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| Last night's dinner of steak and a Vanilla Porter got me through today |
As I slowly turn my cranks to get me up a mountain, there is a lot of time to think or use your mind to try and distract yourself from the long, burning climb to the top. Sometimes I sing parts of songs that I know over and over ("the only way is up...") or indulge in some "what if" fantasy ("what if" I was 5 inches taller, would I be able to get up this mountain any faster?). But today I was thinking of how to put into context for everyone what we have been doing everyday for the past 1.5 weeks.
The best analogy I could come up with is the "never ending spin class". All you Spin gym junkies out there, you know that track where you have to turn that dial right up, plant your butt down heavily on that seat and just pound your legs slowly, ever so slowly around, fighting the resistance with every rotation to the slow, slow beat of the music. Well, just keep on doing that not just for that one 3 minute 24 second sound track, but keep going for another 20 tracks back to back without any break in the music, relentlessly pounding away for over an hour. Then once you have reached that peak, just keep on going with that spin class simulating a downhill spin, then rolling hills interspersed with a couple more 20 minute tracks of slow burners. Keep this up for another 4 hours or so and then your day might be done. Replenish your fluids, refuel with a good meal, get a good nights sleep, then get up and do that never ending spin class again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day and the next.
I keep hearing the instructors voice in my head as I climb, focusing on putting all my power into my legs, keeping my hips and upper body as still as possible, trying desperately not to pull or push on the handlebars with my hands and arms, using my upper body only for balance, keeping my core tight and sucking my belly button into the back of my spine, pushing on the pedals as well as pulling up on them in as smooth a rotation as possible, getting as far forward on the saddle as is comfortable to transfer as much of my body weight to the front of the bike as I can to try to counteract the heavy load on the back. I guess all those spin classes have paid off because I haven't had to walk up one mountain pass yet!
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| Sage bush and mountains everywhere |
Of course today there was more climbing through some more ever-changing scenery. The views never cease to amaze me. Today started with the vast open plains of Eastern Oregon covered in sage brush surrounded by distant mountains which got closer and closer all too quickly and then we had nowhere else to go but climb over them.
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| Riding thru the vastness of Eastern Oregon |
We met up again with the Powder River which is one of the prettiest rivers I have ever followed. Green grass grows by its banks, fed by the river water, in contrast to the dry scrublands on either side away from the river.
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| Powder River |
Horses, cows and deer roam by the river bank.
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| Cows on the river |
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| Deer by the Powder a River |
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| Looking straight up |
We re-fuelled in the town of Richland some 40 miles from our start point. Hubert's half and half (lemonade and black tea) has become my drink of choice. Then we started our last climb for the day over the un-named Pass. From the bottom of the mountain we could see the cars driving up the road we would have to follow. I'm still not sure if this made the climb more or less daunting mentally. Again we had strong head winds and cross winds all day, slowing our ascents and making our descents a little treacherous and the day all too frustrating. We took a lot more caution not to let ourselves build up too much speed on the downhill sections in case a gust of wind suddenly took us out.
So far we have managed to avoid the rain today, but we will see what the night has in store for us as we camp at the Halfway RV Park.
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| So steep that the road drops off from the crest |
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| Our route from Day 5 - 10 |
CRANKING ODYSSEY STATS
Total Odyssey miles: 631
Overall Fastest Speed: Steve (39.9 miles per hour) Mandy (35.3 miles per hour)
Bonks: nil
Dog chases: 1
Dummy Spits: Steve (1 - Day 10 because it rained)
Flats: Katie (4)
Wrong turns: 6
Beer of the day: Dos Equis
Lesson of the day: Katie has a phobia of snakes. Be prepared to stop suddenly whenever you see one on the road if she us riding in front of you in order to avoid a 3 bike pile up!
No. of our luxury items that Katie has used: 4 (duct tape + rope + pliers + a confused cup/bowl)
No. of days with no shower: 4
Starting weight: Steve (90kg) Mandy (51.5kg)
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