Travels With Rick...: Trip Comes to Early end..

Yesterday at about 1:00 at the Ochocco Resevoir I decided to not continue the Reunion Ride. There were several reasons for this. The main reason was not being able to push "Bucky" up the increasingly longer steeper climbs in the increasing heat. Bottom line...I did not adequately train in heat (we didn't have any in Portland), ride long,steep hills, or ride with a fully loaded bike. Having bags attached made a big difference. DUHHHHH! So I called Pat. We discussed options. She had even started off in the car to drive my bags to Mitchell so I could ride lighter and bag-free in order to continue. I called her a short time later and shared my decision. I would turn around, return to Prineville and get a hotel room and Pat would come in the morning with the bike rack and we could return to Portland together.

So that's where I am now, in the hotel waiting for Pat's arrival and the return home.

The good news is that now I will ride the Road King back to my 40th High School Reunion.

Here's how yesterday's ride went:

Started riding at 6:30 with clear skies and a cool low 50s. Didn't take long to shed the long-sleeved shell as I and the morning heated up. Legs were a little sore and sluggish. Riding south through Madras was busy with big, fast moving trucks shooting down the highway. Grateful for a pretty good shoulder and most trucks gave me plenty of room. However, I was tiring of the constant flow of traffic that had been with me since leaving Portland. I longed for the quiet rural road with occasional car or truck

That wish came true when Highway 26 turned east just outside of Madras. A beautiful highway and beautiful farm and ranch vistas with snow-covered Cascade peaks to the west. I pedaled at a comfortable 10 mph. I was in bike touring heaven. Then, what a thought would be a quick ride into Prineville, turned into a push. The temperature was climbing, the highway started a slight climb that, with a bit of a headwind, kept me at a low 5-7 MPH, and my legs and butt started a prolonged protest that I hadn't expected. I found myself stopping more frequently on what should have been a fairly easy pull into Prineville, 30 miles away.

That was not the case. I got into Prineville just before 11:00. Looked fora a place to have a little lunch and opted instead to get groceries and sit in a park and take my shoes off and let my feet breathe. Had lunch on the beautiful county courthouse lawn. Here I started to do the math, I still had 45 miles to go with about 25 of that up a pretty steep climb to the Ochoco Divide, nearly 5000 feet. I would need to average 5mph in order to make it to Mitchell by 7:00 and that would be without stops. Hmmmmm. Didn't like that scenario, but decided to push on to see how things would go.

Got to the Ochoco Reservoir and called to confirm my room reservation and asked if there would be a place to get something to eat after my certain to be late arrival of 7 or so. The answer proved to be an eye opener. The only cafe closes at 11:30 AM. I had a couple of Cliff bars, some nuts and raisins and a banana. Not my idea of a suitable dinner to replenish the many calories I would burn on the climb ahead. I was now at a virtual crossroad.

I considered hitching a ride, hoping to be at the mercy of someone with a pickup, van or room enough for me , bike and bags. I called Pat and, without hesitation, she was in the car and off to meet me and relieve me of the bags so I could make the ride without the dragging anchor of heavy panniers. A short time later I called and shared with her the decision for me to face up to the reality of my ability to continue and turn back to the town of Prineville where I would give up my Reunion Ride.

I would like to let everyone know how much your interest, support and words of encouragement meant to me. I know some of you shared how crazy you thought this ride was from the beginning. I also am pretty sure that many more thought the same, but kept your thoughts to yourself. However, all of you supported me as I started out of the journey which I needed to find the limits of my ability on my own.

I want to especially thank friends Kirk and Betsy from Boise. Not only had they opened up their home to me for my stop in Boise, they were willing to drive 3 1/2 hours on Thursday to pick up my bags in Prairie City so I could ride bag-free for the 100+ mile ride to Vale. Truly above and beyond supporting my trip. A huge thanks to both of you.

My plan for the future is to continue riding bicycle and motorcycle, hikes I've put off and generally commit to a life of health and activity. I'll post here and continue to share with any and all interested.

Day Three:

Time in Saddle: 4:27
Trip Distance: 43.4
TripCalories: 3007
Average Speed: 9.8
Maximum Speed: 28.1 MPH
Climbed Altitude: 1720

Photos:

The early morning ride to Prineville