Thursday, June 24, 2010

Day 3: Welches to Kah-nee-ta

Riding cross country on a bicycle is very much like having a baby. There is no way you can get prepared for either one and both are aweful and awful. And apparently, like childbirth, you forget the horror and think about doing it again. One of the women here, rode across on a southern route a few years ago and swore never again. Here she is, however, and interestingly she is the only other person from Maine and beats me out by two months as the oldest woman on the ride.

A day of astonishing contrasts. We stayed last night at “The Resort” in Welches—located just off Route 26 in the Mt. Hood National Forest. Deep in the evergreen forest with high peaks on either side—very dark and quiet and woodsy. Tonight we are on an Indian reservation in the high desert with classic western movie features and endless vistas.

When we left this morning the climb started at mile 0 and went on for 13.8 miles. I was fresh and mentally prepared for the length of the climb—the weather was comfortable and there was no wind but it took me two hours 45 minutes. My positive attitude faltered at mile 10 but then I read a historic marker about the difficulties the Oregon Trail Pioneers had on the same route and I realized that my ride was a piece of cake.

The route continued through the Mt. Hood National Forest with spectacular views. There were some long descents and some shorter climbs. At mile 43 the route turned left onto Route 9 toward Kah-nee-ta. By that time we were riding through the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. The left turn was like going through the wardrobe—suddenly we were out of the forest and in the high desert. Just gorgeous. It was another twenty three miles to the destination; miles both exhilarating and exhausting. I was riding by myself as I had most of the day and stopped more and more frequently on the hills—but never walked the bike. There was an unbelievably long downhill, all switchbacks and gorgeous scenery and then the dreadful reality of a 1.6 mile climb up to this resort and casino. No pain, no gain! John got here about an hour ahead of me and nicely collected my baggage and my bike so that I could collapse.

2 comments:

  1. Gosh Dereka I didn't know you would be riding alone at times! I think that would freak me out. Great going.
    Illyce

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dereka, I'm sitting here feeling good about myself because I go rowing once a week, and here you are cycling across country. You are my hero!! John too :)

    ReplyDelete