Date: May 20, 2024

Today’s Start Point: Coberg, Oregon

Today’s End Point: Rainbow, Oregon

Today’s Miles: 53.7 Miles

Cumulative Miles: 282.66

I was trying to find a word for today and I came up with “transcendent” ( thank god for thesauruses). Perfect blue skies, temps in the upper 50’s and 60’s, slightly rising and snaking roads through trees along a mountain stream-it was just beautiful.

The day started a little chillier, however, about 40 degrees when I crawled out of my tent. It’s hard getting up when it is that cold. I have found using hand air driers on your cycling kit before putting them on helps.

It took about one and a half hours to take down my campsite and dry out my tent from the morning dew. Once on my way, I rode a few miles south to the outskirts of Eugene, Oregon and headed east. Weather was perfect for riding and traffic in the morning was negligible.

The road follows the McKenzie River up into the mountains. The water is clear with slight rapids as it works its way down. It’s nice hearing the sound of the water as I ride along.

Much of the roadway was covered by a canopy of trees with peaks of sunlight every once in awhile. I started the day in Eugene, Oregon at an elevation of 426 feet and ended the day in Rainbow, Oregon at 1,211 feet. However, I climbed a total of 1,716 feet, which indicates the rolling nature of the road.

I had lunch at my usual choice of service station deli food, and was joined by a delightful companion. Her name was Lucy and she was gorgeous, letting her hair remain its true gray color. Didn’t talk much but was very playful. I was sorry to see her go, but time waits for no one.

As I rose through the valley, I saw the devastation caused by the Holiday Farm fire that occurred in 2020 and covered 173,393 acres, one of the largest wildfires in Oregon history. Between the burned out remains of the trees, there were magnificent fields of yellow flowers. True meaning of rebirth.

As I approached my hotel for the night, a started to catch glimpses of the white peaked mountains. Although beautiful, I know I have to get over them.

When I got to the hotel, there was a sign on the door informing me that the proprietor was away at a meeting but I could call when I arrived. When I called, she informed me that she would be there in 30-45 minutes. No worries at all since there was a food station across the way so I picked up some food and ate in the little garden in front of the hotel.

When the manager arrived, she couldn’t have been nicer and the room is great. Rainbow, Oregon is pretty much isolated so I was lucky that there was a restaurant across the road-another hot meal.

I have a Teams Meeting at 7:00 am tomorrow (if the technology gods are smiling), so I should get on the road at 8:00 am. Thanks Alyssa for the help in checking out the connection. The route for tomorrow was supposed to go over McKenzie Pass, but the snow hasn’t been cleared yet. Therefore, I will take an alternate route around Mt. Washington, which involves about 20 more miles but less climbing. It is all through Federal lands, so I will need to pack out food and water for the day.

Wish me luck.