, Washington
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
I cruised along for the first 40 or so miles and felt fantastic, mainly because it was gently downhill following a large mountain river. I knew there was a hill into the town of Waterville which is where I was staying that night, but I was informed by two lovely ladies at the coffee shop at the bottom of the climb that it was 8-9m long not the 1-2m I had expected and they weren't joking.
I had expected to be in town in 30-40 mins but 2 and a half hours later and sunburnt and exhausted I arrived at my hotel. The maps that Adventure cycling send out are great, they give details of the rides, details of each town and if it has a hotel, restaurant etc in it so you can plan your route. It also gives details of elevation so you don't necessarily get caught out - which I had been today.
Arrived in town and having had the weird Bavarian experience the night before was not relieved to discover that the only hotel of choice was an historic / museum hotel that prided itself in having lots of old furniture in it...... seemed like a cheap way of kitting out a guest house to me but again I felt I had slipped into a weird time wharp!
I had dinner in the 3rd and last choice venue, having walked out of the prior 2 because they looked like charity shops that had just had a truck load of deliveries..... I am not jesting there were old clothes and a washing machine taking up the front 2-3 booths of the 1st place, it was filthy and unkempt, it makes me queezy thinking of it now because the smell was something I can't describe, but think concert and portaloos..... grim. 3rd choice was ok but all I needed was some re-energising rather than a gourmet feast - which is lucky as that wasn't on the menu.
