Posted on by Greg

Bike Across America – Day Six

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Start: John Day, Oregon
End: Baker City, Oregon
Mileage today/cumulative: 81/492.5
Elevation Ascended: 5,016
Weather: Sunny, 52° at start; sunny, 84° at finish
3D Video

Today’s ride was one of our favorites, even if we’ve only been at this for six days. We departed from John Day, a town named after a man who went insane. That seemed appropriate given that we are all attempting to do something that most people have described as nuts. We passed through Malheur National Forest and Wallowa -Whitman National Forest, and even rode through a Forest Service prescribed burn area. Smoke was a bit heavy at times and we had been warned that there could be small flames licking the roadside, giving a new meaning to the phrase “ride from hell.” There were smoldering spots just off the road for miles and miles but, luckily, the fire stayed away from us and the wind was generally favorable. The route included three major climbs with two beautiful seven-mile descents that required little braking – wheeeeeeeeeeee!

After yesterday’s ride, several of us had been asked by the staff to dial back our pace a little bit on today’s ride. The ABB staff maintain a support window that can get very extended on longer or more difficult days. There are several ways that they can shorten that window, including sending slower riders out first and asking them to decrease their non-riding time, and asking faster riders to slow down a little and enjoy the journey. We did as we were told and it made for another memorable day.

We cross into Mountain Daylight Time tomorrow and will begin to encounter heat, finishing the day just west of the Oregon-Idaho border.

Wide open and lightly traveled roads today.
Alastair and Chris motoring along. Chris is blind and they are an unbelievably strong tandem, even though they look like they’re right out of a Monty Python skit.
My pioneer wife, who would have insisted on driving the Conestoga wagon.
Team Pea at a beautiful overlook at mile 18.
Bev and our new friend John Hayes from Australia with his down under Cycology jersey. These two didn’t plan to wear matching jerseys.
Our first summit of the day. Somebody need to tell the Oregonians that the use of “Dixie” is not allowed above the Mason-Dixon Line.
Just keep pedaling…
We’ve ridden hundreds of miles on Oregon Scenic Byways.
Today’s lunch SAG stop was the best so far – shade and picnic tables!
Riding past meadows in the Wallowa – Whitman National Forest.
We followed the Powder River for much of the last 20 miles. We SO wanted to stand in it for muscle recovery.

 

4 Replies to “Bike Across America – Day Six”

  3. I just love that your best day description included “smoke was a bit heavy at times….there were smoldering spots just off the road for miles and miles.” John Day would be proud.

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