No bowl, no problem.  Ice Bucket rescue!

I woke up from a pleasant sleep in my luxurious hotel room in Sisters, Oregon. The hotel suite occupied a California King sized bed, and a full kitchen. It was just too bad that Sisters Inn and Suites checked me into a dirty un-sanitized room. And then, after complaining with a phone call to the front desk, it took nearly two hours for them to fully clean said room. Nonetheless, I slept well and was ready to hit the highway leaving my funky mood back in the cold rainy mountain passes, which I just finished traversing. Hot summer weather was awaiting me as I was heading east.

Awaking, I had breakfast cereal waiting for me to consume that remained from grocery shopping the night before; therefore, I wasn’t in the mood for a full breakfast. So I donned my pedestrian outfit and opened the door to my hotel room, where I spied two bicycle tourists over at Subway. I shuffled across the street to the Subway collecting an early morning sandwich. Without my bike, I decided not to strike up a conversation with them hoping they’d be around after eating chow when I had my touring bike with me. They weren’t. But I took note of the bikes, and gear, thinking if they were heading east, I’d probably run into one of them. Perhaps both.

My somber mood found me again as I saddled up pedaling east leaving Redmond, Oregon. Not only did I fail to get my bicycle looked at, I didn’t find a suitable bag for stashing items that I’d grab on the fly. I found the gas tank bag, albeit a well-made bag, was just too small for my needs. I wanted something that could house more than one or two important items, and snacks, at the same time. Plus I was feeling very lethargic. I kept telling myself that I needed to shape up. Temps were also climbing a little higher than I would have liked. And this would be my first real taste of hot weather.

My original decision was to head beyond the city limits of Prineville and camp at Ochoco Lake State Park. So as I entered town, I found a Ray’s Food Place where I stopped to load up on some much needed liquid hydration, and food. After shopping, I sat down next to my bike. I was done for the day. Hot and sweaty, I withdrew my iPhone from it’s holster and searched out the nearest motel. I gathered that, if I was meant to stay in Prineville then I’d find a room. Chances were slim because it was late-afternoon on a Friday. Most places would be booked up from travelers passing through. And, if I couldn’t find a room, I’d move on to the State Park camping in the hiker/biker section.

Whilst shopping, just minutes earlier, a guy had come up to me and asked, “Are you one of those cross country bikers that were here this morning, that large group with all them vans?” “Nope, I’m by myself, pedaled into town just now. What group is this that you speak of?” “I don’t know, I spoke to a couple of them and they’re riding clear to the east coast. They had a couple of vans following them, and they stayed at the Best Western last night. I think there is a bike race going on too.”

I put the phone away and headed over to the City Motel just down the street. “Hi, I’m the cyclist whom phoned about a room… I just decided that I’d like to stay two nights.” “We only have the room available for one night, but if you’re willing to change rooms tomorrow then we could get you two nights?” “Sounds good to me. Let’s do it.”

The day I left Prineville, I was very timid. Unbeknownst to me, my trip was about to tip the scales becoming awesome – nonstop excitement!

Cooking outside the City Motel

 June 20, 2014

 While eating lunch in Prineville, a group of construction workers asks, “Is there a big bicycling event going on? There’s a bunch of spandex clad bicyclists staying at the Best Western where we’re staying, and a big group is riding up the hill out of town.” Me, “I don’t know, I’m not from here. I just rode into town yesterday, and I don’t wear Lycra Spandex (as I present myself with my bike).” Construction worker replies, “Attaboy!”

 June 26, 2014

Rob’s friend opened her house to Rob and I, and we’re camping in her side yard. She then brings us bags of fresh fruit from the Baker City farmers market. 

Got my bike worked on today, got a new chain and cassette, it’s shifting smoothly, like butter.

Coffee Pot Oats

Rob got his new bike, and his old man mountain racks are not zipped tied to his POS eBay mountain bike anymore, they’re actually bolted to his new Surly LHT.

What a journey this has become. Loving life!

Bob the retired police officer from the mid-west, will probably be meeting us on the other side of Hells Canyon. 

Party in Mitchell, Oregon.

Bicyclist only hostel.