Started by riding the main drag through Govt. Camp which surprisingly was one mile of uphill. Started to feel my legs after yesterday's climb. This was short lived as there were several miles of pretty good downhill. The temp started in low 50s as the road then began the climb up to the next couple of passes. I must admit to trying to convince myself to continue the ride or bail now and go home. I would ride the Harley to the Reunion and be there in three days. I kept going a couple of miles up, legs screaming and negative reasonings fighting with my desire to continue on. Then I made it to Frog lake and the first pass. The large log trucks squeezing me off to the outer regions of the shoulder as they sped by, the rebelling muscles, and monotony of slow mileage seemed to fade with the short downhill. I started to feel I could do this...then the second pass climb came and the argument with myself continued. I followed the same strategy of stopping regularly and before I got too exhausted, rest a few minutes, hydrate and continue to the next mile or sign post I had picked as a target to reach before stopping and/or giving up. The strategy paid off once again and I reached the high desert Mesa of fairly flat terrain. The temp was heating up, but the slight headwind had shifted to a generous tailwind that allowed me to comfortably pedal at 16-18 mph and often in the low 20s. It felt very encouraging...strong, advancing miles and beautiful sightings of Mt. Jefferson to the west.
Then I reached the 4 mile run down into Warm Springs and my fastest speed thus far on the bike...43.6 mph. When I got to Warm Springs just before noon I pulled into the parking lot of the museum where picnic tables were set up and had a ounce of the saved veggie subway sandwich. It was really tasty.
I lounged and lazed there for about 30 minutes all the time on the watch for rattlesnakes as the sign warned. No such luck of a sighting.
The last 15 miles into Madras required a steep climb back up out of the canyon created by the Deschutes River. The temp had climbed to 85 and I once again relied on the "slow and steady" strategy with a half a dozen rests to drink and pour water over my head and soak my bandanna for the next leg of the climb. I was relieved to get to the top and then hunkered down for the last 8 miles into Madras.
Made it to the hotel by 3:00, unpacked, cleaned up and then went down to the outdoor pool and swam, soaked, and sunned for the next 45 minutes. Then a little rest, a walk to "Rio's" to enjoy a Corona and "Relleno Vegetariono". Excellent! After, I walked to the Subway and ordered another sub to stuff in the bag for tomorrow'slunch since it doesn't look to be many options before reaching Mitchell.
Tomorrow's ride will be a challenge of more hills, longer distance and climbing temperature. However, if I hang in there there should be a nice long ride down from Ochocco Pass. One mile, one hill, one day at a time.
Today's Stats:
Time in the Saddle: 05:26:15
Trip distance: 63.5 mi
Total trip: 120
Trip calories: 3926 kcal
Average speed: 11.7 mph
Maximum speed: 43.6 mph
Climbed altitude: 2358 ft
Temp: 85 with a good tailwind for much of the ride.
Photos:
