Today’s ride was the longest to date, and among the three longest on the trip.
Vale was my destination as I headed out of town this morning (the sign over stated the mileage by several miles)
Today’s ride also had more climbing than any of the other three long days, including three passes, and the highest elevation on the trip so far.
But the long miles were rewarded with ever-varying countryside. Near the start in John Day, there was more ranch land surrounded by mountains.
The first climb brought me into forestland, with a fair amount of snow still on the ground.
Then I descended into meadowland surrounded by forests.
And along a canyon recovering from a fire.
And after the third pass, a long stretch of high desert rangeland.
Finally I descended into the agricultural lands in the Malheur River Valley, near where it joins the Snake River. By that time, I was hungry for the end of the ride, and didn’t stop for any pictures.
Some time ago I realized I could probably squeeze a cross-country ride into my work schedule by taking a ride that averages over 100 miles a day and finishes the trip in 30 days. But I quickly decided my goal was to see the country and get a sense of the places I was visiting, rather than following a rigid regime of “ride, sleep, get up and ride again.” While today’s ride left some time for relaxing at the end of the day (largely due to 25 mile per hour tailwinds for the last hour or so), it affirmed my conclusion that a daily grind like today is not the kind of ride I want to do. I’m enjoying the time to take in the country.
Tomorrow is an easier day followed by a couple rest days in the Boise area.
Here is today’s barn, and an abandoned shack that doesn’t qualify as a barn, but which I could not pass up.
The technical stuff:
114.9 miles
5,442 feet of climbing
Average speed 17.1 miles per hour
Weather: Hazy sunshine in the morning, partly cloudy in the afternoon. Around 50 at the start and mid 70s at the end. Calm in the morning, 20-25 miles per hour in the afternoon, starting out as cross and rear quarter and 100% tail winds for the last 20 miles!
You can see the entire route to date here.