Tuesday, 26 June 2012


Maps for this trip are from the adventure cycling association of America. This is what the second section of 12 looks like. Each block covers about
30 miles and shows all kinds of good info for cyclists.  Including elevation profiles so you know when to expect the hills.



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!



This on the big climb today hah ha :))


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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Where not to camp tonight methinks lol!
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Lunch stop on Mitchell and the two climbs today
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Messages of encouragement on the climb up ochoco pass from previous cyclists who clearly stopped more than I did lol!
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Dave and devon and Larry whom I met coming the opposite way to me today all great guys and riders and I wish them well.
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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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Sunday, 24 June 2012



I have some videos but need a teenager to upload to you tube for me! Once I figure that out I can get them on this blog I think.

Bike shop guy just now said he was jealous of my trip as I got isr of a track pump to het 100psi in tyres . Bike rolls better now. This phone takes to long to charge lol.!


Sitting on McDonalds on Redmond out of the. Rain and charging the phone.  Anyone thinking of doing this trip be sure to pack warm clothes as it is cold here. I got given a small water bottle to fit my third cage by hank which was cool as I can't geT in shop. I haveseen lama and elk in the fields here in eastern Oregon which looks different to the west coast people keep asli.g about my trip and wishing me luck Ive seen dead snakes pm the road so am careful to zip up tent well. I'm taking today easy as my legs ache after the pads yesterday.



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Looking at the maps there a several more high climbs coming soon before baker city. Looks like limited places to get water and food en route as well. I may stay in subway and eat all day ;). I'm told this cold weather IS unseasonable and from here on it will get hot. I have aquired a taste for beef jerky and corn Saabs ha ha!
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Sometimes my typing isn't great on this small phone..apologies for the typos!
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The view back up to the pass as I got into sisters this afternoon...
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Snow up there!
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On top of the pass today..it was freezing a nd a kind family in a truck took my photo. I needed all my winter kit. At the top is lava from the volcano which
LOoked like the moon!


After my ride over McKenzie pass I ended up in sisters . I headed for a motel but the gut wanted $116 !! So I went to a Su way and had a huge tuna salad sub the. Headed to the city park to camp. Here I met hank who let me camp on his pitch for free..he chopped wood and we had a logfire and spoke about trips and maps and biking etc. SO I have a much better evening and better company and a cheaper pla e to stay...I'm just goi.g with the wind..something always happens and everythong happens for a reazon..REM I mean thing lol!
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The last three days rides were amazing. Blisterimg heat, driving rain,snow and the longest climb and downhill ever! I,be met only nice people so far and am loving every minute. For those wanting to do this ride I say just do it . I am so glad I am here. Oregon is like a home from home. Sure it has a lot of hills bit hey!
WiFi is harder to get outside of towns so I will update when I can. Today I rode just 51miles but that was over a moumtain in the snow!  Ok..time to find a campsite .

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I just rode over a volcano! The most amazing ride of my life.. I am at sisters in a subway with no place to stay . Hoops there's a campsite!
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75 miles in blistering heat today. Found a rest place to camp at cartney Oregon. Battery v low..of to Eugene tommorrow then after a motel rest I have to deal with McKenzie or santium passes both at around 5000 ft climb with poss snow. Yay. Good day today.
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