Staffing Across America North for ABB 2005: Day 4 --Snowy mountain tops; hot high desert

June 23, 2005

ROUTE: Kah-nee-ta to Prineville, OR
DISTANCE: 61 miles
WINDS: Mild but headwinds for latter half of ride

WEATHER: Beautifully clear but chilly in the morning, warming to mid 80s
TERRAIN: Steady climb for 7 miles then one significant climb from mile 17 to 20; rolling high desert, remainder
TOTAL CLIMBING: 3500 feet

RIDE OVERVIEW: Awoke to a beautiful sunny day and went to the lobby to do some computer work without disturbing Karen, my roommate. The hotel staff was feeding large logs on the fire in the huge central fireplace. I asked where they were finding the logs when there were no trees in the area. They told me that there was a great forest not 10 miles from the lodge.

Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort was a great place to stay, but somewhat of a logistical challenge for the staff to get all the vans in the right place and to get our supplies and support vehicles organized. It was quite a hike to our rooms and the trek involved elevators. But, no one was complaining, and the motel staff was as gracious and accommodating as they were last year, holding the door for us to enter with our luggage and bikes, providing all riders with a complimentary plastic bag and a rag for bike cleaning, hustling food out when hot trays emptied at dinner and breakfast, and even providing a special parking garage for Bill's recumbent, which is as long as a limo. I think everyone enjoyed their stay . . . especially if they grabbed a post-ride bite in the resort or casino restaurant, shopped in the unique gift shop, got to the pool, or won some wampum at the casino. Mike remarked that everyone was wearing a shirt this morning so he guessed there weren't any big losers.

After a good breakfast of French toast, fresh huckleberry jam, cereals, juice, and coffee, riders loaded their luggage and started their day by zipping down the steep curving drive they'd climbed yesterday. At the bottom, most riders (see DUH #3 below) started a gentle climb for the next 8 miles or so before enjoying a beautiful downhill into the Warm Springs valley. I drove SAG today so parked White at the top of the climb and took photos of the riders and Mt. Jefferson in the distance. Many of the riders stopped here also to take photos. As we were oohing and ahhing over the stunning view of Mt Jefferson, the tip of Broken Top, the Three Sisters mountains, Three Fingered Jack, and Black Mesa in the distance, we were stunned when two groups of wild horses suddenly appeared over the ridge and galloped past, manes flying. Some of the riders were already zinging down the mesa at over 30 miles an hour when the horses appeared at their side and raced downhill next to them. Rider Paul F is a photographer, and even at 30+ mph, he somehow managed to pull out his bulky camera and get a photo. (Don't try this at home.) I got a couple too. So did Josh.

About 2 miles after this stop at the summit, we turned off into the country where we began to see the results of irrigation. Farms were raising many different cash crops: mint, onions, and rice fields were strung along our route for several miles before we came back to SH-26 in Madras. Hear that a couple of riders picked a sprig of mint for their water bottles.

After Madras, we traveled on a long, desolate highway that contained endless rollers until the last 10 miles to Prineville. It was very dry and scrubby desert out there. It was hard to believe that we were so hot and dry when in every direction we would look we could see a snow covered peak.

Tomorrow we ride 116 miles to John Day, and I am riding Float. It will be a tough day for riders and staff alike. The staff must ensure that the riders are fueled, hydrated, and moving along safely, and the riders must tackle two big climbs. Mike says he's only crediting the riders with 75 miles for tomorrow because of the downhills on the other side of these climbs. But no matter how tough the day is, I remember it as a most beautiful route. I’m sure that Mike will take many photos. Then I will have to decide which ones to post on his website.

Talk to you tomorrow. It's 10:15 and "I've miles to go before I sleep." Susan

HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:

"What should you do about saddle sores?"
"That climb lasted longer than a presidential campaign. "
"Be careful on the steep sections or you'll fall over backward."
"You're planning on beating me to the rest stop? Give me an article of your clothing. It's for the search and rescue dog."
"With the heat, my afternoon pace plummeted to Sun City tricyclist level."
"What? The miles we rode today are only half the miles we will ride tomorrow?"

DUHS OF THE DAY:

First DUH! goes to Brian who poured iced tea over his French toast, mistaking the pitcher for the syrup pitcher.
Then we had Cliff (a master at losing himself in the moment) getting lost on his way to breakfast. He took the elevator down when breakfast was on the 6th floor. Seems he couldn't find the crumbs he'd left behind the night before. The Resort staff had swept them up.
Greg and Linda earned a DUH! when they turned right rather than left at the end of the road to the resort. Two and a half miles later they realized they were climbing toward the switchbacks they'd come in on yesterday. They got in 5 bonus miles. And then Linda went sailing past the Madras SAG stop despite its being loaded with colorful cyclists and being not 15 feet from the road.
Val and Jill earned their DUH! when they missed the Columbia Road turn and went gaily on their way. Barbara pulled up to them in Box and they smiled and gave the "we're okay" signal. Barb asked if they'd looked at their route maps lately. Yep. They were on track, following the other bike riders off in the distance ahead . . . who turned out to be a couple walking their dogs. Oops!
And I guess I deserve a DUH! too. When I put on my jacket this morning I felt my name tag button in the pocket so pinned it to my tee shirt. Trouble was, it was a joke button Josh had made at ABB HDQ that read "Subordinate 4."

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: