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Thursday, 28 June 2012
This fantastic adventure continued today. I woke up to the sound of motorbikes leaving to go back to Denver..then set out in the direction of baker city. It turned out to be another tough ride as the heat of the day kicked in and I was faced with three passes of over 5000ft and an endless hunt for water. The scenery got better as the day went on and I followed
The powder river. I have learnt that the word pass is code for pain and torture on the climbs here lol! I met some ladies touring on trikes going to Idaho. I found water at a fire stTion but only after I drank it realized it was heavy with iron so I rode several miles to a campground to get clean water and decided to make baker city to.igjt. the climbs are hard on my knees but the downhills are amazing! They go on for miles and miles. I saw lamas and longhorn cows . In baker city I met a great guy who is riding in the races here this week. Jody gave me lots of cool riding tips and a free floorspace to sleep on in his motel. I ate a tuna salad..well two actually as this was the first fresh salad I have found so far. This place is so cool and the people I meet are all so friendly. Why can't it be like this in the UK?
Today started late. I had thought to stay a day extra at the church and rest
My knees but coulnt as a bunch of lids arrived for bible class. Itool a slow ride along the river to my Vernon and onto prairie city. I was really tired and my knees were complaining. I stopped at a gas station and bought food as my map said no more stores for a long while. It was wrong and I carried the weight of the food I bought up Dixie pass..ouch. the pass I a ten mile climb up to 5277 ft and my knees were not having it. It took me all afternoon to make the summit and finally the campsite at the top. Along the way I had Lunch with a cyclist riding from Eugene to Idaho to see his girlfriend. I thought she must be worth it lol! The day was dominated by that one climb but I was rewarded with a stunning view . I took a video of it and forgot to tKs. Pic. Finally I found a campsite in the woods at summit where I met josh and Valerie cooking on a log fire . They are from Denver and had been motorcycling.g around Alaska. They cooked me a hot dog. It has been a very tiring day a.d my legs are overdue a rest. I only rode 53miles today mostly in sunshine but with some heavy showers In the morning. It's 8.30pm and I'm in my tent trying to keep warm as it is pretty cold up here.
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
In the church I am staying at this is the map on the wall where transam cyclists can mark up where they are from. The church opens its doors to cyclists doing the transam route and it'd a real godsend for a tired rider. I recommend any rider to stay here as it has all you need and all they ask is a donation in the box.if you can afford it. It has a computer and free WiFi a kitchen shower and communal room and its right on the 'main drag' in dayville which for an eastbound rider is after a long stretch of nothing but heat and hills and great scenery!
the best thing about a cycle trip like this is the freedom to do anything when I like totally independant and self reliant. Also each day is different..last night I swam in the lake, tonight I sleep I'm a church and tomorrow will have another adventure for me. Every corner of the rides so far have had me reaching for the camera, around every bend is something amazing and new. Alone in the wilderness on a bike I see large birds of prey above, maybe eagles, there have been deer at the roadside and roadworkers say hi and cheer me on. The easy rider style motorbikers often wave and as each tv passes me I know inside that I am doing something more special than simply driving across. I get to see and speak with the real people of Oregon and they have been so friendly. On a bicycle I see a hundred times more than from a car, and I live each mile taking in the sights sounds and smells of this wonderful state. I am lucky to be doing this I know but I also took the right decisions and made this happen and I. So pleased I did. No matter what happens over the next few months I will have such great memories from here. If Ny one out there wishes they could ride this trip my advice is to stop wishing and start doing...this is the trip of my life so far. To my friends who read this I hope you are good and hope this blog goes just a little way to sharing with you the amazing trip I am on here.
Just as a side note..there are lo.g stretches here with no phone signal and WiFi is not always as good a signal as I have here in the dayville church. So texting and blog updates may have gaps lol!.. ok time to get a hot shower and sleep on the floor here:)
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Today started with me knowing I had a long hard ride ahead with several really tough climbs I'm the heat. I also had no food with me. I decided to Chance it rather than ride back west 20 miles to the last store I passed and back again. The climbs up ochoco and keys creek passes were very tough but the downhills on the other sides went on for miles and miles of pure speed joy and the most stunning scenery ever. I was hungry and managed to get food in Mitchell and water. Note to westbound riders..these climbs are really going to hurt ! After 79 miles I got here to dayville where I found a church to sleep in which opens its doors to bikers..very cool. On the road today I met dave and Devon riding from Yorktown Virginia and Larry from jersey who is riding east west then back again alo.g the northern tier! These were the riders Felix from Holland had spoke of last night at the lake. There are lots of rattlesnakes here and the lady at the church warned me not to sleep rough as last week a big snake had got caught in a bikers wheel! And one had been bitten. Out here there is poor or no phone signal mostly so it is hard to text etc until I get to a town..and the town here is small with a big S. I want to upload some video from the bike today but am struggling with the techy stuff. Tonight I have a huge pizza cooked for me by the lady on the corner..enough for five but I am starving. East Oregon is beautiful to, only different to west Oregon. This is more cowboy and Indian scenery lol! The bike is fine, my kneees need to rest after so much climbing. This place is so beautiful it is a shame I am here alone in what has to be the best place I have been to ever and what a way to see it..on a bike called Shinto:)
Well after a rest day of just 48 miles I am camping next to the lake before the next big climb tomorrow. I've been swimming in the lake which is stunning. It's a shame I can't share all this. I've met a dutch cyclist here who is riding east coast to west coast so he's been telling me what to expect as I go east. Apparently its cool to sleep in chur he's on Kentucky and Yellowstone has climbs of over 9000 ft! Also there is an American cyclist called Larry who has a beard and is riding to the west coast then back to the east coast agaiin along the northern tier..nutter but how cool is that..I may meet him tomorrow!This lake is beautiful...
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