The Endless Uphill

12 miles past Sumpter towards John Day on rte 7
32 most challenging miles.

Lazy starts, but on the road at 8:04. And the whole day, miles just did not seem to pass by.

Pedal, pedal, rest, pedal. Fuat waits patiently all throughout the day for Blaze and me to catch up. Then we pass him on the downhills, of which there were too few today. Oregon is one rural state. And just because the map shows a town, doesn't mean it has any stores. Could be a ghost town. Makes it hard for us to plan our food because we often don't really know when we'll find a store again. Today some young folks angeled us some water when we met at an historical site. Trail magic! Fuat doesn't believe it's magic, but I know it is.

Tonight we're camped in a national forest. It's been over a week since I was really in the woods. And it feels good. If these darn ravens would just shut up!!!

Good dinner of fried rice with veggies of green beans, zucchini, and red pepper. Lunch we made tomato, avocado, green chard sandwiches on delicious large rolls a woman in Baker City gave us after we had a Thai tofu salad and soup at her restaurant. Generous gifts come our way.






Pedal on, Pedal on

Saddle BagLady

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Oregon Trail

Saturday, June 25
Just beyond Baker City

18 miles, if we're lucky!

Sweet town, Baker City with majestic snow capped mountains as a backdrop.

Oregon Trail Visitors Center. Took a taxi out there because it was 6 miles out of town up on a hill. We may be crazy, but we're not stupid;)

Resupplied at a co-op with organic food. Yippee! Cherries from a fruit stand. Yummy! And ICE CREAM!!!!!

Managed to enjoy almost a whole day in town and then pedaled about 8 miles out to a field full of gopher holes to camp. I was worried they'd munch all our food so I stashed it up on a fence. It worked.

Trying to decide our route across this state is proving to be a bit of a challenge. One route is closed due to snow so the bike shop guy suggested we dip south. So we're heading to Sumpter tomorrow and figure things out from there


Pedal on, Pedal on

Saddle BagLady

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I-84 and Trains

Friday, June 24
~35 miles. Into the wind.
Trip total 740
South of Baker City

Yup, we biked on I-84 today for 15 miles. Couldn't get a hitch. Headwinds were the worst part.



Yup, those are kitty litter pails. Thanks, Dennis! They are working out great!

Yup, we were so tired we camped next to the train tracks that ran next to the road for the last 20 miles.

Yup, the trains are noisy! Especially when your head is not 100 feet from them. What were we thinking? We weren't. Too tired and hungry to think.

To bed before 8 pm.

Below was our only option for resupply this evening. Guess we'll be scrounging from the feed bags!! Doesn't look like Pleasant Valley is open.




Tomorrow off to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

OMG! The trains are coming every 10 minutes. And tooting all the way. WTF? Our campsites are turning into disasters. But Fuat's so tired he's snoring away and missing all the action. Bike touring is hard work. Especially the first week. Maybe when we get into the mountains, we'll find some idyllic sites. None too soon.

Sprinklers. Trains. What next?

Pedal on, Pedal on

Saddle BagLady

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3 Flats in 3 Days

Thursday. June 23
Huntington ID
90 miles out of Boise in 2.5 days

So heat has been the new issue. Skin-scorching heat. And my position on the trike seems to maximize the impact of the sun. Fuat isn't having the same problem. But I'm in pain. So I pulled out the Pacific Crest Trail GoLite umbrella that I brought along just for this problem. Butbi thought I'd only be using it for rest stops. Hell no! I found I can bike holding it. (just not in the downhills:)). The looks I get are so worth it. And it keeps me much cooler.


Me and Mary Poppins.

Been looking for Oregon Trail ruts through this section. Maybe tomorrow. Sometimes it can seem so romantic to me the thought of traveling west by covered wagon until you read what it was really like. Not an easy journey - no way.

Today I spotted baby owls in a cliff hole nest. So cute. Three in there. Pics are on my camera.

The sprinklers didn't go off just once that other morning. No. They cycled through again and caught us fully exposed and drenched everything! Then when we moved it all to the field nearby to dry out, they came on there too and still managed to get us wet and force us to move our stuff yet a third time. So now we scour an area looking for sprinklers before we set up camp. If it looks lush and green and inviting, we know it's too good to be true. But the scrubby growth is quite prickly for tenting.

One day during this heat we did manage a skinny dip under a bridge in the Snake River. Had to be careful the strong current didnt carry us away. And the water was quite chilly. But it was refreshing. Then dip our shirts in to get them wet and stayed cool for a few more miles. Great trick.

Got a shower yesterday in a state park. I washed my clothes and put them all back on wet. The were dry within 5 miles!

Had our first bike on the Interstate. No other options. 3 miles. Not fun. Suppose to do 18 miles that way today, but Fuat suggested we try and get a hitch. I like that idea better. Guess the road goes through a canyon and is quite dangerous. Wish us luck. Hitching with 2 bikes will be a bit more challenging!!!


Pedal on, Pedal on

Saddle BagLady

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sprinklers!

Tuesday. June 21
Summer Solstice
15 miles. Maybe

Not yet to Emmett ID

Bad bed in hostel - springs poking through.

Parking meters needing to be fed and 1 hour limits - dang rental car, remember.

Delicious breakfast at Goldys: Veggie Benedict and Stuffed French Toast

Little Mexican band on street corner.

Worst traffic of my whole ride.

Blazing sun scorching my skin.

First flat. Ran over something trying to get to shade

Birding along the way:
Western Kingbird
Morning Dove
Bullocks Oriele and nest
House Finch
Ferruginous Hawk


Fabulous dinner of stir fried veggies, angel hair pasta, and cheese. Organic dark choc for dessert. Heaven.

Camping in the manicured entryway to a housing subdivision because it was the only shade

Awaking to sprinklers!!!

Memorable first day of bike touring for Fuat, but he sure seems to be enjoying it.




Pedal on, Pedal on

Saddle BagLady

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Llama keeper. Part 2

Sat and Sun June 18 & 19
Still in Idaho City

My host, Paul, suggested I move the llamas to new patches of grass. Simple task. They're in screw in stakes. How hard can this be? I'm an animal handler for christsakes. So I move the first one. Ergh. Tough ground. Can't seem to get the stake in all the way. That will have to do. Go get #2. Trying to screw him in and look up. Where's #1? No where in site. Shit! Meadows with woods behind and neighbors up the hill. I'll find him later. And on I go. When I finish, three are loose and two are tethered. Can't find the 3 loose ones. Hope they come home. Go in the house. While on the phone, I look out and #4 is loose now and leaving. WTF! I'm in this stranger's house and managed to lose 4 of his 5 llamas in less than 24 hours. Maybe I should leave a note and move on. "Gotta run. Thanks for the night. Llamas all tethered in front!". After Paul got home, we joked aplenty about my losing his llamas. But I did manage to recover them all before he arrived. Guess I could have kept my mouth shut, but the story was such fun to tell him. Those llamas have roamed all over these parts it turned out.

Decided to stay a 3rd night and will bike into Boise tomorrow. Need to be at Enterprise by 5 pm to pick up rental car. Paul and friend Diana are taking me to Ketchum Hot Springs this afternoon. Too good an option to pass up.

The rest feels good before the next leg if my journey.

Off to tour downtown Idaho City. Saw some of it yesterday, but it was raining so not so much fun.

I'll get some pictures today. Rustic western buildings of yesterday. Love seeing them.


Pedal on, Pedal on

Saddle BagLady

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Boise!

Monday, June 20
Boise, ID
36 miles
Close to 600 trip miles

Felt good to be back in the saddle today after 2 full days off. Blaze was well rested, realigned back end, and chomping at the bit. And it was an easy ride, mostly downhill with only one small climb.

City biking is not fun, though. Too many cars. Too little room for bikes. But Boise has some bike lanes which helps. But I made it to the hostel, which is well hidden. Not many folks here even know there is a hostel.

Fuat, a friend from the Adirondacks, is arriving tonight with his bike and gear to join me from here to Portland. This will be his first bike tour. He's gonna love it, I'm sure! And I'm gonna love the company!

Had a great time in Idaho City! Thank you Paul for your warm and easy-going hospitality. Felt like home. Deanna, loved getting to know you, too. And what a cook! Thanks for the wonderful meals you whipped up with such ease. Truly a resting break from the road. And I so enjoyed learning about llamas, even if I can't screw their tethers in securely. Hope we're able to make that llama-packing trip happen in Sept. I'll be in touch.


Pedal on, Pedal on

Saddle BagLady

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Llama Keeper - Not!

Friday June 17
Idaho City
30 miles, I guess

Over 500 total. Losing track.

Still had to go up some more to the top of the Loman Climb. And then down. And then up to Mores Creek Summit at 6100 ft. Man, are my quads getting strong! They even feel different to the touch. Love it! I didn't have the same endorphins this morning as i had last. A bit tiring this uphill pedaling today. But I did it! Perseverance. That's what much of what I do is about. Quitting is not an option.

What a delightful downhill into Idaho City. Went straight to the Calamity Jane Cafe. Had to get some juice into my iPhone so I could find the directive to Paul's house (friend of Dennis'). Little did I know I just had to ask a local:). Several people had stories about him.

Biked up his long dirt road - not an easy task with Blaze. And pushing her is even worse. But on some of the hill, there was no other option.


Beautiful log home on 5 acres with 5 llamas tethered about.



No one home til tomorrow and not much food. Shoulda picked up something in town. Oh well. Scrounge. You're a hiker. You'll eat anything!

Pedal on, Pedal on

Saddle BagLady

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The Kindness of Strangers

Thursday, June 16
About 40 miles
South of Lowman ID

7 am. Mornings are the worst. Cold. Have to put on layers so I can rip them off as I warm up later. Have to pack up crunchy, frosty tent this morning. Sleeping near a stream will do that, I've found out. And I know that soon my toes will be in pain from the cold when I start pedaling no matter what I do to help them stay warm.

Slept 10 hours last night. Felt so good:). Frosty soaked oatmeal this morning - it's not hitting the spot. (how do you do it Willing & Abal?) 30 miles to a place to buy food. That's a full day's ride for me. Maybe less with the long downhill - wheeee!

And all I reall want to do is crawl back in this warm sleeping bag and read.

Finishing this day's blog Fri evening and my memory of the day's activities are never as good so much later. The big goal for the day was Soudough Lodge. It was the first place since Stanley with supplies and food. And remember, Stanley was "closed". So I was pretty focused on getting to Lowman. And I was disappointed. Actually I was delighted...by the kindness of a stranger. Thanks Jennifer for picking up my breakfast and dinner! I go to leave and the waitress tells me the other folks I had been talking with had paid my bill...and I had ordered a wrap to go for dinner besides the eggs and coffee.


Long climb out of Lowman - 10 miles UP! But Blaze is a trooper. She just kept up a steady pace. Hard finding a sleeping spot on a road that's been carved into the side of a mountain. Straight up on the left and straight down on the right. Only flat spots are the turnouts. Thought about camping there but was afraid someone would not see me and pull in and run me over. Ouch! But trusted the universe and kept pedaling. And sure enough - voila! A dirt road off to the right and flat spot for my campsite. Of course. What I need when I need it. Always. And only 7:30. Got my iPod on and tunes have been helping the feet go round. I'm still pumping when I get off the bike after miles of uphill. So I start dancing with my shadow. Love the feeling of the energy moving through my body. What a Shalom moment! Ahh! Life is good!

Pedal on, Pedal on

Saddle BagLady

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The Miserably, Majestic Day

Wednesday June 15
Past Stanley, Idaho
Miles? Maybe 30
Total miles. Losing track. Maybe 400ish. (Don't have a guidebook that tells me exactly where I am.)

I followed the Salmon River through the mountains all morning. The road was twisty turny with NO shoulders. I repeat, NO shoulders. White line, gravel, fallen rocks. The drivers were great and no one (well,maybe one) got upset with me.

And I had to constantly stop and take pictures. So much to capture! Oh ya, and there were hot springs bubbly up along side the road. I thawed my toes out there:)

And I saw a helicopter carrying a massive power pole slowly lower it into a hole high on a hill. Quite a site! Got it on video. I was worried that he'd hit one of the power lines with it. Not to worry. The power was turned off.

Yup. Got to Stanley I'm time for lunch and everything is closed. Like a ghost town. What's up? Power shut down til 5 pm. And it's 1:00. Arrrgghhh! Do I wait? Do I bike on? How far 'til there's a store? About 50 miles. Really? Ya know how you carry your fears? Well I've kept telling myself I had too much for a biker. Stocked like a hiker. I can always buy more in the next town. Well, not today. But I do have enough to go the 50 miles I decided. Cheese and Triscuits for lunch. Trail mix for snack. Ramen noodles for dinner. And just for Willing and Abal, I'm soaking oatmeal and fruit for breakfast. Oh, better go do it before I forget.

Done. Now where was I? So I decided to leave after a wonderful conversation with a mom pushing a stroller walking in short sleeves, baby in bare arms, and me in long sleeves shivering. They grow them tough in Idaho, she told me.
What a quaint town with unlaced streets and rustic buildings... But mo AT&T service. Another Arrggghhh! I mighta stuck around til 5 if I coulda got caught up on emails and facebook. No reason to stay, so off I went.

Into the strong headwinds I'd been bucking all day. I asked the woman if these winds were usual around here. No. Guess I'm just lucky. And they were quite chilly winds, at least to me. So I'd have my wind breaker on with hood up to warm me and then the winds would stop (they were gusting), and the sun was quite strong and quite warm ... and I'd get hot -hot flash- and there I'd be guiding the bike with my left knee ripping away at the jacket to get some cool air on my body. Another Arrggghhh!

And yet I was biking through some of the mist beautiful part of the country with pine trees scattered across the mountain sides, snow dusting the peaks, weathered rustic zigzag fences along the streams (wish I knew why) and lush grassy meadows...you, just like in the pictures, but I'm pedaling through it. For hours. For days. For weeks.


Yesterday I decided I was being too anal watching the mph, avg mph, total miles and all that...so I didn't let myself look at anything but the clock all day and just see how many miles I did by days end. 38. Not bad. I know: I'm slow.

So today I was trying the same thing, but I did check in Stanley and it was 15 miles. Well, a ways out of town, I look down and there's nothing registering on my computer. So I look to see if the wireless transmitter has pivoted away from the wheel. Gone. Lost it and the post it was mounted on. Arrrggghhh!!! Again? Not my day. One glove jumped ship this morning, but I realized it before biking off. A pink neon plastic flag I've adopted jumped off, but I saw it in my mirror. I didn't see or hear this fall away. I went back about a mile or so, but found nothing. Not to be. So now I don't have to pretend not to look, I have no idea how fast or how far except for the mile markers on the side. It'll be an interesting trial. Have to see if I replace it in Boise.

I'm loving drinking from mountain streams again. That water tastes so good! I brought a Steripen for debugging my water and the first time I went to use it it didn't work. Red light! I guess the batteries lost their charge. Too cold maybe. It's getting quite crowded in my sleeping bag with me and all the gear that needs to stay warm. We fight for space:).

It's getting cold again at night and I'm using my 15* bag. Sure glad I have it. Tonight's chilly already and it's not yet 8:00. And there are patches of snow all around outside my tent. Yup, I'm up above the snowline tonight.

Tomorrow a 10 mile downhill I've been told. Wheee!!!!! Hope it's warm by the time I get to it.




Pedal on, Pedal on

Saddle BagLady

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone