Day 14: Monday: Boise, ID to Mountiain Home, ID

Actual Kms: 95 km
Overkill Kms: 10 or so into town and back.
Road Stuff: A lot of very bloody, disgusting dead racoons, cats and other "somethings". It was so bad that I had to make myself look away from the road kill so I wouldn't throw up.
Money Spent: On Sunday (I know, I know) $4 for coffee while blogging, and $10 phone card. Today-$6 omlette and coffee at the Stage Coach Restaurant 50 kms into our journey...I split it with Matt Z and $2.50 for white chocolate frozen yogurt. I should have picked a fruit yogurt. White chocolate and yogurt do not mix well.
Wipeouts: 0. I'm getting cocky.
Interesting Person Pick: Laura. She is a college aged gal who rode with us today and I enjoyed having another girl on Team Sweet. She is a good rider and has a cute bike. Also, I like how relaxed she is and how she lives life simply.
Favourite Part of the Day: Well there were a lot of little highlights...one being listening to music on the road today (shh...don't tell) and finding great showers with good preassure in the beautiful junior high. Also, our stop at the restaurant was really good....but I think my favourite part of the day was walking into the library and seeing a beautiful reading room, lots of kids stuff and aisle's of books. Beautiful library's make me want to be a librarian...especially a children's librarian. I would love to be the one who gets to read books to kids and find out which books to buy. Dream job.
Worst Part of the Day: After about 10 kms of biking this morning, I felt sick. But I kept pushing onwards and after a big climb around the 25 km mark, I felt like I was going to faint and I had the cold sweats. I was really hoping I wasn't getting sick. However, I kept on biking and started praying that I wasn't sick. After I had my 10 am second breakfast, I felt much better. I had tried to take it easy on breakfast at camp (just a bagel) because I've been feeling guilty about how much I've been eating, but I guess my body is telling me that I need the energy. Or here's hoping it is. :)

This is me at the only stop from Boise to Mountain Home. It was very tasty food and, as you can see, lots of bikers stopped for coffee.



Every biker loved this sign so we couldn't resist taking a picture. It's really a Joel sign because he helped fix so many flats he would have made a killing if he charged 25 cents. Matt had to hold that light for about 15 pictures....he was loving it at the end.

We got to Mountain Home around 12:30pm, after taking our time in the restaurant and then found an ice cream place. Hans likes to yell out to moving vechiles "Hey, where's the ice cream shop?" and he usually gets an answer.

This is the local bike shop. They had a huge bike that I wanted to try...so the owner of the bike helped me on. It was actually pretty tricky. As you can see, I'm concentrating hard so I don't make a fool of myself and fall off.

I was laughing the entire time. Mostly because I didn't know how to stop or get off the thing without falling down.
And although there is no proof, I did drive it by myself and dismount without falling.

We all thought this blue and gold jersey was very retro and cool. It was only 20 bucks so the conversation was "Who does it fit and who's going to buy it?" Therefore, we all had to try it on. Here's Hans, willing to bare his chest for any possible chance of thriftiness.

Here I am. I used the washroom to change, thank you very much. I did like the jersey, but it suited Laura much better. Plus she said we can all wear it, so it can be the lucky, retro blue jersey.

Here's Laura, excited with a new retro jersey. You look beautiful Laura and now you can match Hans' bike!

And here's Nick, showing off as usual. :) Just joking Nick. You look beautiful in blue.

Matt Z was too busy eating during the jersey trade and I don't think he had a chance of it fitting him anyways. And that is the adventures of Team Sweet so far, until tomorrow.

Day 13: Saturday: to Huntington, OR to Boise, ID

Actual Kms: 116 kms

Overkill Kms: 11 kms-to town and a few short wrong turns.

Road Stuff: Dead birds, bison on the side of the road and lots of dust. Also, when we got to Boise, there was a kind of sand in the cracks of the road.

Money Spent: Again-not good. Let’s see, we stopped at Java House where I got Hummus for lunch and a coffee $10, Then I got a card for someone $5, and I went out to celebrate 2 weeks done and ate nacho’s and mile high pie and had a drink-$10. But the good news is I went to a great bike shop and didn’t spend a thing.

Wipeouts: Notta.

Interesting Person Pick: Brian Garrett. Brian and I didn’t bike today, but we did hang out at “The Ram”-a pub in Boise. He shared a lot of very cool music including a Buddy Holly song and some other stuff that made me want to immediately go out and download all of the stuff I heard. Good taste Brian. Also, Brian is great because we are tight since we are both from PEI. We look out for each other. Like this morning at breakfast (Sunday), I tried to sit down gracefully in my skirt while holding a plate of food and coffee and the coffee spilt. So he let me lean against his knees. Also, he’s a fabulous biker.

Favourite Part of the Day: Probably when we- The Sweet Team- got to the middle SAG wagon (Walter Vink’s) and Hans said “Wow, Sarah, you are totally the anchour of team. You were booting it in that pace line” and other people we had passed agreed. It was nice because sometimes I feel like the slow one in Team Sweet, but apparently, I’m not holding them back. YES!

Worst Part of the Day: Trying to figure out the phone card thing. First I thought I would buy a new one since my minutes are used up, but none were as cheap as the one I have. Then I thought I would try to recharge the card I have, but none of the stores in Boise could do that for me. Then we figured out I had to call a number to recharge it. And then the phone people needed a zip code and I only have a postal code, and I waited for 15 minutes for the operator. Then a Sea to Sea guy offered to let me use his card, which was great. But the whole process was a wee bit frustrating.

Today I woke up a little late, but Team Sweet was in the same situation, so we left at around 8 am and set a good pace. We kind of booked it actually and I was pushing myself, not hard, but just pushing myself to keep up. I kept telling myself “This is good for you Sarah, think of the Rockies, think of the 190 km days…keep going fast”. Annette also joined us today, she’s a beautiful gal who rides well. She found it hard to keep up, but I told her “I find it challenging too, but that’s why I ride with these guys.” This is Matt Zantingh about to go down a huge hill. There was a stop sign at the bottom, and it was really hard to stop. I was going 66 km/hour and I have never used my brakes so much.

When we got to Boise around 12:15, we stopped at Java House to rest our weary bums and I had a coffee and delicious hummus. As always, lots of people had questions about our trip and were excited about Sea to Sea. Boise seems to be quite the cycling town. Java House in Boise.

Then we visited George’s-the biggest bicycle shop I have ever seen. We all meandered, picking up the lightest bike frames ever and drooling over just about everything in the store, but not spending anything. Then we headed to camp and just as I got there, a van was leaving to do laundry, so I grabbed my bag and headed out. This is Joan (from Ontario) and I doing laundry. The place right next to the laundromat was a beauty salon that was just opening up. It was called “Just Us” and these two ladies were serving amazing food (for free) and giving 15 minute massages (for free). Joan and I couldn’t believe our luck. I decided to give my hair a crop, and the lady didn’t even charge me! So, we really were blessed by those ladies and they enjoyed hearing our story. This was a cool crack in the wall. Kinda looked like to might be fun to climb.

Then I headed back to camp and helped the sweep team hose out the gear truck, set up supper and clean up. We had tacos. Then I finally called Tim which is always good and probably the best part of my day everyday. However, if I kept putting that as my "Most Interesting Part of the Day", I think my readership might drop off. If any students are reading, you are probably noticing that I am writing with a lot of “Then” or “And then’s”. As a disclaimer, this is not good writing, but I am very tired.

Later that evening a group of about 30 of us headed out to closer to downtown Boise and went to “The Ram”, a huge brewery. We sat, ate and laughed and cheered to Joel, who is leaving on Sunday. Joel is closest.

Today is Sunday morning and I'm not writing another post, so here's so far. I slept in until 8 am and then went to breakfast. I’m feeling pretty chipper here at Starbucks because I just watched a lot of video’s of Tim and some from Sea to Sea. I want to figure out how to post them on my blog. Maybe I will ask Jono, the techno guy to help.

Also, Len-our chaplain asked if I would speak at one of the Celebration Services soon. Usually we have one or two cyclists speak. I don’t really know what to say. I mean, I could say the usual “My fundraising was so easy” or “The ride has been a great experience” but that isn’t really meaningful. I could mention the interesting facts like “I grew up in PEI” or “Last summer I was in a 30 km bike realy and I biked so hard that I threw up afterwards and I also came in last. This was not good incentive to go on this tour”. Interesting but gross.

But I have been singing a particular song a lot during my rides, especially when I’m alone and in a beautiful place. And I’ve thought about singing that. But it’s a little nerve wracking because, first off, I wouldn’t have anyone to accompany me, and secondly, I haven’t sung in front of a group for a long time. But I will write out the lyrics for you know, and you can tell me what you think. It’s a song by Carolyn Arends from B.C.

I don’t know quite who I am anymore
I don’t know if that’s normal or not,
I don’t know if I know you at all anymore,
At least not in the way that I thought.

But I know there are canyons in Utah
Red as fire, and high as the sky,
And they make me cry.
Cause I don’t know one other love
Who would go to such lengths to break through.
So I know, it has to be you.
It has to be you.

Well if I’ve built my hopes on mirrors and smoke
If it’s all been a dream from the start
Why then can’t I deny the yearning inside?
Coinciding with the beat of my heart.

There’s a voice that I cannot hear in my ear.
There’s a voice I can hear all the same.
There’s a voice that speaks in my dreams and my fears
It is endlessly calling my name.
And on warm summer breezes it whispers
Rivers carry it’s soft lullyby and it makes me cry.

Cause I don’t know one other love
that would go to such lengths to break through
So I know, it has to be you.
It has to be you.


The song is a little vulnerable though and I don’t know if I want to sing it in front of such a large crowd. But it’s the way I’ve been feeling lately….that God is most present in his general revelation-Creation. Not in a New Agey kind of way, but in the way that is tangible and claimable for all those who believe our world was made, is made and belongs to God. That I see him most in his world, in the long empty spaces, the craggy peaks, and the gold fields of wheat; is what Schwanda (an old college professor) would say is totally appropriate. And in this way, God speaks to the whole world, not just us Christian few. Which I love. And now to listen.

This is a picture of Brain and Jono (Photographer and friend of Kelly-O) at Jolts and Juice in Huntington yesterday.

This is the cool history of the bicycle poster he had at the coffee shop. He used to own a bike shop.

Day 12: Friday: Huntington, OR to Ontario, OR with a side trip to Idaho!

Actual Kms: 85 km

Overkill Kms: 30 km due to contact falling out and detour to Idaho!

Road Stuff: snake (alive or dead, I’m not sure), lots of dead birds, pretty friendly horses, and I think, a raccoon.

Money Spent: $3 Samuel Adams with Matt Zantingh in Payette, ID and I'm probably going to buy an ice cream after I post this, so let's say $2.

Wipeouts: None. “I’m getting good at this biking thing,” she says cautiously.

Interesting Person Pick: Matt Zantingh. We decided to bike together this morning, got separated and then ventured off to Payette, Idaho (about 10 kms off the beaten track) to explore the town and have a beer. We had a great conversation about our respective relationships (his Lynn, my Tim) and enjoyed the “This is America. Speak English” sign outside of the bar.

Favourite Part of the Day: Hitting 71 kms (my personal best speed) down the hill a second time today. You should have heard my “Woo-hooo!” down the hill.

Worst Part of the Day: Losing my contact 7 kms into the journey after a wicked ride down a hill at 66 kms an hour. I had to turn around, climb the hill I had just ridden down into the wind (going about 10 kms up the hill and only 20 km down the otherside) and grab a new contact from the Gear Truck. Lesson learned to always bring an extra set of contacts along with me. So, I added about 20 kms to my ride today, into a good headwind, which is probably just as well because it helps me train for headwinds and today was a seriously short day (55 km).

It was hard to get up this morning because I didn’t sleep well due to the wind last night. Also, it was stinking hot in the school building. But after I had some breakfast, I started singing a tune and enjoyed my morning. I left around 8 only to return for a contact and get on the road by 9. Then I motored it and caught up to Matt Zantingh and we took a detour to Payette. Which meant we got to Idaho before anyone else! Do any of my students recognize anything in this picture (besides their teacher)?

After pulling into the town of Ontario, OR, I had a shower (I’m getting to know people reeeally well on this trip) and then headed to the library. About 15 C2Cer’s are here now, blogging and emailing away. And I just found out that I’m the new “Creative Caption” for the Sea to Sea Newsletter. Check out http://www.crcna.org/pages/sea_follow.cfm and download “Week 3” and scroll to the bottom to see.

New helmet and sunglasses!

Day 11: Thursday: Baker City to Huntington, OR

Actual Kms: 75 kms

Overkill Kms: 5 kms to “town”.

Road Stuff: We had some interesting snake skins, live gartner snakes, and one live rattler that reminded me what the word “scared” means.

Money Spent: $2 for a Michelob Ultra…I.O. Brian. $3.50 Pizza I.O Lisa. Also known as “Sarah is out of U.S cash”.

Wipeouts: None, but a fatal one would have occurred with the rattler.

Interesting Person Pick: Art Smit. I found out he is Eritia’s brother which clears up a whole lot for me and I also found out that he is very good at Settlers. He’s a pretty chill guy. Even if he does tease me and call me Miss Terpstra the entire game. Grr Art.

Favourite Part of the Day: As Brian and I were riding beside each other along the road this morning, I thought I saw a snake in between us. I screamed and it (yes it was real…and we think a rattler) jumped up and I literally could hear it bite into the air. It was about one foot from my feet and although I was traveling at at least 35 km/hour, I was very, very scared.

Worst Part of the Day: I played Settlers today with five other guys. Big mistake. Should have made sure we had at least one other girl at the table. The entire table was tired, silly and the entire time they teased me and kept calling me Miss Terpstra; which was enjoyable and annoying at the same time. They kept saying “What are the rules Miss Terpstra?” and “Stop him from stealing from me Miss Terpstra”, etc. It was fun up to the point when Brian asked, “Hey, do you guys think Miss Terpstra is hot?” and I went all red and put my head down in embarrassment. They could all tell how I was feeling and just laughed in good humour. I guess it’s good to be reminded what embarrassment feels like but it’s been a long time since I’ve felt that.

Today was an incredibly easy day. Last night Brian and I agreed to book it to Huntington because we didn’t want to ride in the heat. So we started riding at 7 am and got into Huntington at 9:30-yes am. Hoo-yah! But, the ride was, probably the easiest ride yet. As Ed (Our Leader) says “It’s all downhill from here”…and it really was.
Last night before the Peleton meeting I told Jen that it would be a good idea to have one person who would deliver the mail to the post office instead of everyone trying to find it. I apparently didn’t think this out really well before the conversation, but I found myself offering to do this job. So I am the Official Mail Girl. They announced it at the Peleton last night and I have already delivered several postcards and letters in Dirkee today (the smallest town ever). I figure I’m a fairly fast rider, and I like delivering mail (seeing which people are writing, seeing where they are writing to, and in the case of postcards, seeing what they are writing…just joking!) so I’m in a good position to contribute to camp in this capacity.


When Brian and I drove into Huntington, just as was told us, the town was very small but it had a pub, so we stopped in, had a beer (yes, I know, at 9:30 in the morning) and ate some of our lunch. Then I found “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime” in a Reader’s Digest set of novels on a table in the bar. Which is the book Tim and I were reading before I left, so I picked it up and reread some sections he had read to me, remembering how he had said read sections. I kept reading until about 10:30 when more Sea to Sea bikers joined us and the bar became the place to be in Huntington (population 500). We enjoyed some pizza and good fellowship with the crowd there.

Around noon, after I called Emily and Jamie, we headed back to steaming hot camp and I helped unload the gear truck to find my Settlers game. I played a little Basketball, played Settlers, had a shower and now I’m in the gym of the school here (student body 60, but a great huge building) watching Jolene (Ed-our leader’s daughter) run around the gym and kick a basketball. She is about 3 and deliciously cute. This is Brian and me being silly on the floor today. The school mascot was the "locos" or Huntington Locomotives.

At night, I found a payphone, called Tim, ate some delicious dinner (the food is great) and then played ping pong against Peter Kranenburg. He beat me by one point and bragged it up, but I will get back at him. Also played against Brent (who beat me by 2 out of 3 games and is very good) and another guy who I beat. Which was somewhat restoring to my sense of self.



When I went to bed the wind was howling and I tried sleeping for an hour before moving my tent inside because it was too windy. I was glad that tomorrow was a short day.

And here is the sight of what I woke up to. Yes, that's Peter Kranenburg and Denise. Great bed head and legs.

Day 10: La Grande to Baker City, OR

Actual Kms: 82 kms

Overkill Kms: 5 or so to town and back to camp.

Road Things: So many dead animals (racoons, cats, birds) that as I told Eritia, I couldn't count them all.

Money Spent: Ekk! Too much. $2.75 yummy white chocolate latte, $18 book "The Shack"/postcards, $1.25 envelope/stamp, $3.50 Black Butte Porter-I am liking this one, $14 pen and very cool hangman flip game for my classroom (you gotta have new games right?...right?). Abby can support me on this one.

Most Interesting Person Pick: Randy DeWolde who I often find blogging beside me. He is from Chilliwack, B.C and bought my Museum fare today because I didn't have the cash on me (probably due to my overspending). We hung out as the tour guide told us a lot about the hugest mineral/rock collection ever, the Oregon Trail and the Museums history. He also took some really good pictures for me. Baker City is a gold mine town that hit it big in the 1920's but kind of went down hill from there.

Favourite Part of the Day: Biking into Baker City and realizing that it was big enough to find the book I wanted and a shady spot to sit and have a drink and eat my lunch. Also, getting in at 11:45. Hoo-yah!

Worst Part of the Day: Getting up this morning at 5:30-and leaving by 7:00. It's getting harder and harder to get out of the sleeping bag knowing that I have to get back in the saddle. Also, my knee has been hurting and today's ride didn't help. I know, I know...complainer.

Today was a pretty easy ride. We had a lot of flat areas filled with wheat fields everywhere. I rode with Eritia and we kept up a pretty good pace. Before the climb we stopped in Union (a town) at a very cute coffee shop with home and garden things. I took a picture of a great antique cabinet that I thought was original for you Mom. We chilled for about 30-45 mins and saw a lot of people come in and order a coffee from the very kind owner. We also got some cute pictures.

Next there was a little bit of a climb, but we booted it up the hill at 25 clicks and enjoyed the SAG wagon at the top. When we started out descent, we saw the Blue Mountians with lots of snow on the tops and the morning air was still cool so it was a lovely ride.
I learned today that you need to be 12 inches away from the person in front of you in a pace line to catch the draft and make it easier for yourself. This is a little close for comfort, but I'm becoming better.

When we got into town, Eritia and I found a bookstore, a stationary shop and a cute little cafe to sit and have our lunch.

Then I read for a long while and found a museum with Randy and discovered more of Baker City's history. Now, I'm at the local library with 1,2,3 other cyclists, enjoying the quick internet. I will try to get my pictuers onto a USB and post them online for you all to see. Thanks for reading.

Day 9:Tuesday: Pendleton to La Grande, OR

Actual Kms: 92 km

Overkill: 9 km into La Grande and back to Pioneer Park

Road Things: possum, bird, lots of live deer in the bush.

Money Spent: Ouch. Almost don't want to admit today's spending. $2.25 split a banana split with Brian when we came into town, $35 new red helmet because the owner of the La Grande bike store told me my helmet was safe but sketchy...not a lot of ventilation and I needed a visor anyways, $45 new polorized sunglasses...I finally caved and bought some, $2 whopper jr and cheesy potatoes...I know, I know, I have to get out of the habit of having two suppers.

Most Interesting Person Pick: Stephanie Webb who is sitting opposite me in the library right now. She is an friend of Trevor and Tanya and has a wicked bike. She is doing a stretching class which I think will help now that my knee has gotten a little sore.

Favourite Part of the Day: Coming into camp. The last 30 kms or so of the ride, I just wanted to get to camp.

Worst Part of the Day: Surprisingly, it wasn't the 15 km climb at the beginning. It was definitely following the interstate and going down on a 5% grid down for 3 miles. We were clocking 60 km and that was a little scary for interstate riding. I'm still using my brakes becuase I'm scared of falling at such a fast speed. However, I just need to have faith that I'm going to be taken care of.

Today I made Team Sweet leave camp at 7:00 am. I knew we were going to have a hot day and a tough ride, so I whipped them into shape using my best teacher voice ever. "Let's gooooo Team Sweep, we got a hill to climb," I called up. We rode up a huge hill/mountain in Oregon that had the wickedest hair pin turns I've ever seen. It was tough, but most of the climbs were short and steep, the way I like them.

We continued doing the up and down (hilly) thing through beautiful forests and saw some wildlife. But then, then things got ugly. We did a very slow uphill climb that was brutally painful....my legs were tired and I was beat and the sun was getting hotter by the minute. I was riding by myself for about 10 kms and that was nice but I needed some encouragement. Brian came along and said "Let's go Turpentine" (which is his nickname for me). We finished the climb and were rewarded with a beautiful winding downhill of 10 kms. It was lovely.

We jumped on the interstate and headed to La Grande but Brian got a providential flat tire. I say providential because Jodie and Matt Z and Hans all caught up to us and Team Sweet was reunited for the ride into camp. Along the way, we spotted a sweet ice cream store where about 10 others were eating and so we joined the feeding frenzy.
We found La Grande's bike store and I got a new helmet. Jodie accompanied me to Apple Glasses, and I found some relatively cheap polorized sunglasses. Then we headed into camp, signed into the gear truck and went swimming at the pool right on sight. It was free and cold. I had a shower, ate a burger and now I am at the library; already looking forward to my second dinner. I will try to post pictures when the internet at camp is up. Thanks for reading.

Day 8: Monday: Kennewick to Pendleton, OR

Actual Kms: 126 kms
Overkill Kms: 15 kms overkill to town and back.
Road Stuff: dead birds, onions, two black high heel boats, underwear, pelicans flying above the lake Walla Walla.
Money Spent: $11 at Denny’s for an omelet, bagel, and grits, $3.50 for a spectacular Something Brute Porter beer.
Wipeouts: None, but a very close one driving back after the beer.
Interesting Person Pick: Jodie! As in Jodie Van Dorp, related to Marieke Van Dorp from Alliston. She joined the Sweet Team today and kept up like a machine. I really enjoyed getting to know about her Chiliean experience and I was excited that Team Sweet had another girl besides me. She has a great Cannondale bike and really paced well with us. Yah Jodie!
Favourite Part of the Day: Probably calling Tim, my boyfriend while waiting for a fresh omelet at Denny’s. I was really excited to find out that he had seen my blog and pics of us from Jill’s wedding.
Worst Part of the Day: The first 50 kms were fine (with exception of a headwind). Then came the horrible rolling hills of Oregon. Oh Oregon, how endless and rolling you are. It was tough, especially in the heat. It was hot (around 94 F) and I the last 20 kms were really difficult. I had to keep drinking water because I felt a little faint.

Today was actually a really good day but the ride was tough. We had a good ride in Washington, right next to the lake. Here’s a picture of the typical ride.

We also stopped at the Twin Sisters which are two large rocks that tell the story of two native girls who married a coyote. He got jealous and turned them into rocks. Really, they are a land marker and very visible for miles. One of the guys, Joel, climbed up to get a picture from between the two rocks. That’s Joel.

I love this next picture because I was pumped to get to Washington. That’s my girl Jodie and Joel.

This next picture is Walter Vink’s RV. He’s from Alberta, a direct older Dutch guy who always meets us in the middle of our journey to refresh us with water. A lot of people stop because he has a canopy and chairs for us to sit in.


Here is Team Sweet at the RV SAG wagon. Great view. Yah Team Sweet!

This is me, eating at Denny’s at 4 pm. I got into camp at 1:30, had a shower without my shower stuff because the gear truck was held up at the Washington/Oregon border for a while. But I wanted cold water, so I soaked myself and then fell asleep for an hour on the carpet of the school. But Denny’s and calling Tim hit the spot. Also, I talked to some people and handed out some Sea to Sea cards in the restaurant, so it was worth it.
Then I drove into downtown Pendleton and visited some places recommended to me by the locals. First I went to the bike shop but they didn’t have a visor for my helmet. I’m not wearing sunglasses right now, so it’s been a little bright. Here’s a picture of a mural on the pub I went to. Pendelton is an old Wild West town, full of underground tunnels that the Chinese immigrant railroad workers lived in.

Also, Pendleton was supposedly full of brothels, as this sign proves.



Then I visited the best western store I’ve ever seen. Yes Dad, it rivals Alberta’s Wong’s Western. I asked if they had any saddles for Percheons Dad, but they looked at me strangely. Check out this amazing statue in the middle of the store.



And now, at 6:27 pm, I am going to eat a small second supper. I feel like a hobbit. If one of my students is reading this, you can post why Miss Terpstra might feel like a hobbit because of second supper since we read The Hobbit this year. J