New record set: Prineville to John Day

Up and out on the road today at 6:30 AM. Very cool. Wore my wind vest until the 3rd SAG, and arm warmers until we stopped for fruit smoothie at DQ in John Day just past the hotel we're at tonight. Got down to 42 at top of first mountain pass. I was shivering but just dealt with it. Not like Mingus Mt last year when it snowed.  Nothing to complain about here.

Really tough and long climbs - for me anyway. The roads just kept climbing! The rewards were two of the longest and smoothest descents I've ever done. Can you imagine going 30+ MPH for close to 20 minutes? Ridiculous fun.

Despite the 116 miles (new personal record for me), over 5,000 ' of climbing, and average moving time of 15.4, we still got to hotel by 4:00 (including stop at DQ mentioned above). This was due in part of the favorable tail winds over the last 30 miles of gentle climbing. I mentally clicked off each of the last 27 miles as my butt told me it had enough.

Never better weather for riding. We're inching to Boise, Idaho, where it's been mid 90's the past several days. That's going to be tough.

Traffic much better today

Pictures below can't capture the grand scale, but we try anyway.

Last SAG 30 miles outside of John Day

Nice line-up of out steeds tied to the hitching post