Photo journal - part 1

Laurie here, to post some photos of the ride thus far:

Great cycling buddies came to the start point in Everett, WA to wish Tom & Michael well on their journey. From the left are Tom, Michael, Don, Tom and Reg. Don, Tom and Reg are all PAC tour veterans, so they were excellent mentors and training partners in the months leading up to this event. Tom accompanied Tom & Michael on the first leg out to Monroe, WA as a send off.The first rest stop in Sultan, WA - a typical rest stop, where the equipment van provides provisions for the next leg of the ride.Here's Michael, pedaling up to the summit of beautiful Stevens Pass ski area; elevation 4057 feet. Weather is perfect, not a cloud in the sky.A smokey start to Day 2 - brush fires in the hills outside Wenatchee; a typical sight during summer months.

Cycling along the Columbia River - The largest river in the Pacific NW region of the US, the Columbia is 1,243 miles long with a drainage basin the size of France. The source is high in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada and it flows through central Washington State to form the border between Washington and Oregon before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The river's heavy flow (4th largest in the US) and steep gradient give it tremendous potential for the generation of electricity. The 14 hydroelectric dams on the main stem and tributaries produce more electricity than any other North American river.

Grand Coulee Dam, the largest concrete structure in the United States and the 3rd largest hydroelectric facility in the world.