Days 4 and 5: Laying down some miles

The last two days in the saddle were long ones—miles of winding forest roads in Washington, the occasional rumble of a logging truck behind me, and climbs that tested both legs and lungs. But what stood out even more than the rides were the two towns we landed in: Elma and Castle Rock. On paper, they look alike—both small towns of just a few thousand people. In person, though, they couldn’t have felt more different. That contrast became the “topic of the day.”

Riding

Day 4: 62 miles, 2290 elevation (one whee, no ughs)

Today was the first time I played the "only safe miles" card. If you read my post comparing this ride to my ride across country, you know that Chris is SAGging for me and that I promised I would be willing to "drive" if an option was unsafe. The ACA route was supposed to take me on that highway you see below (not the one in front, but the one behind). It didn't seem safe. To avoid that, Chris drove me to where the ACA route exited the highway portion for less busy roads. This gave me a 4-mile or so head start. From there, although the shoulders were narrow, traffic was mostly light. That said, there were a fair number of logging trucks. All cars were very considerate, often slowing down behind me and waiting for a safe time to pass.

The route had a few challenging climbs, one with a short stretch at 17% grade according to Garmin. Another peaked at 11%. The route was generally rolling hills. I also got lost twice--that is what happens when you start listening to podcasts and books. I listened to two podcasts that analyzed the Packers-Lions game and got back into Passages by Olan Thorensen. This is Book 6 in the Destiny's Crucible series, an interesting science-fiction series with a historic twist.

The Relive video doesn't have a lot of photos. I guess I saw great forests, but how many times can I show that?

Day 5: 79 miles, 2402 elevation (4 wheeeees, 0 ughs).

By my current itinerary and plan, this will be the longest mileage day of my trip. I tried to ride 50-70 miles per day, but in this case, to get to the next hotel, it was either less than 50 miles or more than 70. I took the latter option. This ride was long but had relatively less climbing, there were some 10 and 12% grades and one downhill of 16% (a definite "wheeeeeee!" with a lot of e's). The length was significant for this early in the trip and my current level of fitness.

Overall, the weather was mostly overcast until the sun broke through for the last hour. I took it slow and steady and cranked through the miles accompanied by my book (Passages by Olan Thorensen) and lots of natural beauty. It was nice that Chris came and met me along the way, near the end when the extra motivation was helpful.

Topic - Marketing and Towns

The towns of Elma and Castle Rock struck us as so different. Yesterday we drove into Elma, a rural town in central Washington. It just struck us as a "dying town." We were only there a day, so maybe we missed something. But the restaurant we went to and driving around town didn't leave a strong positive perception. It doesn't seem to have a plan to get better. We forgot to take pictures in town, because nothing grabbed us.

It was different in Castle Rock, Washington, This town reinvented itself through a grassroots beautification effort called Castle Rock Blooms. Chris heard about it from the owner of our hotel. The program began in 2011 when a group of volunteers—now known as the Bloom Team—started filling the town with colorful hanging baskets, garden beds, and flowering shrubs. With greenhouse space donated by a local business, these volunteers plant and maintain hundreds of displays each year, turning the town into a living showcase. Over time, Castle Rock expanded the effort with pollinator gardens and wildflower meadows, winning national recognition from the America in Bloom competition and becoming the first Proven Winners® Signature City. The benefits go beyond aesthetics: the flowers create civic pride, boost tourism, support pollinators, and give Castle Rock a welcoming, cheerful identity—what some call its “smile city” feel.

I see one town that has figured out its marketing. It has a clear positioning and is poised for growth and civic pride. I see another town that is missing those things.

Off the bike

In Elma, I got caught up on some textbook work. Chris got caught up on some reading and worked out. As noted above, the town didn't grab us.

After my long ride to Castle Rock, I got in at about 2:30. After a shower and we went to a really nice restaurant, Amaro's Table, which was right next to the hotel. They have a great happy hour, good prices, and excellent food. We then walked around the downtown. The flowers really spruce the place up, they are everywhere. Walking in town, we stopped at Cliff's Vintage Music Shoppe. Cliff showed us some of his antique music players. See below.

Two rides, two towns, two very different impressions. Elma felt like it was pressing pause, quietly drifting without a clear direction. Castle Rock, by contrast, has leaned into its identity with color, flowers, and a sense of pride that makes the whole place feel alive. It’s a reminder that even the smallest towns can choose whether to fade or to bloom. And as I pedaled through the miles in between, it struck me: the ride isn’t just about covering distance, it’s about noticing the stories along the way.