Day 3 Journal Welches to Ka-Nee-Tah Resort, Warm Springs, OR

June 21^st – The first day of summer. And we riders welcomed it big time. We started out from breakfast down the road from the Resort at the Mountain (Mt Hood National Forest area) at the Whistle Stop café. They did a great job of preparing breakfast so quickly for 65 of us. Buffet style is the best for a group this size. But it was super fresh and they we so friendly. A hearty breakfast of fresh fruit, pancakes, meat, great potatoes with peppers and onions, and 4 different juices along with the coffee and milk. I sampled it all! Then it was an 11-mile climb right out of the shoot, 2,500 vertical feet to the summit of the mountain at the Village of Government. It was mighty chilly going up. And the longer I climbed the more I perspired. It was foggy and I could see my breath. With the sweat I felt a bit clammy on the skin. I had on my favorite jacket – Gore Wear Phantom jacket. I knew I would need it on the decent as we would be flying and getting chilled real fast. This jacket has detachable sleeves that serve as arm warmers. I was zipping those off about ½ up the climb, as I was getting too warm. The first SAG van was at the summit, and it was COLD and windy up there. I didn’t care to linger there! I had my ear band on, my finger gloves on, and I put the arm warmers back on. But before I left I asked Susan about the pie place they mentioned at Route Rap last night. We told there was a great place to get a piece of Huckleberry pie at the top. I was really looking forward to that. It was my motivation the whole climb! But she said, “Oh sorry, it was just BEFORE reaching this summit, about 1 mile back down the mountain.” Forget that! I wasn’t about to go back down and have to climb up again. Noticed at the top of the mountain the gas price is $3.14/gal. The descending was a blast. The mountain road just wound rounds the curves of the mountain and I let it rip. I was thinking how glad I was that I had done Ride The Rockies ride last year, and the fall before that I did Cycle Utah. It really helps to be familiar with mountain climbing and descending – this time was so much fun. In 2001 I was so scared going down a mountain for the very first time. We descended a total of 3,700’ -- with a few climbs in between the downs. It was spectacular to see Mt Jefferson, the Three Sisters Mountains and again Mt Hood. The more we descended the warmer we got. At the SAG snack stop at mile 45 we were all shedding every things and putting it in the drop box. They bring it to the motel so we can pick it up when we get in. What a huge difference in terrain and weather temp as soon as we left US 26 and on to Rte 9. It was hot and dry and more flat, and very desert like. Had a few cattle guards to go across today. It is open range out here. The cattle guards are strips of metal pipe in the road and it is a head jarring experience to cycle over them. I found though the faster you pedal over them the better.

This place is quite a huge place we are staying at. A luxury resort on the Indian reservation, and it has a casino right here in the resort too. I called the spa and asked for a massage appointment. No luck. Oh well, I’m feeling good, and not really hurting anywhere. Thank God! Had a scare this afternoon out in the middle of nowhere a couple of dogs came chasing me. I was pedaling along totally zoned out about this time on the flat stretch. There were very few ranch houses around, but from out of somewhere came these dogs. I thought I was being chased by a couple of wolves! More tomorrow. Hope you like the photos. I’m not too experienced yet using my new FujiFilm camera, but I’m trying.

Dinner is in an hour. I have some clothes to wash out, and get my riding clothes laid out for tomorrow.

Road Kill: 4 bungees

Miles: 68 miles

Banana count: 3

Heard on the road: “I’m too old for this!” Comment from one of the riders when he reached the mountain summit. It was only 3,995’ to the summit, but it did get the muscles working right away!