MADRAS TO BEND OREGON, U.S.A.

Spending some days riding and hiding from some rather vicious heat.

Leaving Madras the heat is already appropriately layered with smoke from fires from as far away as British Columbia, Canada.

 With the high temps even gripping my intended route in the neighbouring Sierras Cascades, I'll ride the high plains till Bend.
Caught like an "L" in a "BL&T"

In Bend I'm hoping to hang a right and head high.

Wonderlust

Wanderlust

 The local ride.

 Bend
Sports and recreation centre Oregon, U.S.A.

 My friend in Bend.
My question to you:
"Whens the last time
you did something for the first time?"

  Chillin' in the 90's.

With a shift from extremely hot to just plain hot, I'm ready to head to the hills after a little respite in town.

GOVERNMENT CAMP TO MADRAS, OREGON. U.S.A. A VOLCANIC TEMPERMENT

August 1

Some historic military strategies had you just advance directly into the heart and heat of battle. 

Into the fire.

From Government Camp, including my intended mountain routing, there was no place, not even higher, that I could head to get out of an imposing heat wave.

Throw in some ever-growing wayward forest fires,

I'll be going into the Battle of the Heat.

As much as I enjoy a good mountain campground, I figure my only salvation in the general direction I need to be heading will be a small room with big AC.

With the closet such scenario over 100k's away in the town of Madras, on a day that it is forecasted to hit 100f, I've PACKED UP(I will find no services for the first 75K's) early and headed out not really knowing how far I'll actually get.

Like many rides, 
I lose and find myself I don't know how many times over.

Going straight ahead while I look back.

Missing my previous years partners.

Wanting to be a High Plains Drafter.

After 75k' I'll drop down this canyon to Warm Springs (Extremely Hot Springs must have been taken)and re-supply. With Madras in striking distance and pitching a tent in the mid day high 30's temp not an overly enticing option, I start climbing out of the canyon.

They say that the best rides are the ones where you bit off more than you can chew and survive it.

Knowing that when I crested the ride out of the canyon that I'll be on my way to Madras. 

Getting up and out was my "Monitor Pass" of this trip(hopefully)

A very serious test.

I'm on an up cycle

Even my eight hour i tune and pod cast journey was a meltdown. 

I don't know what the phone's tolerance is but my 98.6 normal temp was seriously threatened.

Fortunately my last 15K's was slightly heat wind assisted on the Oregon plains.

On the matter of Madras, Oregon is expecting over one million visitors for the upcoming solar eclipse. 

I ride for the adventure
I ride for the challenge.

Today Madras was the greatest place I've ever been.

This week: I can Ride. I can hide on the ring of fire.

PORTLAND TO GOVERNMENT CAMP, MT HOOD,.U.S.A. ON MY OREGON TRAIL

Not that I'm giving up on becoming one with the universe.

Its just that at the moment I'm good to become one with my bike.

July 27th+, 2017

Bike in a box.......I hope.

 With pretty much my whole personal world for a month hopefully is in this box......

....always a brief sigh when the pieces are back together and only a few              "last minute"  "what did I forget" items left to grab. 

Kate found me a lucky charm on the streets of Toronto. 

Gettn' me a Power Ball ticket to!

Let it Ride!

 As I leave Portland, on the horizon is Mt Hood, my first objective.

Before I leave I do have to mention that for the little riding that I did in the city, there wasn't anywhere that I went that didn't have a designated bicycle lane.

It also seems mandated that that at each intersection there shall be a brewpub, food truck, coffee shop,...

 Even with Portland a distance from the coast, it sits pretty much at sea level.

With Government Camp @4,000 ft I'll pace my first couple of days.

(With Island living and cottage constructing, pretty much have NOT been on a bike at all this year)

mountain biking man

Hanging around Government Camp area for a couple of days.

Enjoy this cool place.

Further UP the road lies The Timberline Lodge and U.S.A.'s only year round snow ski area.

At this time it is actually hosting the USA ski team as they line up training in advance of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Down the ski hill Olympians

Though I believe it was shot overseas, the premise was that The Shining took place in the Timberline Lodge.

Had me wondering?

It wasn't six months ago that Kate and I were @ Portillo, Chile. 

Being in the depths of their winter, current respective conditions for skiing seem better on Mt Hood.

The locals.
Morning.

Afternoon.

My tentative itinerary for the month. 

Before I left I was resigned that when I rendezvous with Carol and John close to the 21st for the eclipse I'll be in some hot weather.

But what I was not ready for is the news that a local 

"RECORD BREAKING"

heat wave is on the door/Oregon/mountain step!!

Was planning on heading in the general direction next?

Headin' to a Sierra sizzler.