Day 5. Sodden

After deciding not to take a rest day because the sun was out on Monday, it was completely the opposite situation on Tuesday morning. Although it was pouring with rain when I awoke, there was absolutely no intention of hanging around in Shelton. I decided that the rain would keep me cool, and it will probably pass in an hour or so. How wrong could I be?



I had set my target as Raymond, which was about 60 miles away, and had also decided to deviate from my map for the first time. The reason being that it seemed to take you on a merry jaunt through various little towns, but not the most direct route. Seeing as I am not here to hang around places, I thought it best to hit the highway and go the most direct way I could.

It felt like a good idea as I passed through Elma and joined highway 12. It was flat and had a nice big shoulder so even though the trucks and cars were whizzing past they were a long way away. I made good ground and when I turned onto the 107 at Montesano everything felt fine. The 107 was a one lane highway but still had a good shoulder so no problems there. Have I mentioned it was still raining at this point? Well, it was still raining, just a bit heavier than it was when I left Shelton. I got through the 107 pretty quick and joined the 101, the highway that is going to take me down most of the pacific coast.

It was fine in terms of traffic and having lots of space, it was just the unabating rain and the hills.. oh my god the hills! Everytime I got over one, there was another. For 2 hours it just seemed like hill after hill. everytime I was having a nice rest going down hill, I just knew that it was a false dawn and I would just be struggling up the next one any moment. By this time I was sodden, well and truely sodden. Not cold, except for my feet, but sodden!

I made it to Raymond just before dark and within 10 minutes of being here thought it wasn't a good place for a rest day. So tomorrow I'm on to Astoria, home of a 4 mile long bridge and hopefully a slightly better motel. 64.56 miles on the speedo. Furthest travelled in a day so far.