Oregon done, setting up for final 60 miles in WA

I've missed posting about several hikes (I should have a chance to do so in a week. But let me just list them.

A loop leaving car at Lolo Pass (the endpoint of my last loop around the west side of mt Hood,) bicycling down to Hood River, taking bus to Cascade Locks, bicycling a few miles west to Eagle Creek trailhead, hiking south back up to Lolo Pass.

A loop leaving car at Santiam Pass, bicycling down to Sisters, taking four buses via Redmond, Madras, and Welches to Timberline Lodge on south slope of Mt Hood, hiking south back to car.

This morning I got back to the car at Santiam Pass, fetched my bike and a cache at Frog Lake TH south of Mt Hood, showered at the Hood River marina again, returned the Nikon camera I'd used the last two hikes, and am now in Washington to check out the 40 mile bike ride from Chinook Pass to Yakima, and bus to Ellensburg, then figure out my options up to Snoqualmie Pass.  There's a "dial-a ride" bus service reportedly going to Cle Elum, which would be ideal, because I could then have a relatively short bicycle climb up the Iron-Horse RR grade to Snoqualmie Pass, but when I called the reservation number I was told it's only for disabled and "starving seniors".  There is also an airporter service from Yakima/Ellensburg that stops at Cle Elum, but only accepts bikes in bike boxes!  So one of the things I'll be doing is seeing how I might get a bike box in Yakima or Ellensburg.  There is the option of bicycling up all the way from Ellensburg, about 40 miles of steady uphill on gravel.  Once I get to Snoqualmie, it's a 60 mile walk back to my car at Chinook Pass.

Besides this scouting, I want to make a third try at buying an interim camera.  I might try a weatherproof design, though that may be too expensive for me right now.

The weather may turn out to be an issue. Right now it's a supposedly brief heat-wave, but by Sunday evening it should start cooling, then by Wednesday it may get rainy.  So I'll need to be prepared for rain the latter half of my hike.

Other than that, looks like by end of next week I'll be done in these parts, unless I decide to do the 8 miles in Canada. Also, I may still hang around to meet up with Sandy and her friend Peter who may be at Mt Rainier just about when I get done.

Been starting to look at job ads (back in the SF Bay Area - responded to two lab-tech type ads, but haven't heard back.)  While I'm up here (or on my way back) I may also do some "double-checking" of bike/bus connection alternatives for my prospective book.

Want to move on now. many miles to drive tonight.