Day 3--Welches,OR to Kah-Nee-Ta, OR

Day 3—June 21, 2006—Welches,OR to Kah-Nee-Ta, OR—66 miles—4763’ climb

We started the day with a short ride to the Whistle Stop for a hearty breakfast. For the third year in a row, the staff there did a great job of getting us all fed and out the door in short order for a long day of climbing. I was disappointed though, because the woman who was there last year telling all as they left to “Remember to potty!” didn’t provide that service this year.

The day started out chilly (51F) and clear, but riders quickly climbed into the low clouds hanging on the mountain. Although most of the early morning route was in the clouds, the climbing warmed up riders pretty fast. By the time they reached our SAG van at the top of the climb, it was cold, the temperature having dropped into the mid 40s or lower.

Today was our first real taste of mountains, and they were spectacular. Mount Hood, now behind us, loomed large and snowy over riders’ shoulders. We were expecting over 4,500 feet of climbing and we got it and then some. The first real test came shortly after breakfast — not much time to wear off those pancake calories, but everyone seemed to be moving pretty well up the grade. The terrain was up continuously for the first 12 miles with pitches ranging from 3-7%. Even though it was chilly, riders enjoyed the ride and the spruce canopy, mossy rocks, bear grass, rhododendron, and mountain lupine as they pedaled their way to the summit.

Michelle ran the SAG at the top of the climb out of Silver 2 (one of the silver support vans) at mile 13.5. There was a restaurant nearby called the Huckleberry Inn where several had planned on having a slice of delicious huckleberry pie, but were disappointed when it was not serving pie this morning. (Unfortunately I had told them that this taste treat awaited them at the top of the mountain, and the two kids on the triple talked huckleberry pie all the way up the climb. Guess it was the carrot on the stick.) There were also public restrooms at the top, which is a rest area and ski slope. It was so cold that riders didn’t stay long. Most grabbed a banana and granola bar and donned extra clothing for the long descents before the climb to the desert.

The topography changes today were phenomenal. We were in mountainous pine forests for 42 miles, until we made a left turn toward the resort. After the turn, the terrain quickly changed to high desert scrub, and then after about 15 miles of rolling terrain, we descended into the box canyon to the resort. Riders were greeted with a beautiful, winding descent to the valley floor, a gambol along a clear gurgling stream, and then were smacked with a steep climb up to the motel.

But, the tough climb to the motel, was worth every pedal stroke. We stay at Kah-Nee-Ta, a resort named for the Indian woman Xnitla, or “Root Digger.” The resort, which also has a casino, is located on the 600,000-acre Warm Springs Reservation 119 miles east of Portland in the central Oregon high desert. It is a lovely place

All in all it was another successful day. All riders rolled in without incident, proud, self-satisfied looks on their faces . . . life is good! Tomorrow we climb back to the top of the mesa that we came off of on our way in. Tune in for another day in the saddle.

OVERHEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:

• Shivering cyclist: “I’ve finally figured out why I have that shimmy.”
• “Wow! Today we went from high mountains to high desert.”
• Q: "What do you call the stokers on a triple? Stoker 1 and Stoker 2?” A: “No, we’re Captain, Midshipman, and Rear Admiral.”

SHOW & TELL: Anja saw two small brown bears. Trevor saw a group of wild horses. Jon came around a bend and found the road filled with cattle. And Lois, Annie, and others saw the moon . . . prominently positioned in the window of a passing van.

[Note: When Annie, a barmaid from Great Britain, joined this ride she was a very inexperienced cyclist. Two years after this ride, she and Lois (part of "The Final Four") teamed up in Great Britain and rode together from GB to Istanbul, Turkey, to join an Experience Plus ride.]