I left my friend Barb and Leavenworth late on Saturday, I knew that would happen so I planned a short day to Lincoln Rock State Park. Also I'm still getting used to propelling the "family truckster" down the road.
Barb and the campground host told me about the Waterville grade. I knew there would be some climbing again, but I had no idea it would be like that -- 7 miles of 6% grade, it took me hours and a few rest stops to get to the top.
At the top was a kicking tailwind that made the miles to Waterville and a real breakfast a "breeze!"
I was admiring a handmade rug on the wall of the Coyote Cafe and the waitress/cook/owner said it was made by the local priest and that he had many looms in his house. It reminded me of what I had heard about James Koehler, a very famous weaver of amazing subtle gradation tapestries. He started out as a monk, and used to weave when he did his meditation time, the other monks didn't like it, he was suppose to be still when meditating, but he found it easier to stay calm if he kept his hands busy. He gave up "monkdom" years later to pursue tapestry weaving full time.
Leaving the cafe, there still was the favorable wind through the rolling wheat fields, but also some downhills and then the big one into Moses Coulee or Grand Coulee (I can't tell exactly from the map). All that climbing that morning gone and another climb laid before me, not as long, but I was so done with climbing for the day. Then the final downhill into Coulee City where I would camp.
"Tapestry Monkdom" sounds great!
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