Fatigued, Down and Elated
It is a hard climb out of Boston Bar. Up again, walking into the Cascade Mountains. Today is a holiday, B.C. Day they call it. Traffic is light at first. The narrow road shoulder still frightens me. The tunnels hewn through the mountain require caution. I stop to push the bicycle warning light which signals cars and trucks that a bike is in the tunnel. I wonder if drivers are angered by the sight of a lonely race walker. I am elated to have an elevated walk way through the tunnel even if it is only twelve inches wide.
Clouds aid my long, fast, morning. Then it is noon and I am tired. The fatigue heightens as I push my way up still another part of the massive mountain. [OK, I am not perfect. I stop like a normal tourist and take a brief ride on the Hell’s Gate tram. It is exhilarating, motivating me to keep walking] I reach Hope. It has been my target destination for several days. I know the end of this very long race walk is near!