Day 461 – US – Washington [Ellensburg to Vantage]

09/07/21

45.5km

  From Ellensburg (Washington) to Vantage (Washington)

North America

Fabulous day on the road, meeting people and enjoying the smoothness of the new stroller

Today’s scenery

What a pleasure to feel how smooth and easy it was to push the new stroller this morning. The past week had been harsh, with essentially the tyres creating an awful drag but also the structure getting looser and looser each day. Things are back to normal and I hope the new stroller has at least as much in it as the previous one! (17,000 kms is the record to break).

Lisa left and the cyclists she rode with

Vantage highway was very empty and I was pretty much on my own until about km 30. As I was closing on the uphill part of the run, a group of cyclists pedaled past me. One cyclist slowed down to my pace and started chatting. She must be the only person so far who guessed straight away that I was on a journey and that there was no baby in the stroller! Lisa is a well known figure in the world of ultra running, she was medical director of the Badwater marathon for many years and has raced very competitively loads of ultras herself (including pushing a BoB to carry her water!). How incredible to have met her today. I will hopefully meet her tomorrow again as she generously offered to accompany me across the Columbia River bridge – which is actually forbidden to pedestrians…

Left to right: Forest, Luka, Lisa

While we chatted away, two journey cyclists appeared from behind the hill. Forest and Luka have been riding around the US for quite a while and are heading to Seattle. They told us tales of spotting some grizzly bears back in Montana (where I am headed). Seeing as I did not have any device of self defence, Forest kindly gave me his own bear-spray. I hope these two guys stay safe and away from bears until they reach Seattle, I would not forgive myself if anything happens to them while I have their spray!

Mount Rainier in the background

The last 15 kms of the run were all downhill and it felt like a breeze. I could see the snowy summit of Mount Rainier in the background (at 4,392m the highest and most iconic peak of Washington). There actually was a little headwind and it was very pleasant. Today was fabulous and I am very grateful for all the kind and nice people I got to meet.

I am staying by the Columbia River tonight and also on my 1st time camping in the journey – exciting 🙂

Check out today’s flyover video: https://www.relive.cc/view/vdvmDGQp5xq

Check my daily run GPS data on or

Here is the map of today’s run: