Biking with Bill

THE MONSTER DAY ...TURNED OUT OK!

(note: Our group was unable to get internet access last night. I will always attempt to catch up the following day)

We departed Prineville at 5:45 am this morning...the day I had termed a "monster day". Many of us ate in our rooms at 5:00 so that we would not be delayed at a restaurant breakfast. It was going to be a long and challenging day on the road. Many former AA-N cyclists and the staff said that this may be the most difficult day of our journey.

The route to John Day,OR was 117 miles East on route 26. Our bike computers recorded 5989 feet of climbing on today's ride. This combination of distance plus elevation gain over the course of the day was a real test for all of us. I was on the road for 10 hours today, finally arriving at our hotel destination at 4:00 pm. We are all tired , proud of our accomplishment and getting ready for whatever tomorrow may bring.

It was as tough a ride as we expected and as challenging a ride as I have ever done. However, It was more scenic and captivating I think, than any of us envisioned. It was an absolutely beautiful course through mountains, forests, rock canyons, along river banks, past ranches, and farms....all on a gorgeous sunny day. Oregon has such a variety of scenic beauty. Our cameas were as busy as our legs on this day. This ride was one for the books!

It was very cold leaving Prineville heading into the mountains and hot in John Day when we arrived. The terrain and vegetation changed several times as we climbed and descended our way through Central Oregon.

In the Ochoco Natoinal Forest we climbed for 15 miles to the summit of Mt Ochoco at 4720 feet. The 12 mile descent was described as: incredible, fabulous, terrific, and fun by fellow cyclists. We had returned to arid conditions with sagebrush and smaller trees amid the small cattle ranches. It is interesting to follow the changes in geology and vegetation as we ride through this region.

The high bluffs and rock formations we observed as we rode through the canyons were picture post card perfect. We biked into "Picture Gorge", which was well named.

It was a cycling day we will all remember fondly for its scenic beauty, and proudly for what we experienced and had accomplished.

Bill