John Day, Or, Baker City Oregon, Boise, Idaho Days 6-8

I was apprehensive waking up to 80 plus miles after 118 miles the day before. We were looking at 3 climbs totaling just under 5000 feet with a net gain of over 1000 feet. 5000 feet is equivalent to the 3 Gap we have been doing in North Georgia for decades. It's no big deal, but the additional miles, along with presumed tired legs presented potential difficulty. Party cloudy benign skies with a stimulating 50 degree departure temperature erased all doubt. We all left together and a there was good cheer among all the riders. I spent most of the day with my two Macon buds, Chuck and Bob, New York Richard and Ainslee from Yarraville (part of Melbourne), Australia. Again the views were stunning, good roads and now another dimension I frankly had not considered, new and interesting people.

Ainslee, an excellent rider, has a repertoire of Aussie idioms that kept us entertained. Generally they are R rated and the fact she is half our age adds to the hilarity. At out first stop today she was " hungry enough to eat the crotch off a low flying duck". I have 7 weeks to learn these idioms and I'll be a motivated student.

Chuck and Ainslee in the first 5 miles. Mountains and mountains to see

Olli from Hamberg, Germany  reaching the first summit

Chuck at the second summit, no problem at this point

Ainslee likes the camera 

Gratuitous photo of me confidently approaching
the third climb. Problems did occur soon thereafter

Baker City is located between the Wallowa  Mountains to the East and the Elkhorn Mountains, part of the Blue Mountains to the west. It was named after Edward D Baker who was the only standing US senator to be killed in combat. In 1861 (Civil War) he led a charge of 1700 Union Soldiers up Ball's Bluff, Virginia. One of the biggest events here is the Baker City Cycling classic which we missed by one week. I told Chuck how disappointing it was to miss it. Doing a criterium race after " warming up" for 82 miles in the early part of the day would have been some sort of statement. He didn't bite.


Click below for link to ride details

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/192058638

The next day we had a 84 mile ride to the edge of Oregon and into the Central Time zone and eventually arrived in Ontario, Oregon. This town is on the Idaho border but with a late start, we did not have an opportunity to see much of it. Clean up, dinner, a cold one or two and early to bed because of the lost hour. For many of us, this day was the inaugural Interstate ride. There are not nearly as many roads here as there are back East. It is not unusual to have only the Interstate connecting two small towns, so it is legal to bicycle on it, using the emergency lane. I was a bit nervous about this, not so much on the danger aspect. The lane is 10 to 12 feet wide so there is plenty of room. A truck can be spotted a mile away, so there is ample time to move all the way over. The trucks throw quite a draft at 70 MPH which everyone enjoyed. I was more concerned about all the trash likely to be in this lane. In Georgia, if I need to pull off the Interstate while driving, I will wait until the the road is clear for as far as I can see, then jump back on it, rather than go through 100 feet of trash I don't think my car tires could survive. Bicycle tires wouldn't  make it 10 feet. Because of less traffic and the snow plowing multiple times each winter on these Interstates, the lane was remarkable clean and we had very few flats. We were on the Interstate for less than 10 miles.

One time zone down, but I had flat tire when I put the
bike down for photo 

Mimi from Aspen, happiest rider of the day

Chuck, Richard and Bob on the Interstate, not
looking all that happy

Small group waiting for Chuck who was back a bit socializing 

The not so mad Physicist. I tried to start a rumor  that he was the suspected Unabomber
after he moved from Macon to New Mexico.

Click below for link to ride details
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/192544292

Today, day 8, we had an "easy 60 miles" to Boise, Idaho and were able to have a real lunch just after noon for the first time. Previously we were arriving between 2:00 and 3:00 PM and having a snack. Because of this, or my loss of extracellular volume, I have manage to lose a few pounds. According to Guyton's Physiology Textbook, a 70kg person, like me, has 15 liters of extracellular fluid. According to Dr Robert Cade, previously mentioned Nephrology mentor and inventor of Gator Aid, one can increase that amount 15 % by training in the humid heat. Most of my recent training before the Ride fits that description. These first 8 days have been chilly and it is likely my volumes have readjusted. It's therefore possible I have excreted just under 5 pounds of water and that would account for my weight loss. It is now easier to do the hills and the big climbs are coming soon around the Grand Tetons. I would rather have extra bulk with over 40 days remaining.

Boise is the Idaho state capitol and its greater metropolitan area is close to 600,000. Its name comes from  "the wooded river"  the city was built around,  " la riviere boisie" as it was called by the French trappers. Fort Boise was erected in 1862 along the Oregon Trail to protect the frontiersmen against hostile native tribes. The city grew around the fort. It is the home of Boise State University, 20,000 students and perennially ranked football team that plays on the famous blue field.

Outdoor restaurants in the center of town
Had a beer here last night

The Capitol

The Boise River which connects to the Snake River

Click below to see link to ride

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/193151762

Today was a rest day so I just tooled through town on the bike with sneakers and regular shorts. There was a nice bike path along the river. Total distance was less then 10 miles and I am certain my heart rate did not hit 80. On a very sad note my roommate Chuck headed back to the real world. Also Bob concluded his ride and drove his car back to New Mexico. We really appreciated the effort he put forth to get with us on this ride and we hope to ride with him again in the future. Looks like I'll be having some quiet time at night. I might make up for it by turning up the music Chuck would not allow me to do.