Typical View of Oregon Coast

Tom Dipping in Pacific Ocean at Start

Day 16 - 69 Miles to Cambridge, Idaho

Tuesday, June 10 - biked 69 miles, 888 total miles. Breakfast was at a café and I was hungry – pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, and coffee (shhh, don’t tell my doctor). It was hell today, Hell’s Canyon to be exact! I wandered about Hell’s Canyon most of the day including a premature entry into Idaho at 11:30 (official entry at 1:30, good-bye Oregon!) & a climb along the Snake River before stopping a motorist to find I was on the wrong route. It cost me an extra climb and 2 miles of cycling. Good thing I asked as it was a dead end some 10 miles down the road. Not much wildlife as the animals were hunkered down from the cold but saw deer and sea gulls. Snacked on a bagel with peanut butter, snickers, and a banana. Getting out of “Hell,” had a long climb, 11 miles of headwind in granny gear (low gears). Had a good day overall, but a tough afternoon. It was freezing over & the temp kept dropping (41o @ 25 mph = brrrrrrrrrrr). I was shaking from the cold coming down the mountain, so camping was not in my plan. Found a room at the Frontier Motel on Rte. 71 in Cambridge (pop. 360) where I shaved and had a long, hot shower (it’s been several days since I had one). Dinner was at Miss G’s – sirloin steak (ymmmm), baked potato, 2 trips to the salad bar, and a huge piece of chocolate cream pie. It’s 45o and falling, going to be a cold night. Weather dependent, I’ll head out on Rte. 95 in the morning. Pray for a tail wind!

Day 15 - 60 Miles to Richland

Monday, June 9 - biked 60 miles, 819 total miles. 18 miles after leaving camp, stopped for 3 hours in Baker City to replace my rear brakes which were worn down, bought spare front and rear brakes, visited the library, stocked up on groceries, and ate Mexican for lunch - chicken burrito, Mexican fries, and a coke (the 1st coke classic I’ve had in 4-5 mos.) There are massive snow-capped peaks all around, so beautiful. I noticed a striking difference in the surroundings once leaving Baker City leaving trees behind and seeing vast hills, sagebrush, grass, and huge, scattered ranches. Saw lots of wildlife: cows, horses, prairie dogs, ducks, osprey, orange and black birds (not sure what it was), deer. The funniest was a doe in the middle of the road leaping and bounding up a rock face which I would’ve needed a rope to climb as it was very steep. It rained in the afternoon, light showers. Followed the Powder River on Rte. 86 to Richland (pop.152) and set up camp at Eagle Range Community Park. My dinner was more of the same, Oriental ramen noodles and salmon. I can't wait until Yellowstone so I can stop eating ramen noodles for a few weeks! Met three cyclists at my campground who are also heading to Yorktown but they are on a tight schedule. I should leave Oregon behind tomorrow.

Day 14 - 61 Miles Near Baker City

Sunday, June 8 - biked 61 miles, 759 total miles. Started the day with oatmeal and a banana for breakfast. Thanks again to the Cosgroves for hosting me overnight and for the meals. Cycled some miles and then had a second breakfast of a short stack of pancakes (size of a football) and scrambled eggs. The waiter didn't expect me to eat it all but I showed him! Lunch was a hard roll with peanut butter. Traveled on Rte. 26 to Rte. 7 and went over 3 significant mountain passes. The trend is as each time I go over a pass, the mean elevation is higher. It’s sunny, about 65o, and puffy clouds. Saw several osprey and purple wildflowers, either orchids or irises. Set up camp next to a mountain stream in Union Creek Campground in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. As I’m about 18 miles outside of Baker City and my brakes are worn out, I plan to find a bike shop tomorrow morning in Baker City. So I’ll take a break for the brakes!

Day 13 - 69 Miles to John Day

Biked 69 miles on Saturday for 698 total miles to date. Sunny all day with white puffy clouds. My day began with a 7 mile steep uphill climb on Rte. 26 from the campground; rest of the way was flat. Many picture opportunities out here. My nose is rough, need to coat it with zinc oxide. Lots of wildlife – 5 deer in a field (3 with antlers in velvet), hawks, swallows, & ravens. In Mt. Vernon, someone said there was a church in John Day so I cycled 6 miles and knocked on the rectory door startling Fr. Bartholomew, a Nigerian priest who had only been there a week. (He knows my church’s former associate, Fr. Bede, they’re from the same tribe.) He asked why I was biking, was it for exercise? So I went to Mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary and was invited to stay with Mike, Sophie, and Dan Cosgrove in their spare room. Their hospitality was much appreciated! They fed me lentil soup, salad, and dessert, much tastier than the ramen noodles I’ve been eating. John Day (pop.1,821) is surrounded by Strawberry Mts. to the south and Blue Mts. to the north. Saw a gorgeous gorge, fossil creek, mesas, and buttes. It’s down to freezing tonight but I’ll be cozy!

Day 12 - 90 Miles to Mitchell

Friday, June 6. 90 miles today, trip mileage is 629 miles. Left Sisters at 8:30 with the sun shining and cruising at 20-25 mph for the 1st 19 miles to Redmond (the topography remind me of Stephenville, TX where my mother and 2 sisters live) where I ate a McGriddle, parfait, orange juice, and coffee. Had a tailwind and flat roads for 51 miles. It was snowing & sleeting in the Ochocho Summit pass (elevation 4,720 ft.) but it was a more gradual approach than the Santiam Pass from a few days ago. This is what I dream about for touring! Close to top of Ochocho, stopped to talk with 3 students & their instructor from Mt. Bachelor Academy. We chatted about my Ironman Triathlon & my touring plans. I was cruising and climbing with the last 16 miles downhill. Saw lots of wildlife - a herd of reindeer, prairie dogs, ravens, mallard ducks (one flew near my side for about 20 seconds), hawks, and blue herons. The mesas and buttes are "butteeful," gorgeous. Met 3 bikers and a support car carrying their gear who were impressed with me biking 90 miles carrying my own gear. Always little surprises along the way. Camping at the city park in Mitchell (pop. 190) eating my favorite dinner, cajun ramen noodles, a package of chicken, and hot chocolate, courtesy of fellow campers. Treated myself to a dark chocolate dove bar.