Day 3 -- A day of contrasts . . .

June 22, 2005

ROUTE: Welches to Kah-Nee-Ta Desert Resort & Casino on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation
DISTANCE:  66 miles          
WINDS: Cross wind climbing up through the alpine forests and then tailwind on the high mesa
WEATHER: Hodgepodge...cool and overcast at departure, foggy in the middle, then hot and dry to finish.
TERRAIN: Our first mountains--yee haw!     
TOTAL CLIMBING: 5400 feet

Just remembered that those who are reading Mike's web site, might be confused about who is writing it. Mike asked me to write the site on this ride so that he could get in a few extra zzzzzs each evening. It takes a couple of hours minimum to download photos and write the site, so over the past years it has been Mike's work of love at the end of some very long and tiring days. Mike needed a break, but we know that many of you follow Mike and your friends and relatives on his web site, so I was asked to ghost for Mike this year. I really enjoy writing it and I incorporate a lot from Mike's previous accounts of this ride. I hope you enjoy reading our days' adventures.

Susan Walker

RIDE OVERVIEW: We started the day with a short ride to the Whistle Stop for a hearty breakfast of eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, fruit, oatmeal, and country home fries. They did a great job again of getting us all fed and out the door in short order with our tanks full for a long day of climbing. In fact, the woman who checked riders off at the door, reminded one and all to “Remember to potty!” Now that’s service with a smile.

The day started out chilly and overcast, with sifting rain. Although most of our early morning route was in the clouds, the climbing warmed us up pretty fast and riders were shedding clothing by the 40-mile point. I did not wait that long. I was riding Sweep today and started out in my windbreaker over my vest and a shower cap over my helmet. As soon as I was 10 feet into the climb, I shed my jacket and shower cap.

Today was to be our first real taste of the mountains but unfortunately, we didn't get to see them. Experience them, yes; see them, no. As riders were ascending to Government Camp, about 10 miles up, they were greeted by fog and very cool temperatures. Mt Hood hid all day. We never did see it.

We were expecting over 5200 feet of climbing and we got just that. Our first real test came about a half mile from where we ate breakfast. Not much time to wear off those pancake calories, but everyone seemed to be moving pretty well up the grade. The terrain was up continuously for the first 13 miles with pitches ranging from 3-6% from Welches to Government Camp. Even though it was chilly,  riders enjoyed the pine canopy, mossy rock formations, bear grass, and rhododendron as they pedaled their way to the summit.

Barb ran the first SAG stop out of Box (the Budget rental truck) at mile 13.5. There was a restaurant nearby where several had a slice of delicious huckleberry pie. Also public restrooms. Riders fueled up and most donned extra clothing for the long descent before the second climb to the desert.

The topography changes were phenomenal as we were in mountainous pine forests for 42 miles, until we made a left turn toward the resort. After the turn, the terrain changed immediately to high desert scrub, and then after about 10 miles of rolling terrain, we descended into the box canyon to the resort. Riders were greeted with a beautiful, winding descent into the valley floor and then smacked with a steep climb up to the motel. Some live for this experience . . . you decide which one, the up or the down. The scenery was beautiful all day and it was hard to believe that we were on the same ride, on the same day, at each of our SAGs. One was in the lush pine forests near Mt Hood and the other was out in the desert . . . and they were only 20 miles apart . . . .

Even with the tough climb to the motel, it was worth every pedal stroke. We stay at Kah-Nee-Ta, a resort named for the Indian woman Xnitla, or “Root Digger.” The resort is located on the 600,000-acre Warm Springs Reservation 119 miles east of Portland in the central Oregon high desert. It is a lovely place.  Mike says: “I hope riders don't get used to all this luxury. We might be spoiling them a bit. As they say in the south, we are in "high cotton" with spacious rooms, pool, jacuzzi, and a beautiful view of the climb we have to do tomorrow to leave. But wait, I may not have anybody want to leave tomorrow! Hey gang, we need to get to New Hampshire!”

All in all it was another successful day. We got all the riders in without incident . . . life is good. Tomorrow we climb back to the top of the mountain that we came off of on our way in. I enjoyed the descent but am glad that tomorrow is my day in the SAG van because tomorrow we climb again, and my legs are tired. But riders do get to go down the hill at the motel before climbing up the mountain . . . that will thwart their warm up. They are getting stronger whether they know it or not . . . just another bump in the road to Portsmouth.

HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY: 

• "I didn't sleep well last night. Other riders told me they didn't sleep well either because they were anxious about all the climbing today. It's called 'elevation anxiety.' No, it cannot be cured with Viagra."
• "Mike takes a lot of photos of me. I'm moving so slow he has plenty of time to focus."
• "It's cold up here (at the top of a mountain). I wish I had gloves with fingers!"
• "It's hot out here (on the high desert). Why did I wear my long-sleeved jersey?"
• "I'd even get in a manure wagon at this point." (Howard discussing how Kah-Nee-Ta should send a vehicle down to transport its guests up the very long, steep road to the resort.) 
• "Where'd all the trees go?"

DUH[s]! OF THE DAY:  

1. Several people left their warm clothes in their luggage this morning, despite Mike warning them at Route Rap last night that it would be cold at the elevations we'd be climbing to. 
2. Fritz forgot to zip his rack pack and dropped a shoe along the shoulder. Mike ran back in Silver to pick it up. 
3. Kent lost a buckle off his helmet this morning and we all spent 10 minutes looking for it . . . only to discover that it was still snapped into the other half of the buckle. Duh.
4. IT'S ALL IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE COMMENT goes to Chips who commented at rap that instead of climbing (or walking up) the steep hill to the motel, we should have taken the employee's road to the motel . . . it was flat.  Now I'm no physics major but if both roads start at the same place and both go to the motel at the top of the mountain 500 feet up in a half mile, flat isn't in the description.  But it probably looked level when he was standing on the slope of the other hill.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY:

Who dressed Sonia this morning?

Coiled spring!!!

Everybody picks up a nickname on this ride, but few
spend the money to advertise themselves like this rider did.

Either this animal stood here a long time, or it's a very
large animal. I do know that I don't want to be here when it returns.

Rough, tough watch dog. We won't be choosing 
this route in the future.

Ahhh. Warm and dry, the perfect place for a picnic rest.  
Rattle-rattle-rattle . . .

Bill's trying to outrun the tailwind that's blowing his flag 
in the same direction he's going.

Screaming downhill off the mesa, Chips came around a curve and
encountered two bovines in the center of the road. "Mooooove,"
 he shouted as he looped into the opposing lane to avoid them.

Poor Howard (and others). Not so much as a manure wagon
appeared to transport them up the steep hill to Kah-Nee-Ta. 
They had to walk and push their bikes. At Route Rap this evening,
 Mike told all those who walked up that they could not ride down
 in the morning . . . had to walk down, in bike shoes . . .
and carrying their luggage.

Ahoy maties, it's a trio of pirates in search of a parrot. 
Aarrrrgh and shiver me timbers!