Day 7 Baker City-Ontario

Miles:  84.62              Terrain:  Relatively flat, Snake River Valley
Depart:   7:45 AM(PDT)      Arrive:  3:25 PM(MDT)
Riding time: 5:25:00*       
Average Riding Speed:  15.6

Maximum Speed:            34.7

Elevation Gain:   1960 ft*

*=estimated data

                   
                                              Today's Ride

After two climbing days, today’s relatively flat 84 miles was a relief to many of us.  For me, I finally was able to ride at a pace somewhat near what I am accustomed to doing.  You’ll have to take my word for it however, since I managed to erase the first 59 miles off my Garmin at the second sag stop.  So I’ve interpolated data from another rider who I was close to into that sag stop and the data that I captured after leaving that sag to come up with “pseudo stats” for the day.  That’s why there is no Garmin link, but that will return tomorrow.

Leaving Baker City we followed old U.S. 30 for 25 miles.  We were all pretty amazed at how well the two lane road was maintained even though it was apparent from our ride that the heaviest traffic this morning were the 34 bicycles heading east.  (Several of us did doubletakes when we saw a highway warning sign along the road that said “Congestion”!)  We then got our first taste of riding the shoulder of the interstate as old U.S. 30 ended.  For the next five miles we dodged tire shreds, stones and other debris.  Somehow we all got through without any flat tires—a major victory.  After our first sag stop it was back onto the interstate for more riding in the shadow of the trucks.  All told, though, it just didn’t seem as intimating as many imagined.

The only real hill of the day came leaving the town of Huntington, Oregon, before we got back on I-84 for the last of the 15 miles of interstate riding.  From there we followed the Snake River on a state highway for the last 27 miles into Ontario, Oregon.  As we got closer to Ontario the river valley gave way to noticeable agricultural activity. While the corn was not yet “as high as an elephant’s eye”, it didn’t look like it will be too long.

Although everybody felt that today’s riding was much easier than any of the recent climbing days, there was a downside. Today the temperature, depending upon whose Garmin you looked at, either approached or exceeded the century mark.  Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter as we cover 65 miles to Boise, which will give us our first rest day on Tuesday. 

Tomorrow we cross into Idaho.  However, I've already been there this afternoon.  My hero growing up was baseball great Harmon Killebrew, who was born in Payette, Idaho, right across the state line from Ontario.  Last year, the Harmon Killebrew Foundation, to which I made a donation, dedicated the Harmon Killebrew Miracle Field, where sightless and other disabled kids get a chance to play ball.  Disabled kids are a cause close to my heart, so I wanted to see that field dedicated to my hero.  A short ride after arriving here at the hotel let me visit that special place.