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| Sunrise over Ochoco Lake |
We're all feeling a little shagged today. Not sure if it is the dry, desert heat, the amount of climbing we have done in the first week fully loaded finally taking a toll on our legs or most likely a combination of both, but now I feel like maybe we should have just had a full rest day to properly refresh ourselves. Steve however thinks he is getting stronger and stronger, while I am now starting to ride to conserve energy and not burn out my muscles for the days ahead which of course, involve more and more climbing.
Even if you plan a shorter days riding here, there is always some pass or some elevation that you have to ride over and this is what takes such a big toll on your legs particularly when you are carrying the extra weight of all your gear.
Leaving Ochoco Lake we were straight onto a long gradual climb for 24 miles gaining 1,700 feet of elevation up to the 4,720 feet summit of the Ochoco Pass.
Since we passed through Prineville late yesterday afternoon until Mitchell today there has been absolutely no services for this 48 mile stretch apart from the odd campground here and there, some with potable water and quite a few without. Hoping we get our planning right for water stops and refills in this dry heat as services get scarcer for a few sections as we head further east.
The views once again are amazing and makes riding all the more enjoyable even though you might not be having the best day. We rode by several creeks and looked out over the many buttes in the Ochoco Mountains. Forest fires had passed through this area recently and you could see the damage at the top of the pass. Apparently the road has only just been opened for the past 3 weeks.
The descent off the pass was once again so much fun, although it's hard to take in the scenery when you're bombing down the mountain trying to negotiate each bend and bump in the road. It's difficult to make yourself stop on your downhill run to take photos of the green valleys below a) because your brakes struggle to have enough stopping power to slow you right down and b) because you simply want to enjoy the free ride after muscling your way up the pass.
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| Scenery on the climb to the summit |
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| Dry desert landscape on the descent |
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| Views at the bottom of the descent |
The town of Mitchell where we have stopped for the night seems to be surviving off all the touring cyclists and motorbikes that pass through. With a population of only 130 people there is a hotel, grocery store, 3 cafés, a knick knack store, a gas station and a school. Everything else seems to have closed down but the town is a good reminder of the days gone by from the logging, cattle station and gold mining days.
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| Mitchell's grocery store |
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| Mitchell's picture framing business |
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| Outside The Oregon Hotel in Mitchell |
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| 104F in the sun |
We rolled in at 11:40am and Steve was straight into the Little Pine Cafe seeking out his first PBR for the day!
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| Chowing down an early lunch at Little Pine Cafe |
Camping tonight is in the Lion's Club Park, literally the town park.
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| Town park camping |
We had dinner at the Sidewalk Cafe in Mitchell. A cafe/diner full of locals (cowboys), a true mid west experience...........and despite dressing differently and speaking with weird accents we were welcomed wholeheartedly and shown some of the nicest hospitality on our trip thus far.
CRANKING ODYSSEY STATS
Total Odyssey miles: 422
Overall Fastest Speed: Steve (39.9 miles per hour) Mandy (35.3 miles per hour)
Bonks: nil
Dog chases: 1
Dummy Spits: nil
Flats: Katie (1)
Wrong turns: 5
Beer of the day: PBR
Lesson of the day: A shorter mileage day is not necessarily an easier day
No. of our luxury items that Katie has used: 4 (duct tape + rope + pliers + a confused cup/bowl)
No. of days with no shower: 3
Starting weight: Steve (90kg) Mandy (51.5kg)
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