And McKenzie pass is only a warm up

       After I "reluctantly" left the commune,  I rode out to the Co-Motion bicycle factory to check out where my touring bike was built Pete, in the main office, gave me a personal tour.  These guys are on my level of quality.  Get the best talent to the best work. Along with some fairly sophisticated machines, the company was a first class operation.  Now I fully comprehend why My bicycle cost my right ---- and part of my left ----. It is only money, right?

      It rained all day but with my rain suit I was able to push forward fifty miles.  Out in the pokey there isn't much in the way of lodging, so another night in the bivy sak.  Not real fun especially with the rain.

The bivy sak is be jettisoned for sure; I have found an ultra light tent which hopefully will be vast improvement.

      Ok, now for the real fun, remember I am already somewhat soggy.  So there is this climb from hell; I made the accent over McKenzie pass, 5300 ft..  Forever it went up, really UP.  I "bonked", ran out of juice, and began pushing my bike upward.  I visions of me sleeping in the forest or slogging along all night long. Thank god for dark chocolate and garlic bread, it restarted the engine.  Gear one for hours and WHY am I making this trek?  I learned how to conquer the mountain monster: crank slow and methodical, don't look up the hill, numerous lung, leg and butt breaks, water and chocolate, finally, some custom made expletives to piss off the gods. On top it was wet, foggy and blowing 25.  A moon scape of lava greeted me.  Going down the other side was wonderful.  The landscape abruptly changed from a temporary rain forest to a much drier Alpine climate.  

      In total, I blew into Sisters with 60 miles behind me.  Stinking pretty bad, still soggy, suffering from a bit of hypothermia and near exhausted, I scored a nice warmershowers.com accommodation.  This place was located in a small modern development where home owners stored their planes in their garages.  The runway was adjacent to the community.  After landing your plane, simply drive it down the road into your garage.  A sign stated that cars had to yield to planes (taxiing down the road; p

retty bizarre though a cool concept.  Now after a divinely hot shower, this boy drifted off into the land of nod.  And this is only the warm up phase.  Go Dickie boy!

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