TODAY'S TALES: 

Well, we are off again.  We woke to a beautiful sunrise over the mesa behind the motel and to the sounds of black birds chirping to announce the start of another day.  After the last couple days of getting up before the sun was even above the horizon, we slept in a tad and didn't load until after breakfast at 7:30.  It didn't take long for everyone to evacuate the parking lot, but I think they enjoyed the later departure.  So many times it's so hot out here that we need to get on the road as early as we can.  Since today wasn't going to be a scorcher, we adjusted the departure since it was a pretty short day. 

Kah-Nee-Ta resort, what a nice place to stay.  But it's a logistical nightmare for the staff to get all the vans in the right place and to get our stuff organized.  It's quite a hike to our rooms and the trek involves elevators and stairs.  I think it's a long distance phone call from the rooms where we were staying, but all that aside, I think everyone enjoyed the stay...especially if they got to the pool or won some wampum at the casino.  Everyone was wearing a shirt this morning so I guess there weren't any big losers.

Today was our first taste of the desert, but it was just a small taste as the temperatures stayed pretty mild in comparison to what I've seen out here before.  I just hope we can get a break tomorrow as we trudge into John Day which is twice as long as today's venture. 

We descended out of the motel down the "cliff" behind the motel... but the thrill was short lived.  It's really steep and we briefed everyone that if they didn't keep their bikes under control, they'd miss the turn at the bottom and end up on the 8th green on the golf course.  Jeff asked if it was a par 3 or 4.  I wasn't sure but I told him to at least ask to play through if he ended up in the fairway.  The one's that made the turn at the bottom started a gentle climb for the next 8 miles or so before a beautiful downhill into the Warm Springs valley.  Right at the top, the vista of Mt Jefferson was awesome and everyone took a little time to savor the scene...then it was back to work.

A couple years ago, we had two dudes from Florida that cornered a local Indian and after a long discussion on tribal customs, taxes, and life on the reservation, they asked him if the high terrain we were riding on was a mesa or a butte.  The old Indian just shook his head and told them that it was a "hill."  I'm sure he was thinking, "White man have too much formal education."  Anyway, whatever it was, everyone in our group would probably agree that it was a tough climb whether it was a butte or a mesa...or just a hill in the desert.

After the vista stop, we were met with a beautiful view of the long, winding descent into the valley below that produced post card views of Mt Jefferson as the riders twisted down the curvy descent into Warm Springs.  After Warm Springs we rode along the Deschutes River before another long climb to the top of a mesa on hwy 26...I guess it was a mesa (I'm afraid to ask)...it was big.  Just about two miles after the summit, we turned off into the country where we began to see the results of irrigation as there were farms with many different cash crops that we just don't see in the east.  Things like mint, onion, sugar beet, carrot and rice fields were strung along our route for several miles before we came back to hwy 26 in Madras.  The aroma of mint and alfalfa fields sure didn't remind me of the feedlots of Kansas we saw on the Fast Ride.  We also saw snow covered mountains in all directions while at the top of the mesa...Mt Jefferson, Mt Hood, The Three Sisters, 3 Fingered Jack, Mt Washington, and Bachelor all were majestic along the horizon showing us a completely different climate than we were riding through...how could it be so warm where we were when we could see snow in every direction?

After a short stint out in the country, we entered the bustling town of Madras.  A screaming descent into town for our only SAG of the day and where a few stopped to eat lunch before trekking back out into the high desert.  After Madras, we traveled on a long desolate highway that contained endless rollers and a steadily rising terrain until the last 10 miles to Prineville where everyone was rewarded with a 10 mile descent into town.  It was really dry out there...well, that's to be expected, it's desert.  That is unless they pour water on it...the final miles into Prineville were lush with hay and green grass...the product of an intricate irrigation system we'll be seeing throughout Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Tomorrow we ride 116 into John Day.  I think the riders are a little apprehensive about the day, but they'll do fine if they just keep moving and pace themselves.  On paper it will be the to toughest day we have...plenty of climbing, plenty of miles, and dry desert...but no matter how tough the day is, it is a most beautiful ride with photo ops all over the place.  It will be a busy day supporting everyone with all the miles that will be between the front and rear of the group, but I think we are up to the task.  We talked about the importance of keeping water bottles filled all day tomorrow.  Neglecting that fact could be harmful to one's health out here.  Tune in tomorrow and I'll let you know how we did...until then, have a great day. 

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