Staffing Across America North for ABB 2005: Day 5 -- Gorges and gorgeous all day . . .

June 24, 2005

ROUTE: Prineville to John Day, OR
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

RIDE OVERVIEW: Everyone woke this morning with a feeling of uncertainty about their ability to finish the toughest day we have on our schedule. The distance is over 117 miles and riders were faced with over 5,000 feet of climbing. The only thing easy today was the navigation . . . turn left out of the motel, ride 117 miles, and turn right into the motel. We loaded early this morning (5:15) to give riders a head start and to beat the heat on this very long day. Even so most didn't beat the heat. Red faces and arms abounded at dinner. Also, the last riders got in by 5:30, so some had a very long 12-hour day in the saddle.

I was scheduled to ride Float, but by the time I had been served breakfast--one waitress for 50 hungry riders anxious to get on the road--I looked around and found that it was me and the fastest riders on the tour. If I left with them, I'd soon be way behind the last riders on the road. So, I asked Barb to "fast forward" me to the second SAG stop, and thus rode half the ride . . . the best half, actually, as it included the great swooping downhill through a jaw-dropping gorge.

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.

The town of Mitchell at mile 45 was a neat little spot in the road on SH-26 East just before the ascent to Keyes Summit. It's one of only three places (Mitchell, Daysville, and Mount Vernon--all tiny towns) on today's route where riders could get food. Mike says that he knew right away that Mitchell was a tiny town when he saw that the local Laundromat also served as the welcome center and a place where you can get your pet supplies.

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 . . .

Oregon is one of the most beautiful and geographically varied of the United States: Pine mountains, high desert, fertile high prairies, a beautiful coastline, and some of the most beautiful natural topography I've ever seen. In fact, the land is so fertile on these high plains that almost anything will grow up here. Today, we came across a Nike tree. Mike stopped Karen and she was in awe. It's the first time she had ever seen one up close, and they are really quite interesting . . . they look like a pine tree strangely enough. Mike says that the Nike shoe company harvests the fruit for their new styles every year . In some areas of the country they are Adidas trees; in other parts of the country, they are New Balance trees . . . Mike just happened to have his camera with him so got a good shot of one (right).

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.

This group should be proud of their accomplishments today. It was a long, tough day, and they all came through with flying colors. At Route Rap we learned that this was the longest day a dozen of the riders had ever ridden. We had a couple of people who opted to ride in the van for a portion of the ride, and they have our utmost admiration for recognizing their limits, which is sometimes harder to do than to try to ride it out and get into trouble. Congratulations to all!

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."