Day 4 Kah-Nee-Tah OR to Prineville OR

Day 4 Kah-Nee-Tah OR to Prineville OR
Miles Ridden  59.5
Climbing 3456 Ft.
Average Speed 13.5
Total Miles 280.7
Miles To Go 3354.7

While we are now clearly in the desert, our night in Kah-Nee-Tah was disturbed by an 8 hour thunderstorm accompanied by lots of rain. Our departure was delayed an hour as there was still lightning in the air. Things then cleared quickly and by the time we left the roads were almost dry. Today's ride was supposed to be relatively easy. I'm not finding any of the rides "easy".

Catching my breath

 Something that made the ride memorable or forgettable was a stretch of about 15 miles of fresh "chipseal" on a climb. That's gravel poured over tar that eventually smooths out as cars pound it in. It feels like riding through sand when freshly done. The temperature rose as it seems to do every afternoon.

To increase our misery,  we had to ride  on the road surface as the shoulder was inches deep in the gravel. Cars, trucks and campers honked and buzzed us thinking we were blocking them and not using the shoulder.     

Mount Jefferson 10,500 Feet

We passed through hay fields where there was water and sagebrush where there wasn't. Beautiful farms surrounded the town of Madras but beyond that things looked mostly desolate.

On the road to Prineville

The Crooked River

After the ride, all discussion was about the challenge tomorrow. One of the toughest stages of the trip, 116 miles and over 6000 feet of climbing. The directions were pretty easy. Make a left out of the hotel on Route 26. Ride 116 miles. Turn left into the hotel.