Day 78: Mitchell, OR to Redmond, OR

Sunday, August 5, 2012,  68 miles - Total so far: 2512 miles*
    * Miles ridden on the TransAm route
    Odometer miles - Today - 68.3 Total to date - 2614.1.miles  
 
One pass to climb, views of the Cascade Mountains

The day began with a 17 mile ride on U.S. 26 to the top of Ochoco Pass (4,720 ft.).  We first dropped a few hundred feet and then climbed ~2,200 ft.  The climb was gradual for most of the way with a couple of steeper sections.  Half a mile from the top of the climb my rear tire went flat again.  Because Paul was meeting us at the top of the pass I just used Nicole’s pump to put air in the tire and rode to the top.

Giant rocking chair at a woodworking shop just outside of Mitchell, OR

Neat rock formations on U.S. 26 just outside of Mitchell

View of the valley from the climb up to Ochoco Pass

Another view of the valley from our rest stop on the climb up the pass.

At the top I removed the rear tire and tube.  It appeared the hole in the tube might have been at the same spot as the day before.  We talked about putting in a new boot or some duct tape, but Jake looked at it and suggested the original hole in the tire wasn’t that big and I should just put a new tube in without the boot.  I got out one of my remaining patched tubes and Jake put it in.  He did it in about half the time that I could have.  It was amazing to watch a pro do the job – he made it look incredibly easy.  Thanks Jake!

Van stop at the top of the pass - "Summit, Ochoco Pass, Elev. 4720"

The forests alongside U.S. 26 on the ride down from Ochoco Pass

After topping Ochoco Pass it was 34 miles to Prineville with no stores and only a rest area or two.  Fortunately the first half was mostly downhill and then it was flat.  We got to Prineville, ~50 miles into our day with only the van stop, and found a great Mexican restaurant in town to get lunch.  We spent over an hour there, but the rest of the day was supposed to be relatively easy.

Out of Prineville there was one climb of a couple of miles with a lot of traffic, but there was a pretty good shoulder.  At the top of the climb we got great views of snow covered mountains in the distance – the Three Sisters Mountains and Mt. Jefferson.  The whole way into Redmond the views kept getting better and better.

Looking back towards the Prineville area from the climb out of town.

Mare with foal, alongside highway 126 beyond Prineville

No water shortage around here - an irrigation canal providing water to the farmlands in the area.

It was another hot day, so one more rest stop in Powell Butte provided welcome relief.  Then we continued on to the Cascade Swim Center on the far side of Redmond.  It was a very nice overnight location with lots of open grassy areas and shade to pitch our tents.  We had access to the pool’s showers and restrooms until 5:00pm in the evening and then the next morning starting at 5:00am when they opened.

In the distance to the left, first views of the Three Sisters Mountains.

Our campground at the Cascade Swim Center, Redmond, OR.

As dinner was being prepared dark clouds began to build in the distance and it looked like we might get a storm.  At dinner there was quite a bit of lightning and some thunder and we wondered whether we’d all have to run for cover.  Fortunately the storm only dropped a few sprinkles on us, though we later heard from others in nearby locations that they got some big storms.  Overnight we got a bit more rain, but it wasn’t that hard or that long.

Ominous looking dark clouds gathering in the distance at dinnertime.

My camera caught a bolt of lightning at dinnertime (just right of center).