The weather looks like it may be clearing for the next few miles, but soon closes back in. Near Centralia the rain begins to come down in buckets from churning black clouds. Headwinds in the shower systems sometimes slow me to 12- 13 mph. From Centralia on down to just outside Portland, we will encounter frequent torrential downpours. In between, bright sunshine pours through sucker holes.
Mist rises from the wet pavement evoking a prehistoric, archetypal mood.
I half expect to see dinosaurs in the woods at the side of the road. Spinning pedals, shifting, turning, absorbing all around me. The country undulates, with short climbs and descents from Centralia down through Winlock, Vader, Castle Rock, Kelso. Unfortunately, one of those details is my right knee, which starts to float to the top of the sensations a little past the 100 mile mark. Over the rest of the ride it gets worse and worse, until I can barely walk when I finish.