Palouse Skyscraper

During the summer of 2003 the Tour De France was taking place with Lance Armstrong winning a close race with Jan Ullrich. This particular tour involved a crash where the pack could have left Armstrong behind but instead slowly pedaled until the fallen champion could catch up and fairly compete for his title.

I wasn’t sleeping well and would wake by 4 am to watch the races live on cable television. I have always enjoyed biking from the time I was 9 years old when riding a bike represented freedom and independence. Prior to moving to Spokane it was too dangerous for me to ride my bike beyond the sidewalk. Back and forth to each end of the block was my allowed range on the busy California street we lived on. Upon my arrival to Spokane with my family in 1978, everything south of 29th street and East of Regal in Spokane were still dirt roads; and that was my territory to explore.

Several years before 2003's French Tour my father had taken up cycling when he turned 50. As middle age set in he grew fearful of being too unfit to enjoy retirement. He set a goal for himself to ride a 100 mile race by years end. I remember the day he achieved his goal. He and a friend rode in a race that was suppose to be a century (100 miler) but when he returned home from the course the odometer on his bike still said he had a mile to go. So being the stubborn man he is he circled the block a few extra laps until he had indeed ridden exactly 100 miles. He also studied bike mechanics and learned to repair his bike and mine.

2003 was a year and a half after life threatening blood clots had clogged my left leg. I had spent the previous year using crutches and eventually a wooden walking stick to help alleviate the pain from extensive swelling due to poor circulation. While watching the Tour De France I became inspired to try to reclaim my own health through cycling since I couldn’t run anymore. If Lance could push through cancer, I could push through my own health issues.

Each morning from July5th to July 27th I would rise early enough to watch the race live from France and then I would pick up my father and we would drive to a trail head for a 30-40 mile ride. My favorites would start in Cheney and head south along Mullinex or Rock Creek Rd. This part of Eastern Washington lies on the border between the desert and the rich palouse farm land. I always carried a small point and shoot camera to take memory shots from our rides and this image is one taken while on such a ride.

When I saw the wall of hay bales I was struck by the geometric shape that created an architectural structure. The organic becomes geometric. It reminded me of buildings I’ve seen in San Francisco or even the Federal courthouse in Spokane. The sheer size of it was imposing and reflects the strength and hardiness of the many farm families that are descendants of the original European homesteaders.

Agriculture is such an important part of our region’s economic history and our own cultural identity. While Iowa has farms, Eastern Washington has its Wheat Ranches. Who cannot remember the role Tom Foley played in bargaining for ag-bills each year. Small communties that are satellites of Spokane like Rockford and Davenport are dependent on this agri-economy.

I used to work in a printing shop when I was in college and the old-timers working there would always listen to KAQQ AM 590. Barry Wadtkins would dj “music of your life” and Wey Simpson would give a daily agriculture report discussing crop conditions and the price of grain. "Scotty" and "Fodey" who had worked there for over 30 years had both grown up on farms in Winnepeg Canada and talked of their parents driving a "team of shitters" to pull the plow and such. Listening to old music and farm talk while living in a city reminded me of watching Lawrence Welk at my grandparent’s house on Saturday night. Even though I never lived on a farm, You couldn't live in Spokane and not know their importance to our region. This photo of a large wall of hay bales seemed to be an appropriate icon of a region built on agriculture and mining.

Lance Armstrong won that race in 03 and went on to win another. He and my father are both retired now. I don’t ride with my father anymore but I no longer need the cane. Wheat prices are at record highs this year and farmers are seeing relief from economic strain for a change so I assume the walls of grain are stacked really high this year...

Video of Lance Armstrong crash from 2003