I survived Cycle Oregon! A week of riding (about 400 miles) and camping in rural North Eastern Oregon. It maybe wasn't the best thing to be doing 2 weeks post IMC, but I signed up for the ride early in the spring and IMC was kind of a last minute surprise in the schedule. CO is a fully supported week long riding and camping adventure topping out at 2000 participants. They haul your gear from point A to B everyday and feed, entertain and will sag you in if needed. It's an incredibly well organized event considering how big it is. This is the third time I've done the ride and I think by far this was the most challenging course. I heard the average age for the riders was 51, which seemed about right. There were all types of bikes:custom ti, mountain bikes, recumbants, tandems, really old road bikes (I saw a Panasonic) to a guy on an Electra Townie. I met riders from Japan, Italy and Germany and all over the US. We covered 49 miles on the shortest day and 89 on the longest. One optional rest day was in the schedule and I was happy to have it! There was lots of climbing the first 4 days which pretty much kicked my butt. Day six was cold and rainy, but the scenery was amazing. Although it ended up being the longest ride, it was the most enjoyable. Here are a few pictures. I highly recommend CO if you are looking for a fun cycling adventure in the beautiful Pacific NW.

Day one: Umatilla to Heppner 69 miles, 3300 ft of elevation gain.

Hookers in Stanfield....

Rest stop in Lena. Check out the populations.

The best part of every day!

Beats mowing. He was tied to a tree in their front yard.



Day two: Heppner to Starkey 81 miles, 5900 feet of elevation gain. Climbing out of Heppner.

Lunch in Ukiah. The people really put together some funny stuff.

Day Three: Starkey to Sumpter. 53 miles 4452 Elevation gain. View from our tent.

Tent City.

Day four: Sumpter to Union 78 miles 5500 feet of elevation gain. This day killed me. I needed to be in Union by 3 for a massage and made it with 15 minutes to spare. I was not a happy camper...

Philip chillin at our home in Union.



Someone's inspiration. This put a big smile on my previously crabby face.

Day 5. Rest day in Union. Hobbit House.

Nice flowers.

Union guard dog. He was so cute and funny.

Me freezing my butt off in our tent. It got cold at night.

Day Six: Union to Athena. 3100 feet of elevation gain and 89 miles. They had to change the route for this day as it had snowed in the pass we were to originally go over. It was cold and rainy in the morning bringing out lots of plastic bag makeshift rain gear. For anyone familiar with the Pendleton OR area; we rode over and down the old Cabbage Hill highway. It was fantistic!

A very fun switchback filled climb. It was easier than it looks.

Isn't he cute!!!



Day 7; Athena to Umatilla 49 miles, 1332 feet of elevation gain. This was supposed to be the easy day, but we had a crazy head wind with big gusts in the morning that made it really tiring. I was so happy to see the Columbia River and be done! the best part was this year's ride started and finished about 25 minutes from my house, just across the river in Eastern WA. I felt sorry for the people with long drives home.

Hat Rock park.

Roadside treasures. I could have used this on day 4!

Ann, my lovely assistant:

We made it!!! Random bikes and pictures: For the Cervelo fans: This lady's faring almost makes me want a recumbant... just kidding! I complimented her on it and she told me she had done it herself with spray paint and tape in about 20 minutes!! Tandem with couplers for the couple on the go! From the Japanese representatives. They taught me how to say "on you left" in Japanese ;-) Riders could put little plate on the back with names and hometowns. Kind of nice to see where people were from.