Trans Am Part 1: Thursday September 13

Oh no! After sleeping through my alarm, my roomie tweaked my toes after listening to the alarm for about 10 minutes. Guess the earplugs worked a little too well. I looked out the door and saw..... rain. What!?! Actually, the rain had stopped but wet pavement and puddles (as well as a bit of snow high up on the surrounding hills), and a little cooler than normal. Just a slight adjustment to the clothing plan for the day.

This was to be our longest mileage day and also our most climbing, so most people were keen to get away fairly early. Some of us had also signed up for a tour of the historic hotel where we would be staying tonight - The Geiser Grand. So, lots of reasons to get away at a decent time.

I tend not to take a lot of pictures when we’re climbing or cruising the downhills. So - with three passes on the agenda today, there were not a lot of photos taken. Here is a view of - yikes! - snow, and the lovely road leading up to the first pass.

A bit of roadside scenery as well.

At about 14 miles, just past the town of Prairie City I got my first flat - ugh! The timing couldn’t have been better, though, as the van and trailer were just coming by. I was thinking that there are floor pumps in the trailer and that would make it easier to pump up the tire again. But - I couldn’t get the tire off the rental bike, so Sue (our chef and van driver this morning) worked on it for about 45 minutes before I was on the road again. Thank you, Sue! The upside is that the roads had substantially dried by then. At about 18 miles was a lookout and giant covered wagon. This is original Oregon Trail terrain.

Finally - Dixie Pass Summit.

I didn’t stop to take pictures, but the change in vegetation was rather remarkable once we were over the pass. Suddenly we were surrounded by tall evergreens once again.

Several miles of downhill, and then the uphill starts toward the next summit. Tipton Pass Summit. I’m holding the bike up because there are “goat heads” everywhere in this state. They are little thorns that seem to be inexplicably attracted to bike tires.

No sign at the third summit. Larch Pass Summit, 5082’. Down the other side. The day has turned out to be quite lovely.

Looks like we’re back in Oregon “high desert” country as we ride the last 20 miles into Baker City.

We’re staying at the beautifully restored Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City for the next 2 nights. I was in in time for the 5 pm tour of the hotel and the telling of the restoration process. Dinner in the hotel dining room, with real tables and chairs! It was delicious.