ROUTE: Prineville to John Day, OR
DISTANCE: 117 mountainous miles
WINDS: Light headwind early; nice tailwind last 30 miles
DISTANCE: 117 mountainous miles
WINDS: Light headwind early; nice tailwind last 30 miles
WEATHER: Cool in the morning, sunny and hot in the afternoon
TERRAIN: Two big climbs and rolling in between; a long and fantastic descent through a stunning gorge
TOTAL CLIMBING: 5500 feet
TERRAIN: Two big climbs and rolling in between; a long and fantastic descent through a stunning gorge
TOTAL CLIMBING: 5500 feet


In fact, all of today's route was beautifully scenic. After the first climb, riders traveled through some magnificent Ponderosa Pine forests. Ravens croaked overhead, and magpies and quail flitted through the underbrush. We pedaled along the Ochoco Creek, Match Creek, Branch Creek, Mountain Creek (and a host of others that wound their way down the canyons) and at one point crossed the John Day River (famous for its fly fishing).
Two of our riders went off route and visited the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, the newest national monument in the U.S. They reported that it was well worth the extra miles. I stopped beside the road several times and examined the fossils in the roadside shale--mostly mollusk shells. Those who know me know that I wanted to pocket a couple, but the good ones were too large. I also stopped once and collected a couple of primaries from a road-killed raven, large shiny black feathers. One will join the pheasant feather in White.
Two of our riders went off route and visited the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, the newest national monument in the U.S. They reported that it was well worth the extra miles. I stopped beside the road several times and examined the fossils in the roadside shale--mostly mollusk shells. Those who know me know that I wanted to pocket a couple, but the good ones were too large. I also stopped once and collected a couple of primaries from a road-killed raven, large shiny black feathers. One will join the pheasant feather in White.

After going over the summit, the riders enjoyed a beautiful 25 mile downhill with a tailwind . . . it just doesn't get any better than that. Along with the great conditions we definitely experienced sensory overload as the landscape was beyond description. We descended into a canyon that was just breathtaking . . .

I stopped in Dayville and found Dave there also. We called Barb and Karen to tell them that the Cafe in Dayville (the place where we usually set up SAG and riders eat lunch) was closed and up for sale. But the Dayville Mercantile across the street was open and had a variety of lunch options. Dave and I nuked a couple of chicken pockets and a burrito, grabbed a cold drink, and ate while marveling at the collection of items offered for sale in this store, which is owned by Steve Cookinham, who once bicycled around the world with Odyssey 2000. He now owns a bed and breakfast in Baker City, tomorrow's destination--the City that is, not his B & B. The store was something out of a travel magazine, and I imagine if you couldn't find what you were looking for, you probably really didn't need it. You could get a saddle for your horse or tires for your bike . . . what a deal! I was taken with a soft little finger puppet eagle which now rides on my handlebars. Also bought my first state pin--I collect one for each state we ride through, so by the end of the ride I'm toting an extra pound or two.

Today's elevation view looked like an opera singer's breast plate. Tomorrow's looks like a shark's jaw with three serious summits over 5000 feet. I need to shut down and get my beauty sleep. See you tomorrow.
HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:
- "Who is this John Day, anyhow?"
- Rider: "I'd like to introduce you to Bill K. He's 74 and riding his recumbent from Oregon to NH."
Local: "Why are you doing that?"
Bill: "Because I had nothing better to do."
Local: "Well you could have seen a psychiatrist!" - "Just when I'd herniated myself getting the last 5 psi in the tire, it exploded."
- Customer: "I'd like a room, but not if they [we cyclists] are going to be up partying all night."
Front Desk: "Not to worry, they will be too tired." - "What a dilemma: I could ride up the hill at three miles an hour or I could get off and walk at three and a half."
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The sign that all riders like to see . . . when going in the opposite direction. |
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Come on. When are you going to get off? It's my turn now. |
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Dianne thinks he's trying to adjust her Camelbak strap, but Pete is really trying to offload some of his bike tools and gear into her backpack. |
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Paul heard that you had to be registered at the Oregon Tag Agency to ride a bike in the state |
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Hmmm. Mike said the turn was around here somewhere . . . |
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Craig practicing some cyclocross techniques as Joe speeds away. |
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Hand-on-Head yet Josh can't get riders to stop for water. |
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Dianne's searching for air to fill her lungs as she summits. |
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