Trish & Phill's Tandem TransAmerican

Tour 2003 

Jul 22 John Day - Mitchell 77mi

112'F Don't have to say anymore really. It was desperate!  It was a game of survival not an enjoyable bike ride. We struggled from about 10:00AM onwards. I don't recall ever being so hot (cycling makes me hot enough when it's cold)

Again we got some small relief from the odd pool of Creek water scooped up in a Coke bottle and poured all over ourselves. The Collins version of a wet tee shirt show! Unfortunately the water is getting less and less as the Creeks are drying up from the heat wave that Central Oregon is experiencing. A lady at a shop told me she had lived here since 1984 and had never had weather like this!

We passed an interesting place this morning - John Day Fossil fields. The ground has been pushed up at an angle due to earthquake and volcanic activity. The exposed land has brought to the surface a lot of fossils buried many years ago. The road actually follows a river bed that has been cut into the relatively new landscape to form a deep ravine. Road builders have followed the river through the cut so that on both sides of the road there are steep sides climbing high into the sky. It's the North East's equivalent to the Grand Canyon. There was a lot of colour in the contrasting rock and made the whole experience of passing through very memorable for us. 

Entrance to Picture Gorge

From Picture Gorge onward we had a climb of 1500 feet to get over the Keyes Crest Pass. This ride would have been tough but the heat of today made it extreme.

Eventually we get into Mitchell, our entry into the town's Cafe reminded me of a scene from a Chevy Chase movie. His car breaks down in the desert and he goes wandering off to get help. He wanders around for the day in the heat and eventually stumbles onto the place his family have spent the day - in the cool shade of a cafe oblivious to his suffering. He tries to act normal as he meets up with them, but the back of his throat is stuck together with thirst. That was how we felt as we walked (staggered) into the Cafe at Mitchell. A day to try and forget !

Page owned & maintained by Trish Collins email to  trishphill@aapt.net.au.  Last Updated 28/07/2003