In case anyone started out chilly in the morning, we started climbing right away. Six miles and 1500 vertical feet later we were at Keyes Creek Summit.
It was then, more or less, downhill for 25 miles. Lots of farm / ranch lands interspersed with beautiful rock formations.
Although we were on US 26 all day, the traffic was relatively light and well-behaved. The shoulder was pretty rough again today, though, and I almost lost a water bottle when the screws on the cage came loose from all the shaking. Just after our first SAG stop at about mile 20 we came upon the “Ochoco Highway Tree of Shoes”. No, I don’t know why......
I also ran into an oncoming cyclist there. Tony was from California. He left Yorktown VA on June 15th and will pedal back to California after reaching the coast.
More lovely landscape shots. The first photo includes our WomanTours van and trailer.
At about mile 30 we reached the turnoff for the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. A few hardy souls did some bonus miles to the visitor centre. Being the lazy person that I am, though, I took a few pics and carried on down the main route.
We then went through an stretch of road called Picture Gorge. I did stop and take a few pictures, but I sure could have stopped to take many more.
Some nice farmland again before our second SAG stop at the Dayville Mercantile. What lovely grounds and a very welcoming young fellow in the store.
The beauty just kept going. The light today was just perfect and the colours so soft. I could have taken dozens of photos and beautiful old buildings and barns, but then I would have been out there for hours. Instead, just a sampling below.
Just as I came into the town of Mt. Vernon, a chicken crossed the highway in front of me. I stopped to ask him why, but I didn’t get an answer........
A couple of more roadside pics before reaching our destination of John Day.
A quick shower and clothes to the washer, then over to the neighbouring Kam Wah Chung Museum tour. A very interesting tour of an important local building left exactly as it was in the 1940s.
Back to the hotel in time for dinner...... Pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, lentils, salad and cheesecake. It’s going to be hard to go home and start cooking for myself!
Stats for the day:
111 km / 69 miles from Mitchell OR to John Day OR
3038 feet up / 2746 feet down.
Temps: 9C to 23C. Perfect riding temperature. And - mostly a tailwind yet again!
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