Day 48 Mount Saint Helens July 29, 2001

Today ! came up the Columbia river. It was supposed to be warm and sunny inland. It
has been cool and wet. It rained again last night. !'m camping off hwy. 504. The last
campsite before the top of Mt. St. Helens. May 18, 1980 is when it erupted last. ! had
wanted to get as close to the top tonight as possible. Alas, it's 32 more miles and
about 3,600'. That means a 64 mile day tomorrow minimum and it may be cloudy so !
wouldn't even be able to see it. ! looked @ the Mtn. w/ binoculars from the lower visitor
center. The campground here is $15/ night. ! have no intentions of staying here another
night. ! plan to ride 8 miles to the next visitor center @ 1,400' then return on 505
through Toledo, WA to a state campground near hwy. 12. That will be a kind of short
day. Then about 50 miles the next day to another near Maytown, WA. The day after
that will be a short ride into Tacoma, WA. for an hotel stay. !'m all out of clean clothes
so !'m starting to recycle. Maybe tomorrow !'ll find a laundry. 58 miles.