It's the first year for Cameron and I on our tandem. And yes, I'm just a little bit nervous.

Cameron turned five all of two weeks ago and suddenly it seems a bit daunting to haul him along over three mountain passes. But, I wanted something to slow me down and I wanted to take him along on an adventure so here goes.

Day one is all right. Since Cameron is so light (maybe 40 lb.?), it isn't even that slow climbing the pass. We get tons of cheers at the check-in for the lunch stop on Snoqualmie Pass and after fueling up on spaghetti, it's down the back side to the ice cream sunday stop just outside of Easton. Of course, this is a HUGE hit. And nothing like a little bike ride to help you digest, so it's off to Cle Elum we go.

Groups tend to make Cameron come alive. As soon as we park the bicycle, he's looking for stuff to do. This time it's the crew of recent massage-school graduates that tag along with the ride to make their first wages that are blessed with his assistance. It seems the massage tent needs setting up and who better to help than Cameron. And he didn't quit either, no way, he kept at it, working hard until that sucker was all the way up.

And after all his arduous work, he still found time to capture his surroundings on film.

Day two. Enter the ham... Today was all about greeting others, smiling for the camera and loosening up. By now people were starting to recognize us as we rode by, were saying 'hi' to Cameron and congratulating him on his ability to ride up these steep hills. Little did they know that since our tandem incorporates a drivetrain by da Vinci Designs that allows for independent coasting, the stoker contribution in this case was minimal...

On day three, we climb out of Leavenworth towards Plain and the first food stop is right across the street from two of the friendliest horses. I'll bet most of the apples and bagels go to them and not to the riders, no WONDER they recognize us every year.