Days 13 & 14, Heat wave in Idaho

Day 13,  Riggins to Kooskia. 77 miles
Travelled down river from Riggins along the Salmon River.  Went into Whitebird, which is where the Nez Pierce war began.  My ride took me through the battlefield and over white bird pass.  Quite amazing how fast mountains transition to flatland.  I stopped in Grangville to resupply and then headed to Stites and Kooskia, which are in the Nez Pierce Reservation.  Spent the evening with a warmshower host gracious enough to take me in with little notice.  Heat wave in the west...  probably hit 90 or better.  Little shade today.

Day 14, Kooskia to Lochsa Lodge.  99 miles
Late start as I rode from my hosts place into town and got breakfast.   Didn't leave until a little after 9am.  The ride along Rt12 and the Lochsa River is spectacular, which is part of the Nez Pierce and also Lewis and Clark trail.  Not a ton of traffic today along this popular rafting and fishing area.  Ended my day at the Lochsa Lodge.  An oasis along this long stretch with no services for 90 miles....

Days 11 &12, Into Idaho!

Day 11, Richland to Cambridge, 71.5 miles
Right off the bat a 1700' climb out of Richland...  but the reward was a 20 mile cruise to Oxbow and the snake river.  Idaho Power has dams along this section known affectionately as Hells Canyon.  The downside is a 2100' climb up out of the canyon, in the heat of the day.  Had heard good things about Mundo hot springs, but they we closed.  Along with a lot of other things along the way.

Day 12, Cambridge to Riggins. 88 miles
Left early as the West is in a heatwave.  Rt 95 out of Cambridge to council, but lack of any shoulder, plus uphill, plus lots of trucks & RVs detoured me to the gravel Weiser River Trail.  Very nice, bit slow and a little rough.  No traffic, one deer, first flat.  At New Meadow I made the decision to head to Riggins.  33 miles of more headwinds, but downhill.  Pedal downhill into a headwind for all 14mph.  Sigh. 

Days 8 to 10, Yup, still in Oregon

Day 8. Mitchell to John Day
65 miles of farmland and more farmlands.   Lots of cows.  Rode with Roger and Carlos today. 

Day 9.  John Day to Baker City
Today was a sizable day.  80 miles with 4000 feet of climbing over 3 passes.  As luck would have it for me, I was hit with hail, snow and rain on the first pass.   Luckily the Austin house cafe was warm and had a fireplace going.   Hit with spitting rain on pass #2, but it did not last.   3rd times a charm.  Sunny.  Nice roll downhill from there to Baker City.   Had a good stay with warmshowers host Judy. 

Day 10, Baker City to Richland, OR
A relatively short dat, only 44 miles.  And even though it was mostly downhill, had to battle a SE headwind.  Pedal downhill at 13mph...  Stopped to visit the Oregon trail interpretive center.  Amazing what our pioneers endured.   Nice campsite in Richland though.

Days 3-7. Still in Oregon...

Day 3, Cape Lookout to Willamina. 65mi
Trans Am race started at 5am.  First riders passed me at 1030, 130 miles in.  Left the ocean today and made my way into farm country. 

Day 4, Willamina to Coburg, 83 miles

Day 5, Coburg to McKenzie Bridge, 65 miles

Nice ride along the McKenzie today.   Doesn't get much better than this.

Day 6, McKenzie to Bend, 70 miles

Long grind over Santiam Pass today.  Met up with Larry and Roger who I met in Astoria at the hotel.  Lots of traffic into sisters and then to Bend to visit Dan, Becca and Margot.  Great to see them!

Day 7,  Terrebonne to Mitchell, 66 miles

Dan was nice enough to run me to Terrebonne where I started the day.  Lots of truck traffic along the first part of the route.  The ride over Ochoco Pass was much less than yesterday.  Ended the day at Mitchell, 418 miles along the route, at a bike hostel that is a true oasis for bikers.  Can't  tell you how nice it is at Spoke' n wheel.  Come visit for yourself...

Days 1 &2 100 down, 4100 to go

Day 1, 5/31, 50 miles
Astoria to Nehalem Bay State Park
Good ride with the exception of 101 between Seaside and Cannon Beach.  Lots of traffic.  Most terrifying was tunnel and narrow bridges, always up hill too.  Winds were favorable though, ah, tailwinds.  Stayed in the state park with nice hot showers, usb chargers and storage lockers.  A few others on the coast route stayed here.

Day 2, 6/1, 50 miles
Nehalem to cape lookout
Nice easy riding first 25 miles.   Tailwind and flat.  Took the 3 capes scenic route to cape meats lighthouse, then along the coast.  Very nice.  Ended the day at Cape Lookout State Park.