So far, the WABDR had provided us with a great diversity of riding. From open switchbacks through
grasslands and wildflowers to interesting forests that are trying to recover from forest fire damage. The
route is well planned, and provides plenty of opportunity to enjoy the scenery of Washington State. The
roads are peaceful and there are plenty of great camping spots to take advantage of.
Just south of the apple-producing hub of Cashmere we encountered a road closure. Not being the kind of
people that worry too much about getting lost we pointed in a direction we thought would eventually
lead us back to the tracks and hoped for the best. It took us a few attempts to get back on track but it all
worked out and the road quickly became one of our favourite sections so far. The riding was a mix of easy
and challenging, and there was plenty of stunning mountain views to feast the eyes on. We had tons of
fun. Even the paved section at the end had some really fun switchbacks. Knee down?
I knew that the next section of the WABDR on Umtanum Ridge, south of Ellensburg, was the difficult part,
as it is clearly laid out on the map and even has alternate routing for those that choose to be more
sensible. The route started off pretty normal. Once we hit the dirt section there was a tiny creek crossing to
get things going. Then it was up into the hills. Not too steep, but steep enough and fairly rocky. I felt like I
was holding on for dear life at times as the BMW bounced around completely oblivious to my inputs. This
section had desert style landscapes, so there are plenty of views of the surrounding area and even a few
volcanoes because there are no trees blocking the way. It was hard work to reach the top, it required
constant focus. Once at the top though you could see 360 degrees so it was definitely worth it. We were
soon going to find out that our adventure was just beginning.