Day 3 ✅. 109.76 miles, 7388 elevation gain.

I tried to beat the heat today and we started at 6:30am. Caroline joined me again for the first 10 miles. Today, I had a modest breakfast to start at 6am and rode 31 miles and almost 3000 feet to Okanogan where I stopped to stock up on fluids and have a breakfast sandwich. I then road another 30 miles to meet Caroline for lunch. She has been in absolute rock star by meeting me on the way with food and water and meals… Not to mention the encouragement!

At lunch I was able to strip down and jump in the river to cool off. It was another scorcher today! I drank 12 bottles on the bike. After lunch I had another long climb… About 25 miles and another 3000 feet or so. I was rewarded with a long downhill, but there were a couple of short but steep climbs on the way down.
We are spending the night in a Teepee near Republic, Washington. Today was longer and actually more climbing than yesterday but I am feeling better this evening. I stayed more on top of my food and water. I’m in better spirits, but I think I’m going to take some shorter days in the next day or two... or more while I go through the mountains. The saddle sores are becoming a real thing and I have a sort of shinsplints developing in my left leg, but I’m managing relatively well. Thank you so much for following along… I have not been able to respond to many messages because I’ve been so beat. But know that I am reading them and I am getting a ton of encouragement from them! Excited for a shorter day tomorrow.