What a day!!!!  And I got to ride!!!!  We started the day with a short ride westward to the Whistle Stop for a hearty breakfast of eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, fruit, oatmeal, and country home fries.  We hate to ride any miles to the west, but if that's where the food is, I wouldn't be able to stop them if I tried.   The Whistle Stop could only seat about 25 riders at a time so we had to stagger our departure from the motel.  I held the thoroughbreds back until the second wave so we wouldn't get too far ahead of the pack...The restaurant did a great job getting us all fed and out the door in short order with our tanks full for a long day of climbing.

The day started out with chilly temps and sunny skies and the climbing warmed us up pretty fast as most were shedding clothing by the first SAG.  Today was to be our first real taste of the mountains and fortunately we got a great view of Mt Hood and other snow covered peaks in the surrounding area.  We were expecting over 5200 feet of climbing and we got just that.  Our first real test came about a half mile from where we ate breakfast.  Not much time to wear off those pancake calories, but everyone seemed to be moving pretty well up the grade. The terrain was up continuously for the first 13 miles with pitches ranging from 3-6% from Welches to Government Camp. Even with all the climbing, the riders enjoyed the pine canopy, mossy rock formations, bear grass, and rhododendron as they pedaled their way to the summit.  I carried my big camera all day today and stopped 190 times during the day and took everyone's photos as they tried to pull in their tongues and muster a smile.  They finally got to mile 13.4 where we placed the first SAG stop. Riders fueled up and most donned extra clothing for the long descent before the second climb to get to the desert. 

The topography changes were phenomenal as we were in mountainous pine forests for 42 miles, until we made a left turn toward the resort.  After the turn, we changed immediately to high desert scrub, and then after about 10 miles of rolling terrain, we descended into the box canyon to the resort. The riders were greeted with a beautiful, winding descent into the valley floor and then smacked with a steep climb up to the motel.  Some live for this experience... you decide which one, the up or the down. 

The scenery was beautiful all day and it was hard to believe that we were on the same ride, on the same day, or even the same planet at each of our SAGs.  One was in the lush pine forests near Mt Hood and the other was out in the desert (right)...and they were only 20 miles apart...go figure.

If they didn't get enough climbing during the day, the hill to the motel may be the steepest we climb before we get to the east coast.  Even with the tough climb to the motel, it was worth every pedal stroke.  We stay at Kah-nee-ta, a resort that although it is the only thing out here, is really a nice place.  I hope the riders don't get used to all this luxury, we might be spoiling them a bit.  As they say in the south, we are in "high cotton" with pool, Jacuzzi, and a beautiful view of the climb we have to do tomorrow to leave. But wait, I may not have anybody who wants to leave tomorrow... Hey gang, we need to get to New Hampshire!

All in all it was another successful day.  We got all the ducklings in without incident...life is good.  Tomorrow we climb back on top of the mountain that we came off of on our way in.  I hope they enjoyed the descent for tomorrow we climb again.  But riders do get to go down the hill at the motel before climbing up the mountain...that will thwart their warm up.  They are getting stronger whether they know it or not...just another bump in the road to Portsmouth.  See you then.