Wednesday, October 10, 2007
More Notes From the Road
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Let's see. Last I said hello I was in a Presbyterian church in Dayville more than a week ago. From there I had a great Saturday (Sept 29) traversing mid Oregon. I was making such good time on a beautiful day to allow me to stop and watch the second half of the the Cal vs. Oregon matchup in enemy territory. My uncontrollable exclamations of joy at Cal's victory did not result in my head's mounting on the wall of the Prineville hunter's bar I was in. The main theme continues. In all situations, people encountered on the road are spectacular. Proof, the next few days.
Last Sunday I ran into some serious headwinds on my way out of Oregon's eastern hills. I fought them for about 10 miles before I gave up and stuck my thumb out on a deserted section of Hwy 26. It was funny. The first truck I flagged drove right on past. But walking on with my thumb out to any larger car that could take my bike I kept trying. Only ten minutes into this, a truck going the opposite way pulled up to the side of the road ahead of me. It was that first truck. The driver, Dave, had driven four miles up the road before turning around to get me. Great guy. A poly-sci teacher at a local high school, we talked about my ride, Iraq and the state of the nation. He dropped me at a RV park in his town (Vale, OR) and I was set for a brilliant ride into Idaho after a rainy night and those winds had disappeared.
Two days later I also caught a ride on a section of the 84 freeway that I had to bike in order to rejoin the 26 across Idaho. Same thing. Only took me about ten minutes before a dude taking some drilling equipment to Colorado got me out of that shitty situation. (Mark would have taken me all that way but I really didn't want to cheat my ride that much.)
Amazing hospitality and great people. The best example thus far I came across in Boise. I had heard there was a camp ground along the river but couldn't find it. I asked a passing cyclist on Boise's beautiful Green Belt bike path that skirts the river. He didn't know where it was--so he offered to put me up at his place. Adam had known me a whole 90 seconds before opening his doors to me. I really didn't want to backtrack to his house but he wrote his phone number on my map. After a futile search for the camp and thinking I was a fool to turn down his offer I called him up. He said he didn't need to clear it with his wife and he was right. They were both avid cyclists and found my company pleasant if not helpful. Besides getting a lesson in Pokemon, I helped his little kids with their homework. I told them just a place to set up my tent was gift enough. They had none of that and made up the little girls room for me and made her bunk with her brother. Breakfast, a morning ride with Adam through Boise on his way to work and off I went on my trip through Idaho.
I awoke in Fairfax to super strong winds--at my back! I did 23 miles in my first hour and 112 miles total that day. Brilliant and beautiful lands. Such a pleasure except for a broken spoke that I just rode on with. That day I also found a hot spring just off the highway that I was informed about by a local and had a great lunchtime bath. (Showers have been few and far between since I've opted to camp for free in the parks of small cities.)
The weather has been an issue getting out of Idaho. Had a dreary day into Rexburb fighting a slight wind and the tedium of bugs, overcast skies and bland scenery. The one ray of light that day was found at a local bike shop where I was able to get that broken spoke replaced and my rim trued at minimal cost and in excellent time. I was able to ride on into that evening and good thing. The pouring rain that night stuck around and had me sidelined after only some 20 miles the next day. After a warming lunch in a local lodge I was going to continue but conditions were no longer safe. I got a motel for the night in Island Park and in no time had an invite to a season-ending party for the local park rangers/firefighters. A couple kegs, a huge bonfire and great people, what a night I had. And then I awoke to four inches of snow and counting. Spent yesterday (Saturday) grounded and so I watched football. Some of the same folks were around from the night before to keep me company. Let's just say I learned some new dice games at the bar that I look forward to sharing with you guys. Again, great, GREAT people.
Made it into Montana today under clear skies and dry roads though it is a little disturbing to ride in snowy territoty under clouds hovering their weighty cargo just a thousand feet up. Oh, and the high today was 35 degrees. But with legs always moving, shorts are still the way to go. Just cold fingers and toes really.
Oh yeah. To any of you who think I'm crazy, I passed another touring cyclist today. This guy started two monts ago in Alaska. His destination? Argentina!
For now I'm splurging on another night at a hotel to avoid the 18 degree temp and more snow coming tonight. Thankfully, tomorrow should be dry and warming. I look forward to getting back up to speed and making some good miles. But for now I'm going to enjoy the hot tub at this here joint and more good company of new friends. I love it out here. And out here seems to love me. Thanks to the road and all the people wishing me well; like Gary who I met a few days back at a laundromat. He spent 1979 and 1980 hitchhiking the country and in me found a way to pay back an old debt with interest. Back then he was given a dollar by an old woman in a laundromat and so to me he passed a twenty with the advice to do something good for myself when the times got tough. He was right on, that was the morning before I got grounded by the rain and then snow.
Feelin' good. I'm gonna finish this bitch. Atlantic, here I come.
-Tony
Let's see. Last I said hello I was in a Presbyterian church in Dayville more than a week ago. From there I had a great Saturday (Sept 29) traversing mid Oregon. I was making such good time on a beautiful day to allow me to stop and watch the second half of the the Cal vs. Oregon matchup in enemy territory. My uncontrollable exclamations of joy at Cal's victory did not result in my head's mounting on the wall of the Prineville hunter's bar I was in. The main theme continues. In all situations, people encountered on the road are spectacular. Proof, the next few days.
Last Sunday I ran into some serious headwinds on my way out of Oregon's eastern hills. I fought them for about 10 miles before I gave up and stuck my thumb out on a deserted section of Hwy 26. It was funny. The first truck I flagged drove right on past. But walking on with my thumb out to any larger car that could take my bike I kept trying. Only ten minutes into this, a truck going the opposite way pulled up to the side of the road ahead of me. It was that first truck. The driver, Dave, had driven four miles up the road before turning around to get me. Great guy. A poly-sci teacher at a local high school, we talked about my ride, Iraq and the state of the nation. He dropped me at a RV park in his town (Vale, OR) and I was set for a brilliant ride into Idaho after a rainy night and those winds had disappeared.
Two days later I also caught a ride on a section of the 84 freeway that I had to bike in order to rejoin the 26 across Idaho. Same thing. Only took me about ten minutes before a dude taking some drilling equipment to Colorado got me out of that shitty situation. (Mark would have taken me all that way but I really didn't want to cheat my ride that much.)
Amazing hospitality and great people. The best example thus far I came across in Boise. I had heard there was a camp ground along the river but couldn't find it. I asked a passing cyclist on Boise's beautiful Green Belt bike path that skirts the river. He didn't know where it was--so he offered to put me up at his place. Adam had known me a whole 90 seconds before opening his doors to me. I really didn't want to backtrack to his house but he wrote his phone number on my map. After a futile search for the camp and thinking I was a fool to turn down his offer I called him up. He said he didn't need to clear it with his wife and he was right. They were both avid cyclists and found my company pleasant if not helpful. Besides getting a lesson in Pokemon, I helped his little kids with their homework. I told them just a place to set up my tent was gift enough. They had none of that and made up the little girls room for me and made her bunk with her brother. Breakfast, a morning ride with Adam through Boise on his way to work and off I went on my trip through Idaho.
I awoke in Fairfax to super strong winds--at my back! I did 23 miles in my first hour and 112 miles total that day. Brilliant and beautiful lands. Such a pleasure except for a broken spoke that I just rode on with. That day I also found a hot spring just off the highway that I was informed about by a local and had a great lunchtime bath. (Showers have been few and far between since I've opted to camp for free in the parks of small cities.)
The weather has been an issue getting out of Idaho. Had a dreary day into Rexburb fighting a slight wind and the tedium of bugs, overcast skies and bland scenery. The one ray of light that day was found at a local bike shop where I was able to get that broken spoke replaced and my rim trued at minimal cost and in excellent time. I was able to ride on into that evening and good thing. The pouring rain that night stuck around and had me sidelined after only some 20 miles the next day. After a warming lunch in a local lodge I was going to continue but conditions were no longer safe. I got a motel for the night in Island Park and in no time had an invite to a season-ending party for the local park rangers/firefighters. A couple kegs, a huge bonfire and great people, what a night I had. And then I awoke to four inches of snow and counting. Spent yesterday (Saturday) grounded and so I watched football. Some of the same folks were around from the night before to keep me company. Let's just say I learned some new dice games at the bar that I look forward to sharing with you guys. Again, great, GREAT people.
Made it into Montana today under clear skies and dry roads though it is a little disturbing to ride in snowy territoty under clouds hovering their weighty cargo just a thousand feet up. Oh, and the high today was 35 degrees. But with legs always moving, shorts are still the way to go. Just cold fingers and toes really.
Oh yeah. To any of you who think I'm crazy, I passed another touring cyclist today. This guy started two monts ago in Alaska. His destination? Argentina!
For now I'm splurging on another night at a hotel to avoid the 18 degree temp and more snow coming tonight. Thankfully, tomorrow should be dry and warming. I look forward to getting back up to speed and making some good miles. But for now I'm going to enjoy the hot tub at this here joint and more good company of new friends. I love it out here. And out here seems to love me. Thanks to the road and all the people wishing me well; like Gary who I met a few days back at a laundromat. He spent 1979 and 1980 hitchhiking the country and in me found a way to pay back an old debt with interest. Back then he was given a dollar by an old woman in a laundromat and so to me he passed a twenty with the advice to do something good for myself when the times got tough. He was right on, that was the morning before I got grounded by the rain and then snow.
Feelin' good. I'm gonna finish this bitch. Atlantic, here I come.
-Tony
Why did the chicken cross the Snake River?
To get some potatoes.This was a few days back but I haven't had a chance to send this out.
Hope you enjoy it (I'm freezing my ass off today trying to get you guys another picture)
-Tony
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