Day 5: A very long ride

This will be the tersest post ever. Both Paul and I are exhausted. We cycled 117 miles from Prineville to John Day, OR. The ride was drop dead gorgeous. We climbed a mountain and then descended for many miles through gorgeous high desert/Ponderosa. Every turn revealed a startling tableau of colors and shapes. Then we climbed another mountain, and maybe one more after that. It started very chilly, but turned pretty hot after 30 miles or so. I emptied my camelback (half-gallon water bag) four times, and actually had to stop one of the sag wagons to get a refill so I could make it to the SAG stop without running out.

Paul had to get back to our hotel by 4pm to contact a radio person in Boise, so he road on ahead. I stopped for lunch because I didn't think I could make the ride without refueling. Paul finished around 3:45; I did at 5. We had tail winds for the last 30 miles and were able to average about 20 mph despite a general uphill grade. We felt great until we had a chance to take stock of our physical condition. Paul was preparing to ice both knees when I returned to the hotel. I had to ice my feet.

The Cliff's Notes version of today was that it was a great challenge, but worth it. (We may reevaluate tomorrow.) The best picture is on this page. Others from days 0-5 are in a photo album I posted at OFOTO. Here is the link: http://adobe.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=97van5jj.752b9lgr&Uy=-ewpwk2&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0 . I'm pretty sure that it is benign. (It is run by Kodak and Adobe. They want you to buy prints, but you can look without buying anything, or even identifying yourself.) I will try to label the pictures when I have more time and energy. They are arranged in chronological order, with day 0 (Astoria, and some beach footage with Kim beforehand) first.

Cheers,

Len