Day 11, Rest Day- reflections and numbers

Tomorrow will be my last day in Oregon before entering Idaho. Eleven days in one state is far more then I will spend in any other state and that is not by accident. Oregon is a state rich in geographic wonders; from the awe inspiring coastal region to the lush valleys and beyond the cascades to the high desert mountain plains. Oregon is deceptively large and much more diverse then I had imagined, not only in terms of geography, but in culture. From eco gardeners along the coast to ranch farmers up on the plains, there is a richness and virility in this land. From the more liberal lifestyles in the more populated areas to the rugged, hard working, conservative areas east of the Cascade Mountain Range, there is something and someplace for everyone. Oregon is also a very bike friendly state with countless routes and scenic venues to visit. One could spend a year here biking and not see it all.

Sisters Mountain range

I have a great deal of respect for Oregon and the people who live here. They are not without problems, but there is a level of real here that is not so common where I live. Hubris is non-existent here and people throughout the eastern portion of the state all share humility, strong faith, a hard work ethic and are generous to a fault. They talk to each other in the cafes and not their phones. I found myself putting mine away when eating. I will take a part of Oregon with me.

Ok. lets talk numbers. I have chosen to track my trip numbers in 10 day increments. I anticipate there will be about 9 of these 10 day sections altogether. According to my computer calculations I have traveled about 575 miles so far. To give you some perspective, that is farther then the distance from Folsom Ca. to Tijuana, Mexico.

I burned a few calories during the first ten days. 43,064 calories to be exact which is roughly 4,300 calories per day. I have no idea how many I was able to put back, but I'm trying!

I have done some uphill biking in the first ten day period and the next 10 day period looks about the same. Garmin says that I have climbed 27,292 feet so far in total elevation gain. That is just a couple thousand feet shy of Mount Everest. Ouch.

Huge Bluffs between Dayville and Mount Vernon

Casualties. I left a pair of gloves in the snow on Mckenzie Pass during a break when we finally found clear roadway. Earlier in the day, just before starting the climb, I stopped at the base of the mountain to grab something out of my rear pack and had to remove my round foam back roller. I set it on a wood rail support beam and rode off without it. I have a Lumix digital camera that I use and the charging unit has up and disappeared. Its almost out of juice. After that its useless unless I can find a compatible plug in unit. Its an older unit.

The number one most significant event that can occur for me each day is to get a hot shower. It is hard to explain how important that is. Fortunately I have not gone without to this point but the next two weeks shows areas where I may. It seems like all I am ever doing when not on the bike is eating. I eat all the time and so far I have lost several pounds in spite of my SEE food diet. There is nothing(except Mayo) that I wont eat.

Coastal  mountain greenery

I fill the hours of silent pedaling with thoughts of the trip, family, the past, the future, what could have been, what was and what might be. I think about the friends in my life and their situations. I think about my hero Susan Carey and her remarkable personal strength. I think about my father in Law Jim Cornett who has been climbing the highest of mountains in his battle with ALS. I think about how lucky I am.

Tomorrow I travel to a town called "Halfway" where I will sleep in a loft above a barn at a cattle ranch run by Inga and her son Tyler. That should be something.