Day 7: Baker City to Ontario, OR

Some firsts today: We have bike 500 miles since the start, we biked on the freeway...this is permitted out west when there is no alternative road...but it's not much fun. We passed the Mountain Time Zone and put our watches forward one hour, and two freight trains passed on the nearby grade. Yes, we rode 84 miles, but there were no major summits, and the terrain was divided between arid mountains and flat, irrigated, agricultural land. In the photo, my principle riding companions..Sandy, Leo, Todd, Rod and the Brit. We have ridden 7 consecutive days and we're still in Oregon.

Day 6: John Day to Baker City, OR

Today: 81 miles and three mountain summits above 5,000 ft. Lovely scenery..snowy peaks, rushing rivers, verdant valleys. There was not a single town between start and finish, so we bought sandwiches last night and put them on the truck. I rode with a different group of 4 today: it's important to find riders of a similar velocity, and we get to know each other while slogging up the long hills. On the downhills we go over 40 mph and grip the bike. I'm tired when I get in.

Day 5: Prineville to John Day, OR

Today was the hardest of the entire tour: 118 miles and two climbs of 2,500 ft each over passes above 4,000 ft. But perfect conditions made it easier. Every night we have RAP..a preview of the next day's ride with directions and the elevation profile (shown). You can see the two mountain ranges we crossed. The first climb rose for 30 miles that took 3 hours, the second brutally steep. But the two downhills were incredible. We started riding at 5.30 am and finished 10 hours later. The scenery...amazing. Friendships abound...we're all in this together.