East of the Cascades

It's 10AM in Redmond, a waystation to Ochoco Divide.

Tuesday (continued)
Camped in an RV Park adjacent to a truck stop: one night I fall asleep listening to the surf and a few days later it is to trucks running all night long.

Total moving time was 5:38 with the trip odometer showing 60.0 miles.

Wednesday
Moving time 5:39 with trip odometer showing 63 miles.

A pretty straightforward ride to McKenzie Bridge. I was nice to feel the warmth of the sun and the ride was relatively flat. The countryside is beautiful along the McKenzie River, perhaps the nicest of the trip barring some Pacific Coast vistas. I camped at an RV site: had the privledge of being the first cyclist allowed to do so. Unfortunately the tent area was directly under a floodlight.

Thursday
Moving time 6:01 with trip odometer showing 48.4 miles.

Today we climbed McKenzie Pass, all 5,324 feet. The road was steep with an unending series of switchback. It was also very beautiful. I had to rest a few times to recharge both my legs, heart, and psyche. I had almost taken the less steep albeit longer alternative, Santiam Pass, but figured it would be hard to live with my self if I didn't get on with it. It was worth the effort. The top of the pass is the site of a 1,500 year old lava crater and the pass offers views of the Twin Sisters and Mount Washington. The ride down, some ten miles, was fabulous.
The city of Twin Sisters as all about the weekend rodeo and everything was full including the city park. Lucky for me I met up with Jim Evered who, along with his wife Patty, makes a habit of hosting cross-country cyclists at his home. A cabin to sleep in, a shower, and a place to wash my clothes. Jim's brother cooked the lamb chops I bought while Jim plied me with local beer. It really was nice for me. Traveling alone can indeed be lonely. Best sleep of the trip.

Friday
Began at 8:00 at the Evered's and will travel to Ochoco Resevoir where I will tent up in anticipation of a morning climb of som 1,700 feet to Ochoco pass.

It's All in the Miles

Saturday
-56 miles at 9.8 mph
Saturday evening I camped at Point Lookout State Park: it turned out that it was a state Park Service appreciation day and everything was free. I had to cycle three miles out and back for dinner but it was worth it. Whisky Creek Cafe served up fresh sea scallops with a salad and sourdough bread: the pie featured the best crust I ever had. The camp site was wonderfull - 200 yards from the surf. Unfortunately it poured from midnight to 6:00.

Sunday
-25 miles at 9.5 mph
I started the day with a 900 foot climb out of the park and the heavy rain started shortly thereafter. It was in the 40's and the rain was coming directly at me. No fun! At noon I stopped for lunch and realized that I was unprepared to cycle another 25 miles only to camp in the rain with insufficient food. I therefore took a mulligan and spent the rest of the day at Neskowin: washed and dried my clothes, repacked the panniers and re-thought my cold weather strategies.

Monday
-59 miles with 6:01 moving time
I began with a 825 foot climb in a drizzle. I was determined to make my destination - Monmouth- and did so. The ride, except for the first twenty miles, was on a busy highway. As always there were wide shouldiers but the road had little else to offer. At least I had a strategy for the rain and cold. I must of changed my layering two or threee times. The highpoint was breakfast at the Otis Cafe: buttermilk waffles and eggs.

Tuesday
Left Monmouth at 7:15 with Eugene as a destination. I am writing this from Harrisburg, fifteen miles West of Eugene. The ride was uneventual - no elevation to speak of. Rained off and on. The highpoint was Corvallis Cyclery. I had a chirping for the last fifty miles: turned out that work was needed to take care of an ungreased area. The mechanic also pointed out worn break pads and replaced them with a heavy duty set. Last but not least we discovered that the tire pressure was around 40 psi - no wonder I was so sluggish: the cycle shop in Astoria never checked the pressure and I mistakenly assumed that he would have done so. What a difference a few PSI makes.

The Cascades are now in view as I ride. Hopefully the snow will not be falling on Thursday's assent. I feel better about dealing with the daily travails. Riding three straight days in the rain has been a toughening experience.