Day 5 – Great Day!

By Mark Heggestad
I love when things go better than expected.  And when things go better than expected and every facet of the day is great – what more can I ask for?  All I can say is, “Thank you”.  The first surprise of the day was the ease at which we ascended 2,700 feet.  Then we were surprised by less than anticipated traffic on the state highway we are riding.  And then…. well the pleasant surprises just kept coming.  

Although we once again found ourselves on a State Highway with little to no shoulder it was not as busy (and stressful) as prior.  We stayed on Oregon State Highway 26 all day.  We started the morning in Prineville, OR and rode 48 miles to Mitchell, OR.

We began the day at 2,700 feet elevation and over the course of 30 miles rode to Ochoco Pass at 4,700 feet.  The climb was hard, but nothing like my imagination anticipated.  Gotta like that!  From Ochoco Pass we coasted for nine miles at 30 to 38 miles per hour, using our brakes only on the harshest switchbacks.  From there we had a minor climb to Mitchell.

Tomorrow we start the day with a challenge.  We will ascend approximately 1,500 feet over the course of the first six miles with some very steep ascents.  We will then have another long descent.  I love those descents!  Exhilarating to say the least!  We will continue to ride State Highway 26 all day tomorrow and the next day.

Oregon State Highway 26 

We are staying in Dayville, OR tonight as there was no place to stay near Mitchell.  Population of Dayville is 150.  Hospitality is amazing.  Our campground is beautiful, with great amenities, and the owners are way beyond welcoming.  Wendy (one of the owners) even got our laundry started.  My bike needed a few repairs so we visited the Dayville Mercantile, which also has a bike shop.  There, Simon (the owner) checked over my bike and made a few critical repairs while we went across the street for dinner at the Bridge Creek Café.  The Bridge Creek Café serves an abundance of great food with the friendliest service I have experienced at any restaurant.

This was indeed a great day – great ride, great campsite, great food, great service, got our laundry done, and my bike fixed.  Can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring. 

Continue to see horses along the route

Typical scenery from today's ride


Comments

  1. UnknownMay 6, 2017 at 5:18 AM

    I was really hoping you would mix with the locals along the way. Meeting new people is always one of my favorite things on our bike rides. Enjoy! 😊

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMay 6, 2017 at 5:45 AM

    Looks very peaceful. Glad the climbs are getting easier. When you return to MN, you will ask where are the mountains?

    ReplyDelete

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