Huckleberry ice cream

DAY 56
Baker City, OR to John Day, OR

What's the point of paying for a hotel if you can't sleep in and enjoy a cozy bed? Well, what's the point of sleeping in, only to begin riding in the heat of the day? We're up by 5:30 and on the road by 6:30. Within the first 20 miles we know it will be a better day than our traumatic day into Baker City. The temperature is slightly cooler, but more importantly the mountainsides are lush with bushy ponderosa pine trees. Numerous logging trucks cruise by without slowing. I'm pleasantly surprised by this reprieve from the hot barren desert terrain I'd expected to encompass all of eastern Oregon.

The first of three mountain passes we have to ascend today comes and goes before we even notice. Well that's not true, it was 1,000 feet in three short miles. Steep yes, but over before the exhaustion sets in. A quick 1,000 foot drop leads to another 1,000 foot climb. With two of the three passes behind us before 11 o'clock, only one pass remains before a 2,000 foot drop and easy afternoon into John Day. We both begin to feel the strain of the days climbs and rising temperatures. Huckleberry ice cream at Austin Junction is the remedy that provides one last push over the final pass.

The Oregon bike route sign

Austin Junction

Dixie Pass, the last pass of the day!

Descending into the John Day River Valley, we again find ourselves roasting in a furnace. The lush treed mountainsides give way to dry open farm lands below. Thankfully the landscape is not as barren and unattractive as the desert surrounding Baker City. Still it has an unforgiving harsh quality to it. We call the county fairgrounds our home for the night. It takes the heat of the day hours into the dark of night to cool off. In the meantime, Becky and I sweat in the tent avoiding any unnecessary movement or touching (You're on my side... Don't touch me)

Heading down into John Day

Camping at the fairgrounds

Stats:
Miles: 84.44
Average speed: 11.3 mph
Max speed: 32.2 mph
Odometer: 3927