Biking, Day 4: 7/20/2009

Day 4: Wilbur, WA to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
Distance: 100 miles
Route: Rte 2 to Spokane, then through the back side of Spokane, following Sunset Hwy, then linking to 290/East Trent/Spokane Falls Blvd, then to the Centennial Trail all the way to Coeur D'Alene
Lodging: Shilo Inn and Suites, courtesy of Priceline.
Shout out: Fitness Fanatics in East Spokane, WA where I got a new bike seat, tube, and shorts. This was probably the best bike store I have ever been to. They were helpful (and it's owned by a woman) and had awesome bicycles. Ever in Spokane, you must go: http://www.fitfanatics.com/

I started riding at 6;10am. It was a beautiful morning, I was a little tired, but not horrible. My main issue was my seat again. The discomfort is hard to describe. It's not just pain, like muscle soreness, there's chaffing in multiple locations. And it gets raw.
I rode about 30 miles to Davenport, then continued to Spokane.
Once I rolled through Spokane and got my new seat, I got on the Centennial Trail. I took the trail through to Idaho – yay! When I crossed into Idaho, a woman with her bike packed down with panniers asked me (as I was taking a picture of the Welcome to Idaho sign) whether I knew where there was camping. I said no, but that I was going to Coeur D'Alene, about 12 miles, and there might be something there. She responded that no, there was no camping there. But where was I staying? I told her I was staying at a hotel and she said 'how much?' and I told her and she said 'I'll split it with you'. I was so thrown off by this. I have never been approached like this before. I stumbled, said eh, ok, I mean, I've never done that before. And she said well, if you're not comfortable... Then she said we should just start riding and talking. Fine.

We started riding. She was a LOT slower than me. Some information on the woman:
Name: Sage (not sure if this is a given name, gang name, porn name. It's the name of a spice, after all)
From: Alaska, but now lives in Boston because going to BU for some policy degree. Lives in JP.
Age: 52
Sexuality: Straight, not attached, no children
Bike: Mountain, but decorated with various stickers including: “Alaska Spirit”and “Coexist”
Touring experience: Asia, India
Religion/culture: Jewish
Ultimate destination: Helena, MT to meet others to do mountain biking
Occupation: teacher

We rode along the trail and got to know each other. Sage was moderately interesting, but very slow. My ass was in a considerable amount of pain still, so the moseying pace was not the best for me. I really just wanted to get off the seat. She decided she was hungry and stopped. She ate an apple. I waited. We forged on. Sage thought her breaks were rubbing. We stopped.. she took off all her panniers. Fixed something. We forged on.
Around 7 or 8 miles into it, I got a sinking feeling that she thought she was staying at my hotel with me. She had already said she wanted to bike with me tomorrow, which I agreed to against my better judgment. Finally, I said so, are you going to camp tonight and then we can meet up tomorrow? To which she responded “I'll split a hotel with you”. I stumbled and said that I wasn't really comfortable since we just met, my parents would kill me, etc. She said 'even though I'm a woman?'. Yes, I said. 'Even though I'm a teacher?' Yes,I said, it's more about respect with my parents – I know they are worrying, this would make them worry more. Then she said 'why don't you call them?' and I said 'I've been texting with them'. What did you say to them? Well, I said I met a woman who is also touring and who wants to stay with me. She kept probing on the exact text conversation I had with my parents. Finally, I just said, well, if you want to bike with me I can give you my number. She said well, I doubt I will because I will have to pack tent, etc and I won't be ready early enough. It was so awkward. Nonetheless, I avoided an unwanted guest and carried on to my hotel.

My hotel was an actual hotel, not stellar, but not bad. I ordered apizza and salad. It was delicious.
I got a call from Sage around 830PM. She DID want to ride with me the next day. She wanted to meet on the trail.She had lucked out and met a couple who invited her to sleep in their RV with them. Such luck! I told her we should do 630 because my hotel has free breakfast. Well, she would just meet me for the free breakfast and eat it! Fantastico.

I went to bed after talking to my parents. Dad had looked up a map and wanted me to go to Thompson Falls. I looked it up and it was adorable. Great.