Ok- so yesterday was supposed to be the monster and it wasn't and today looked like a romp and it wasn't. Although the miles were only 81 today, the ride had nearly the same amount of vertical feet- close to 5,000. We had three serious climbs, with long, long grades of
5-7%. Now I've been doing climbs in Georgia with 10-17% grades- so we laugh at 5-7% right? Wrong. When a climb is 8, 15, 20 miles long, you don't get to laugh at much. We're talking climbs that take and hour or two, and that just ain't right.After a rough night- Friday night is Kareoke night 'til 2:00Am at the restaurant next to out motel (I think I had the Lucky Strike Suite) we had an early load and breakfast. The morning was cool and promised clear skies all day with temps in the low 80's. Our first climb began almost immediately and lasted until about mile 22, where we crested Dixie Mt. Summit at 5,277'. Then it was payback time and we descended for nearly 10 miles- the boys playing cat and mouse
as we approached 40 MPH on the way down.
Along the way we stopped long enough to have an alien encounter and I was fortunate enough to have my digital "Brownie" on the ready and captured this image- really. No kidding. I'm totally serious. Gathering our wits about us, we then rolled into our first sag and the only restaurant we'd see until Baker City (our destination today) at mile 29.After enjoying our downhill playtime, we again strapped on the harnesses and began our second 5-7% climb which ran about 6 miles and delivered us to Tifton Mt. Summit at 5124'. This climb began to expose us- we all suffered some on this one and I began to start adding up all the miles we'd ridden since Monday (more on this later). I wasn't beat, but was starting to fray around the edges some.
Following this climb, we hd another thrill ride as we descended for nearly 10 miles and the began our third and final climb for the day. This one was another real grind- one of those climbs where you swear at every crest or curve, that this must be the summit. But time after time, the road was cruel to us and pitched upward, leaving us to wonder if there really was a summit. Finally we crested at Snall Summit and the began a beautiful descent, nearly 30 miles long, through a canyon with the beautiful Powder River slithering along beside us.
With 15 miles of relatively flat terrain to go Mother Nature decided to kick up her heels and started throwing us a brisk headwind. But we had the answer and the Miller Train reformed with the young guns Michael and Derek Miller pulling us all into Baker City. Along the way we picked up 2 or 3 more riders who happily sat in on the wake of our diesel powered teens. Those of us in the pace line thanked our lucky stars for another incredible day- maybe not the romp I'd expected, but certainly more than I deserved.
As soon as we arrived in Baker, as the locals call it, we found sidewalk seating for the pro bike races and watched the Cat 4/5 riders duking it out in a thrill a minute Criterium
as we gorged ourselves on some seriously tasty pizza pies.
Today brings our total miles ridden in six days to 470 and we'll bring this total to614 before we get a day off, so there's another 140 miles or so to go. I'm tired and headed for bed-see you tomorrow.
