Total miles: 774.5
Climbing: 3991
The day started out very chilly and when Linda served hot chocolate for breakfast, she immediately had many takers. It did not top 65 today, I don’t think, and I had a jacket on almost all day. It was perfect riding weather except for the continued headwind. We only had two miles to warm up before we had a 5 mile climb with 6-7% grades.
Lots of climbing again today
Anne and Kathie at the top of our 5 mile climb todayIt was not too hard for me! The elevation topped out at 3653’. Then, we had a fantastic 4 mile downhill, although it was a very chilly ride! There was a great view of Richlands, OR from the big downhill.
Nancy B with her Sponge Bob shirt, 2007 Southern Tier riders will understand this one!
One of our great downhill runs todayThe scenery was dry, dry, dry, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I again felt very small today. Except for several clusters of the Blazing Stars I identified from yesterday and the green surrounding the Powder River which we followed for a long time today, it was dry.
On one hill (we had quite a few today) I saw horses galloping across a field and then saw an ATV and a dog rounding them up! I guess they don’t use horses to round them up anymore! I also saw several great blue herons on the Powder River.
We passed the Hole in the Wall slide of 1984 left a huge scar on the side of the mountain. For several days, the dry foothills around the Powder River received multiple inches of rain. The water percolated down to the layer of basalt and then through cracks in the rock to the clay below. The basalt blocks slid over the clay like bricks on ball bearings and roared downhill. The slide continued to creep downhill at the rate of a half inch per day until over ten million cubic yards had slid into the road below and into the Powder River, completely blocking the river and creating a half mile long lake.
Hole in the Wall slide
The old road is barely visible next to the RiverWe climbed up and down, staying on the Powder River which made a ribbon of green with all the dry areas along our route today. These riparian zones are rich with greenery and wildlife that would never be able to survive in this environment without the water. We saw at least four great blue herons on this river today.
Ribbons of green brighten up the otherwise very dry high desert of Eastern OregonThe Oregon Trail Interpretative Center was about 8 miles before our destination of Baker City, OR today.
Absolutely wonderful museum chronicling the history of the Oregon Trail
View of the valley from the Oregon Trail Center, top of the hillAt our map meeting last night, one small bit of information about this place was omitted! It was a one an a half mile climb up a 9-12% grade. That was steep for me! But Kathie, great ride partner that she is, rode up to go to the museum. One of our older riders who did not ride today was already there (dropped of by the van) and she had a golden age pass allowing her to take three others with her, so we got in free. Thanks, Judy. The center was fascinating with full size depictions of the wagons, stock, and horses. There were movies and many other exhibits which I enjoyed thoroughly, depicting the hardships and the joys of the settlers who came to Oregon on the Oregon Trail in the 1800’s. As we were getting ready to leave, there was a park ranger looking down the hill with binoculars and said that there was a reenactment of an Oregon Trail wagon train coming across the valley. Indeed, we saw it and hurried off the high hill to see them arriving in their encampment for the night. We were among the very few of our group who saw them at all. I guess that was the repayment for our big climb to the top of the hill to see the museum!
One of the Reenactment Wagons
...and another wagonAs we left to continue our ride to Baker City, we saw another sign (which of course we had to stop to read) and it led us to see the actual wagon ruts left from the original wagon trains. We saw several sets which passed through the area. There was also an Oregon Trial Memorial monument to the many pioneers who died while en route.
Actual wagon ruts from the original Oregon TrailJust before Baker City, I saw this newly cut hay being raked by a farmer. There was a hawk was sitting atop a post very nearby, watching... well... like a hawk, for any small mammals to be rousted out by the raking. I did not see it fly, but I am sure there were several meals to be had in the huge field.
Raking the newly mowed field
Oregon Trail Center from the field below, where the tracks were located
Where old farm machinery goes to dieFinally, we rode on down to Baker City, a small town with much history, and a hub of activity at the turn of the century for those seeking gold and those seeking a new life. It was a wonderful riding day despite the headwinds which we had most of the day.
Linda fixed a wonderful dinner, as usual, and Denise told of our big day tomorrow, 80 miles to John Day, OR and our rest day after that! Three big climbs will be on the agenda for tomorrow, all over 5,000' high. It should be beautiful.
Why we love Linda, our cook!
the rest of the dinner
3 comments:
I'm just LOVING your journal and I know I speak for others as well! Your pictures add a lot and do a great job of covering little flowers, big scenes and the folks you are riding with. Have fun!
Cheers Anne,
Thanks for the postcard! You certainly are going through beautiful country! I am still using my Tifosi glasses. The rubber around the ear stems wore off. I called the company and they sent me a new set free. Good compant,good glasses! Wishing you tail winds. It seems they are few and few between.
Cheers, Barb L.
You can go ahead and save the entire plate of tomatoes and mozzarella cheese for me, thank you. I'll be sure to make sure each slice is rightly savored!
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