16-06-17 Day 82  Anticipation – Mark Trail Bikes

Biking the Trans America

2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

Kim and Mark were up early and welcomed me with Coffee, French Toast with fresh picked cherries.. Mark and Kim biked the Trans Am last year and have been all over the US biking.. So cool to hear of all their stories…

With directions to get back on the route I headed north. I switched to Section 1. the last of 12 sections of maps… So exciting… The route was through fertile pasture land.. Lewisburg, Adair Village, Manmouth, and Clow Corner. There was a nice bike path to Rickreall west of Salem. The route turned west on 22 and headed to the coast… I stopped at a Casino in Valley Junction and got a bite as the wind picked up. Grand Ronde was a small town with a campground where I called it a day… Looking forward to see the Pacific tomorrow. …

Corvallis, OR to Grand Ronde

48 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#marktrailbikes,#montanabiking,#bikemontana,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#Corvallis

MarkTrailRocks.Com

16-06-16 Day 81 Lavender and Clover – Mark Trail Bikes

Biking the Trans America

2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

The tent was soaking wet. I was dry thank you #MSRhubbahubba. I rode over to the diner and had a vegetarian omelet with sausage.  Need the veggies…  ….. and FAT..

Loaded up, Contacts in and off to Map section 1, the last of 12… I also passed the 4,000 mile mark and a change in landscape.

Kim and her Husband Mark bicycled the Trans Am last year and are Warm Shower Hosts.  I texted Kim to arrange to meet at the New Morning Bakery. Oh My. Kim, with a welcoming hug and being in a bakery, I thought I was in heaven. So many delicious choices…” I’ll have it all please”..  I settled for Vegetables with some pizza dough under there somewhere..  Super Yum…

We rode a few miles to their home where we shared our life stories of biking and adventuring…  We live in a wonderful country… Thank You Kim and Mark for a delicious Fresh Cherry topped pancake visit…

Walterville, Or to Corvallis, OR

55 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#marktrailbikes,#montanabiking,#bikemontana,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#Corvallis

MarkTrailRocks.Com

16-06-14 Day 79 She-Ra – Mark Trail Bikes

Biking the Trans America

2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

I could hear the irrigation system working it’s way around the campground and was waiting for a rude wake-up call. I moved my bike and got it ready just in case…  but the tent area was hand watered… Yea…

I promised Orlando I would make him hot water in the morning since he wouldn’t get out of his tent for Chocolate Peanut butter ice cream last night.. He’s from UK and an engineer so stay within the lines..  He was taking a few days off and working on his laptop… Such a small world… We shared stories and I was off to Sisters, 40 miles away.

I follow #adventurecycling’s maps and have the route on my phone to check to see if I am on route.. As I was leaving Prineville the road numbers weren’t obvious so I checked. Yep, on route. 13 miles later I was looking for a turn north.. And .. I was headed to Redmond.. I’m not going to Redmond… Or so I thought… Now I was.. The Map and GPS are different… No biggie….

Redmond was nice but there was lots of traffic and the route much more hilly… As I biked to Sisters the wind picked up again..  Bummer… I was in contact with She-ra who I hiked a section of the #continentialdividetrail (CDT) with last year.. She lives in Bend and was going to meet me for dinner at 5:00…. I was cold and tired so I stopped at the Sisters Saloon for coffee and wait. I thought about riding up to McKenzie Pass at night but between the wind and cloud covered mountain I decided to look for a place to stay…. She-ra sent me a text that we were going back to Bend so we could have dinner with Kirk her boyfriend.   OH  Super Yea…

We had a lot to catching up to do. She-ra works for the Oregon Desert Trail organization creating a trail from scratch… WOW an amazing job to create something from nothing. Hummm…..

Kirk was home so we went out to eat, stopped by the grocery store, made popcorn and off to sleep…. Pack Filled Day…..

Prineville, Or. To Sisters, Or

40 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#marktrailbikes,#montanabiking,#bikemontana,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#prineville

MarkTrailRocks.Com

16-06-13 Day 78 Ochoco Pass – Mark Trail Bike

Biking the Trans America

2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

It was six miles all downhill to Mitchell.. Whoopee…. I like getting into town early for breakfast..  It was fifty miles and Ochoco with a 1,500 ft climb to Prineville. So I stopped into the grocery store…  Oh boy, it was like stepping into a black hole. I asked about a sandwich and I couldn’t get out of the store quick enough…. You wonder about life and why people are so grumpy…

Down the street to the Sidewalk Cafe, Daleen was shining bright.. Well with a little help from the big Smile on my face and a hungry stomach.

Jerry was there biking WEST…. wow the first Trans Am biker to past me.  I had no idea there was a west bound race also…  So crazy..  I congratulated him and asked a lot of questions. Did you see this?  Nope…  Did you see that?…. Nope….. I thought I was rushing across our country…..

I charged up, filled up, got a sandwich to go and started pedaling up hill… When I was two miles from the top, a pick up truck passed so slowly. …. It was Ken, from Portland, who I camped with along the Snake River… He stopped and told me all about his adventures with a bear and camped on top of a mountain with a expansive vista. He asked if I needed anything and off he drove..

As I started the descent down, the wind increased up….  kind of a balance.. Then the freshly chip sealed road….. That’s means … Freshly Graveled…  When I reached Prineville with 16 mph head winds I called it a day. First Taco Bell, then Crossroads Grill, IGA for ice cream and to the city park for sleep..  All the tent sites were taken so I slept on a cabin’s porch…   Nice…

Keys Creek Summit to Prineville, Or

54 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#marktrailbikes,#montanabiking,#bikemontana,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#prineville

MarkTrailRocks.Com

16-06-12 Day 77 Perfect Day – Mark Trail Bikes

Biking the Trans America

2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

The forecast was for low winds and low 70s. Perfect….  Josh, Anna and I met at the local cafe for breakfast… What interesting conversation. Sweden is very different than the US as far as social programs.. High unemployment and High taxes, 30%…  Anna thinks everyone should receive a minimum income regardless of work. Since there are more workers than than there is work to do. Or  limit the work day so that everyone can work, say 25 hours. So different….

The day laid out to towns 14, 10 and 20 miles apart then 40 so I had two breakfasts and Pie in the afternoon. A wonderful ride through Picture Gorge and then battle the Sunday night traffic up to Keys Creek Summit… Truck after truck with various attachments would not move over… I watch the left front tires in my mirror and if they don’t cross the yellow line I am in danger…..  If there in a dropoff on my right I stop…. And look at the drivers….. No sholder.. No place for me to move over except the gravel….  Crazy…  It must be the Sunday Night after the weekend..

Found a unlocked gate and found a place to camp…. Purple filled to sky as the sun set…. Yummy….

Prairie City To Keys Creek Summit                            78 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#marktrailbikes,#montanabiking,#bikemontana,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#picturegorge

MarkTrailRocks.Com

16-06-10 Day 75 Baker City – Mark Trail Bikes

Biking the Trans America

2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

It was cool and breezy all night..  So nice. I sat in my sleeping bag sipping mocha as the sun rose. I was in no hurry since it was kinda a rest day with only 15 miles to Baker City…

The ride took me by The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.. To bad it didn’t open till later.. I did stop and see the ruts the wagon trains made as they traveled west….. Just like me…. But I left the rut behind……..

First stop, Safeway.. There were four bikers there headed east. Jeremy, Nicole, Cali, and Annie all headed East to Yorktown..  Seems so far away…

Next McDonald’s to look at maps and do the Social Media thing..  Nice to catch up with friends back home….

Warm Showers Host Will called at 4:30 and I weaved my way through Baker City to a welcoming hand shake. Will has lots of bikes and a Surly LHT just like Silver ready for his next trip…  Julie came home and we had stir fry for dinner… Shower, Laundry, Check the tires for air, Blog….. With all the chores done it was off to bed… Cheers…

S. Baker City to Baker City

15 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#marktrailbikes,#montanabiking,#bikemontana,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#bakercity

Marktrailrocks.com

16-06-06 Day 71  Hot – Mark Trail Bikes

Biking the Trans America
2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

I set up the tent under the baseball dugout to avoid dew but didn’t think the sprinkler spray would be a problem…. Wrong…..  Oh well…

Back to the Kooskia Cafe for a vegetable omlette and to load up with water.. The forecast was for 90°. Oh boy here we go…

I pedaled the four miles to Stites and started to climb.. The sweat was pouring out of me and I was through my first bottle in the first six miles.. I had twenty to go before Grangeville… The climb was so steep I had to walk the bike for the first time on the trip….

I was completely worn out 2 miles from Grangeville and found a covered, shady gun range. Spread out and fell asleep..

Rode into town to the grocery store and watered up.  There was a long climb up and a fast ride down to the Silver Dollar Saloon in White Bird.   Dollar Twenty-five Beers .. No where in America can you buy a beer at that price.. The diner was closed, the grocery was closed, I was hungry.  “Can I clean anyone’s home for some food?”.  Renee went home, made turkey sandwiches and heated up chili for us… SO AWESOME!!!!   WOW…  White Bird Town Park

Kooskia to White Bird, ID
41 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#marktrailbikes,#montanabiking,#bikemontana,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#whitebird

MarkTrailRocks.Com

16-06-05 Day 70 Surfing- Mark Trail Bikes

Biking the Trans America
2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

The tent and sleeping bag were wet due to camping out in the open and next to a raging snow melt filled river… Uggg…..

The day was all downhill without any services… No bathroom to put in my contacts..  Just another day in paradise.

I met Daniel getting ready to start his day pedaling up the river.. Well at least he had the wind at his back.. He has been on the road for 14 MONTHS…    Now that’s WOW….

all over the country…   He is truly a ROCKSTAR…

We talked for a half hour, prayed and biked on..

I found a bathroom at a historic ranger station on rt 12 about half way between Lolo Pass and Kooskia. The road was a path at one point.. The historic passage of Lewis and Clark and the Nez Perce Indians.  Lots of geology and history…

There is ONE wave in the Lochas River that you can SURF.. . Really… Joe and the boys were fresh water surfing.  Another eye opening experience.. On to Kooskia Cafe for dinner and the sprinkler filled City Park for bed..

Jerry Johnson Hot Springs to Kooskia
76 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#marktrailbikes,#idahobiking,#bikeidaho,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#idaho
MarkTrailRocks.Com

16-06-04 Day 69 Hot Springs – Mark Trail Bikes

Biking the TransAm 2016 Blog
2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

I could hear Paul upstairs so it was time to get back on the trail. We had bacon and eggs. Yummy. …

With all the bags packed, We loaded Silver into Paul’s truck for a short ride to Lolo where the Trans Am continues west to Idaho. Goodbye Paul, Karen, Laurie, Mike, and Adventure Cycling!!!   THANK YOU!!

Travelers Rest state park is the only Site where evidence of Lewis and Clark’s camp has been found.. I guess that means someone either found their trash or something they lost…

12 is a tight two lane road up to Lolo Pass and the state of Idaho. Yes.. 3,300 miles and state number 9…. WOO HOO…..

There are hot springs all along the route but timing just doesn’t quite work out but tonight it did. Hiked a mile to Jerry Johnson to the best natural hot spring…  warm and soothing… Back to the trail head to sleep…

Missoula, Mt to Jerry Johnson Hot Springs

56 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#marktrailbikes,#montanabiking,#bikeidaho,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#idaho

MarkTrailRocks.Com

16-06-03 Day 68 Rattlesnake – Mark Trail Bikes

Biking the TransAm 2016 Blog
2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

Paul and Karen were up early as Karen was headed out to hike a section of her dream. I got up to see them off and went back to bed… I needed rest…

I had use of their town car so off to the PO to mail off some packages and meet Laurie for lunch at the bakery…. Again Thank You Laurie….

We drove to Rattlesnake. the  wilderness just out of town where we did a short hike up the canyon… Lots of people enjoying the outdoors…

Back in Missoula the town was preparing for first Fridays an evening open house for businesses. Bands were playing, the weather was comfortable. Perfect. I drove back to Paul’s to clean up and back into town…. We strolled the bustling town and met Laurie for dinner…

Back to Paul’s for ice cream and bed.

Wooah….. What a DAY…. of Rest!

Missoula, Mt
0 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#marktrailbikes,#montanabiking,#bikemontana,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#missoula

MarkTrailRocks.Com

16-06-02 Day 67 Missoula – Mark Trail Bikes

Biking the TransAm 2016 Blog
2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

It was a short ride into town so I stopped at McDees to charge up and wait for the Bike shop to open. Maya my bike angel from Berea, KY introduced me to Laurie, a 2015 Trans Am biker living in Missoula… Who introduced me to Mike at the Bike Hanger.

The first stop, Adventure Cycling Organization to pick up my new tires and cassett. Jeff gave me a welcoming tour and introduced me to the staff…. Wow…

Mike did the tune up in a jiff and then biked over to Harvest Bakery to meet Laurie and get my hair cut at Dan’s Barbour Shop.

Laurie was so attentive knowing what it’s like being on the road…. Thank You!!!

Back to Adventure Cycling to sign up for a life membership,  buy some gifts, and look into the possibility of becoming a tour guide… What am I going to be when I grow up?

I met Karen while she was road walking/backpacking to Big Hole Pass . Her goal is to hike the length of Montana her way…  WOW…  Another hiker with passion …  She invited me to stay with her and Paul while in Missoula… SO NICE… I pedaled the eight miles to their home and met Paul as I rode into their driveway… “Ready for a beer?” Again and Again.  so welcoming….

Karen made dinner and Paul and I went to pick up Laurie..  Hiking, Biking stories entertained us while we shared the evening..

What a DAY!!

Florence, MT to Missoula, Mt
28 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#marktrailbikes,#montanabiking,#bikemontana,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#missoula

MarkTrailRocks.Com

16-06-01 Day 66 June – Mark Trail

Biking the TransAm 2016 Blog
2 Wheels, 6 Months, 1 Adventure

Linda & Phil were up early making breakfast… With hosting Warm Shower Bikers and Air BnB guests seems like a lot on their plate…

Phil was quick out the door to milk their Goat…  “Do you want to milk her?” “Absolutely”. Such and amazing process.. Phil – Milk, Sterilize, Linda – Strain, Chill… Team Work…..

Phil left to load up some lumber. I was in no hurry since I was exposed to so many new ways of life. “Do you want to drive up to the saddle on our 4×4 ATV?” Sure…

Wow, I had no idea how much fun it was.. Up, up. Up…  The expansive view made me think about Montana…. Maybe a home for me sometime….

By 11:30 Linda gave me a ham sandwich, a hug and I continued riding down the gentle grade towards Missoula.. There were valleys carved into the mountains on my left that you could hear the Mountains calling, ” come hike”. There was a bike path that started in Victor.. NICE.. no worries about traffic.. Maybe a night ride since I started so late…

I stopped and talked to the residents and asked about living in This valley….  Montanans love Montana….By the time I arrived in Florence it was dark…. I looked for a place to camp and found the Baptist Church’s playground… Home sweet Home……

N. Sula to Florence, MT
58 miles

#AdventuringCycling,#transamericablog,#transamerica,#transam,#76route,#surly,#jonesbikes,#marktrailrocks,#montanabiking,#bikemontana,#brooksspecialflyer,#biketouring,#marktrail,#florence

MarkTrailRocks.Com