So So Beautiful

We now have over 633 miles under our belt since departing the Oregon coast. While I've included a few photos in this post, you can view others if you wish by clicking here. 

Cycling Area	Distance	Calories	Time
Cambridge Cycling	81.34	5,337	5:48:55
Baker City Cycling	109.88	7,758	8:45:20
John Day Cycling	80.95	5,640	6:21:02
Mitchell Cycling	69.15	4,998	4:54:58
Prineville Cycling	46.84	3,066	3:38:21
Prineville Cycling	0	--	00:01.8
Cycling	0	--	00:00.4
Blue River Cycling	100.02	6,773	8:33:17
Eugene Cycling	62.06	4,040	4:18:10
Florence Cycling	82.15	1,877	5:59:24
Florence Cycling	1.17	28	05:19.8
	633.56

We continue to be astounded by the scenery. Every time we think we are going to see nothing but desert terrain, it turns into lush green or at least relatively green and wooded views. Hells Canyon is an example. When we departed John Day, crossing over the original Oregon Trail, it looked like southern Wyoming. Hot, dry and filled with sage. But soon that turned into irrigated farm land and water all around us. This has not been a desert tour, thank goodness.
The last post left off with us arriving in John Day Oregon for our first day off. Today we are enjoying our second much needed day off now in Riggins Idaho. And rest we did. After 12 hours of sleep we boarded a river raft for a half day trek down the Salmon River. Here is a photo of our motley crew.

Gotta Go Joe and The Ghost Bill departed our group as planned day before yesterday in Baker City Oregon. They both proved me wrong with my prediction that their flat land gears would eat their lunch. The Ghost proved it daily by arriving first in every destination except for the day he was searching for new shoes to replace his ultralight carbon racing shoes. Ok guys, I don't do this very often but I was wrong. You did fine with your gears.

So far we have completed two century days, each after 30 plus mile climbs at 7% on average. Climbs that test your soul. Especially with the heat we are now seeing in Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho.

Today we have 107f and day before yesterday same on a very long climb after crossing over the Snake River at the Oxbow Reservoir into Idaho. Near the top of that climb, I had to pull over and pour water on my head to stop the movement of the ground below my bike. Heat makes your brain see and feel things you know are false. And when that begins to happen it's time to pull over. Cool water on the head does wonders and quickly.

BJ is climbing these passes at about 7 mph while I'm sitting at about 4 mph on the recumbent. BJ descends at about 28mph while I descend at about 40mph. Almost a wash in average speeds except for those days where the climb is greater than the descent.

We are meeting a great number of interesting people on this tour. Virtually all are kind and inquisitive. One example is the gentleman below I met in Baker City. His name is Gandalf. On a bicycle crusade to rebirth humanity one smile at a time. He carries an 80 lb dog on his crusade across the country. (Facebook: Joy Pandemic North American Bicycle Tour)

While our Gulf Coast is suffering from the greatest catastrophe in our lives and possibly in history, the Pacific NW is suffering from some of the most devastating fires seen in recent times. Smoke has become a common expectation every day since early in the tour. And we have more smoke and fire to navigate in the last 3 days ahead. I wake up every morning with a continuous cough.


There are just so many stories. But I would bore you with them if I put them all in this post. So they will have to wait. But one example of a story can be viewed in the final photo of this post. An Axe throwing contest in New Meadow Idaho.

Till next time, all the best to you all.