As we headed out the Columbia River Highway, I watched the birds fly along the river. Our first stop was at Rooster Rock State Park. The marshes along the banks were were teeming with ducks.

We stopped at Biggs Junction for breakfast and to gas up again – the temperature was beginning to climb. We met a group of bikers heading to Sturgis – a veteran stopped to talk to us. He was headed there with his brother, his father, and others – all of whom have been riding there for years. He said it was his 10th trip. They are eating up the miles, taking the highway to get there in a couple of days – we are taking a more leisurely route, with stops to enjoy the scenery.

I am struck anew at how much riding the bike reminds me to be fully present to the moment – something I very often otherwise fail to do.

As we headed into Eastern Washington, our ride became impossibly hot. By the time we made it to Clarkston, WA, we had ridden through 100+ temperatures for hours. The last temperature on this leg of our ride was 108! It felt like we were baking. Thank God for air conditioning and for an empty pool!