Day 15 - White Bird to Syringa

Today we woke up early to get a cool start on our long climb out of White Bird.

A quick note on White Bird for anyone out there reading this for info on the Trans Am. White Bird is not a good resupply stop. If you do use the general store check the expiration dates on what they have. I feel like I can stretch food pretty far, but a package of sliced meat a year out of date is a bit much.

The climb out of White Bird on old hwy 95 was not nearly as bad as the profile portrays.  The car free climb was very nice. 

The decent into Grangeville was a fun winding country road. We got into Grangeville in time to have a great brunch at Oscars.

We rode out of Grangeville through rolling farm land, then hit "the decent". That was one hell of a steep and winding down hill. We stopped part way down to let our rims cool off. Serious, a couple times I worried about going over the corner, with a weighted bike the brakes don't stop you too fast on a hill like that.

We resupplied in Kooskia and headed for our campground.  We stopped into a restaurant/bar/tour company to ask if they had info on the fires.  Turns out they did, and the forest campground we were planning to stay at was closed.

Plan B, sit at the bar, get a beer, and look for an alternative for the night. The bar tender was helpful in giving us a suggestion that was not as far as our original campground, but outside the limits of the restricted fire areas.

We rode out of Syringna with a new plan. However this plan was also foiled.  Turns out there was already someone in the camp spot. Despite the spots size, the guy camping there didn't seem too keen on sharing it. So we rode on to find another one.

We ended up finding a fisherman's trail off a small pullout. This lead down to a rocky trail, then to a sandy spot. Getting the bikes and all our gear down the steep bank was entertaining, but not too bad. It has been a pleasant evening swimming in the river and lounging riverside on our private beach.

Trans Am Tally
Miles: 877
Flats: 4
Beers: 15
Live snakes: 3

From the Open Road,
Midnight Chocolate

Pictures:
Getting ready to go in the morning
Looking back over our road midway up White Bird Hill
Sunflower lined ride up old hwy 95
This girl is taking her dog coast to coast. No way!
Bikes lined up outside Oscars fine dinning
Grocery store, Music store, they have it all in Stites
Clearwater River
Fire sheet, no camping at Wild Goose
Syringa beer and replanning stop
Bikes on our private beach
River views from our camp
Steve hauling down one of their bikes.

Day 14 - Riggins to White Bird

This morning we once again rolled out of camp an hour later than planned. I tell ya, these Aussies and their coffee.

Today we took a sort of easy day. We had a 30 mile rolling downhill into White Bird. The whole ride was along the Salmon River.

White Bird appears to be somewhat of a dying town. I have a feeling once Hwy 95 was re routed up and over and you no longer had to drive through it, that may have decreased the business.

Tonight we are staying at the BLM Hammer Creek campground on the Salmon River. We hear we are supposed to expect rafters to be here later this evening.

Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to find a WiFi or have goid service to be able to publish the last few days of blogging.

Trans Am Tally
Miles: 813
Flats: 4
Beers: 14

From the Open Road,
Midnight Chocolate

Pictures
Floor pump tent prop
Ride along the Salmon River
Ride along the Salmon River
Lunch at Machs in White Bird
Camping at Hammer Creek
Camping at Hammer Creek
Evening wine by the river

Day 13 - Cambridge to Riggins

Today we hit another 80+ mile day.

When we left the Mundo hot springs we tore out of there to avoid too many mosquitoe bites.

Today's ride was pretty, but the highway it self was the worst yet.  We rode through 35 to 40 miles of milled pavement related to road construction.  This sucks on skinny tires.  The amount of traffic,  especially truck traffic has also dramatically increased on Hwy 95.

Coming down the mountains along the Little Salmon River was supposed to be a very nice long downhill. The first few miles were great, but once we came into the canyon we hit a horrible headwind. This turns an easy going downhill into a pedaling slog.

The town of Riggins is very touristy,  but has little good camping. We ended up in another RV park. As much as I like the amenities, like showers, I am getting tired of the RV parks.

Trans Am Tally
Miles: 783
Flats: 4
Road Kill: losing track
Beers: 13

From the Open Road
Midnight Chocolate

Pictures:
Coffee stop in Mesa
Bathroom stop at gas station
Bike maintenance at Evergreen Campground
Crossing the 45th parallel
Roadside waterfall
Road winding along the Little Salmon River
Riverside camping at the RV park

Day 11 - Baker City to Halfway

Today we took full advantage of the soft beds and the continental breakfast.  We didn't leave the hotel until 9:30 this morning.

Before leaving Baker City we stopped at the bike shop for some chamoise butter and tubes. Then hit Safeway for some lunch groceries.  In the distance we saw some ominous looking clouds and the power outage at Safeway gave us more concerns. However looking in the direction we were headed the clouds only looked like possible rain.

The big event for the day was the snake sighting.  I was riding in front driving into the headwind.  I looked up just in time to see a snake in the road.  For those that know, these are my least favorite creatures. I issued some well known expletives and began to swerve. The problem was compound by a passing car. A big swerve was not a good option.  I slammed on the brakes to avoid rolling over it and caused a 3 bike pileup. There were a few scrapes, but all survived.

The most beautiful part of the day (also the hardest) was the climb out of Richland.  The green green valley contrasted against  the brown sagebrush was wonderful.  Of course I don't have a picture because I didn't want to have to restart on the 7% grade!

Tonight we are camped at a rough RV park in Halfway.  They have showers! I think I have my tent situation figured out for the time being too. All good in Halfway. 

Trans Am Tally
Miles: 635
Flats: 4
Roadkill: 4 snakes, 2 frogs, 8 deer, 3 coyote
Snakes: 2
Beers: 11

From the Open Road,
Midnight Chocolate

Pictures:
Waiting for the bike store to open in Baker City
Met our fellow bike tourers at Safeway (check out how much they carry)
Heading into the clouds
Powder River in the canyon
Lunch stop under one of the few trees around
Break in Richland before the big climb of the day
View from the pass summit
Mandy and Steve rounding out the big climb.

Day 10 - John Day to Baker City

Despite a restless sleep in the barn on wooden slats we managed to cover 82 miles and three passes from John Day to Baker City.

The ride was beautiful. On our way up the second pass we met two others from the UK who were alsobcycle touring.  They had some heavy loads.  They plan to be touring for 7 months! 

The last 10 miles we had on and off rain and cross winds. The cross wind was the worst, it nearly knocked me off my bike. My consolation, as I was riding on flat pavement through town in my lowest gear, was that we had a warm room for tonight! 

In Baker City we finally got to do laundry.  The last time we washed clothes was in Coburg. There is only so much a quick wash with your shower can do. 

Last stop of the night was at Brown's Brewpub.  Good beer and good food!

Trans Am Tally

Miles: 576

Flats: 3

Roadkill: 3 snakes, 2 frogs, 6 deer, 2 coyote

Beers: 10

From the Open Road,

Midnight Chocolate

Pictures:

Mandy and Steve taking a selfie on the first pass

Photo from the bike

Powder river, we rode by this for 14 or so miles coming into Baker City

Map planning at the laundromat

Day 9 - Mitchell to John Day

Today has been quite the day. We got up early to have breakfast at the cafe while we waited for the PO to open.  At 8:45 I went down to get my package.  They had it! BUT, there was something wrong. It was too light.  Turns out I was only mailed a replacement segment to my tent pole, not the whole pole. This would not have been a problem if I had kept the rest of my pole. The problem is, I gave the rest of my broken pole to Tiffany.

Back at the cafe I finished my breakfast, frustrated and thinking of how to fix this. When we went to leave the cafe I found I had a flat. Perfect!  Fixed that, then headed out into the heat. But, being that today was not my day, i got a second flat an hour into our ride at the summit of Keyes Pass. Grrrrr.

We decended into Dayville. The closer we got to Dayville the headwind got hotter and the smoke got more dense.

Out of Dayville the weather turned. This was a positive for the day. We continued riding towards the thick of the fire smoke, but building clouds shielded the sun and sprinkled rain on us. We were worried we would have to be pushing through this long flat stretch in the heat of the day.

Although the rain was nice for the ride the rain clouds turned into thunderheads. Here in John Day the forecast is for off and on rain and thunderstorms with a chance of hail.  With my not so weather ready tent I was not looking forward to camping. Steve and Mandy were not looking forward to a wet tent either. We called a few hotels. No vacancy anywhere. Due to all the fires the hotels are full of fire crews.

Looking around the next best thing was a show barn. When we inquired with one of the workers; his reply was, "I won't kick you out, but I cannot say if someone else will."

So for the night we are in the show barn at the fairgrounds.

Trans Am Tally
Miles: 494
Flats: 3
Roadkill: 3 snakes, 2 frogs, 4 deer, 1 coyote
Beers: 8

From the Open Road,
Midnight Chocolate

Pictures:
Crappy tent setup from last night with bike pump
Breakfast cafe in Mitchell
Bathroom break in Dayville
Riding into the smoke
Parking our bikes in the animal chutes

"Sleeping" benches in the barn.

Day 8 - Ochoco Reservoir to Mitchell

This morning we left earlier to beat the heat. Out of the reservoir we had a little downhill and flat road before we started our 20 mile gradual climb to the summit of Ochoco Pass.

It seem to get hot early today. Riding into Mitchell the wheels seem to stick to the road.

In Mitchell I went directly to the Oregon Motel. Despite the USPS website showing the delivery was made, they did not have my tent poles. Sounds like someone has not picked up mail in the last few days. I was to check back after my lunch to see if someone else (who checks mail) knows anything.

I am really hoping that when they check the mail in the morning they are there. This will already set us back as the PO doesn't open until 8:45am. That is a drag in this heat.

Trans Am Tally
Miles: 424
Flats: 1
Roadkill: 2 snakes, 2 frogs, 4 deer
Beers: 8

From the Open Road,
Midnight Chocolate

Pictures:
Roadside break
Riding our way into central Oregon
Camping in Mitchell
Nearing 110 at the Feed N Farm