{"id":7931,"date":"2013-06-24T10:17:47","date_gmt":"2013-06-24T14:17:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=7931"},"modified":"2013-08-01T16:47:44","modified_gmt":"2013-08-01T20:47:44","slug":"day-4-monday-june-24-mazama-to-okanogan-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=7931","title":{"rendered":"Day 4. Monday, June 24 – Mazama to Okanogan, Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"

Slept soundly (10 hours) with the crisp mountain air coming through the windows while being tucked under double down comforters. \u00a0By the time we got out of the door at nine, all that remained of the overnight rain hung on the mountains, \"\"<\/a>or so we hoped. \u00a0Though the morning was overcast, it was still a beautiful ride.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It helped that the morning portion of the ride was rolling hills, allowing time to enjoy the “simple” things.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The dense forest that had surrounded us for days,\"\"<\/a> opened up to the beautiful Methow River Valley.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It took us an hour and a half to reach Winthrop, where we had planned on staying last night. \u00a0Though it looked like a cute town,\"\"<\/a> we still cherished Sam & Katie’s cabin last night. \u00a0The winds previously hidden in the thick forest, now took full advantage of us as we rode along the river valley.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Shortly before noon we stopped for lunch in Twisp, our last outpost before our destination tonight. \u00a0The only thing that lay between us and Okanogan\u00a0was a 12 mile straight up mountain. \u00a0Experience has taught us not to eat a large meal before a big climb, but we also knew we would need the fuel of a Rueben and Cheese Steak sub to get us to the summit. \u00a0Our nice lunch rest allowed the rain clouds to catch up to us;\"\"<\/a> as we pedaled away from Twisp it started to sprinkle. \u00a0Luckily, during our twelve mile climb it never actually rained, just a mist to sprinkle, which gave the fields a healthy glow.\"\"<\/a>Though this climb was steeper than yesterday’s, thankfully it was slightly shorter and (we hope) our legs are finally getting used to what we are doing to them each day. \u00a0We took our time, resting often and finally made it to Loup Loup summit by 4 pm.\"\"<\/a>Lesson learned from yesterday’s decent, we stopped to don warm clothes and dry gloves. \u00a0We sailed down the 18 miles; apple (red delicious and gala) orchards being the only thing notable, but not enough to stop and photograph. The first ten miles of drop was steep enough to not have to pedal, but gradual enough to not need brakes; not having freezing rain in our face helped, too. \u00a0Finally made it to our hotel by 5:30; six and a half hours of hard riding and 58 miles completed, it was time to stop.\n\t\t