Author Archives: Al M

Our meandering adventure continues. Today we went by a sign that said Hells Canyon was only 8 miles away. That is where we were two days ago. Tonight we are farther north than Astoria, Oregon where we started our adventure. We are also back in the Pacific time zone. However, we are seeing lots ofContinue reading “Day 11 Bead Night”

This morning we left Cambridge, Idaho and peddled north on Highway 95, the only north-south highway that traverses all of Idaho. We traveled through several small towns, Alpine, Mesa and Council and mostly climbed up hill for 45 miles. At New Meadows we began following the Little Salmon River. The river was flowing downstream whichContinue reading “Day 10 Butt Nuggets”

Today was a killer day! We left Baker City and followed the Oregon Trail for a while. The countryside was high desert with scrubby little plants. There were mountains in the distance. We were going mostly downhill for the first 40 miles. Then we arrived at Richland, Oregon (not township). From there we had aContinue reading “Day 9 Double Dam Day”

Today we hung out in Baker City, Oregon while carefully following our Recovery Rules. There was a museum nearby where we learned that the inventor of the Airstream travel trailer, Wally Byam, was born in Baker City. Dad and Bicycles Dad purchased a 5 speed bicycle around 1967. It was the first derailleur bicycle inContinue reading “Day 8 Rest Day”

We left Prairie City under blue skies and with crisp temperatures. There was only one stopping place about 15 miles out. It was a small store in Austin, Oregon. We climbed three passes; Dixie (5277 feet), Tipton Mountain (5124 feet) and Larch (5020 feet). The first downhill was 6 miles long and was very chilly.Continue reading “Day 7 Triple Pass”

This was our third day of riding East on US Highway 26. Today was a short 45 mile uphill ride to Prairie City, Oregon. We were in the John Day River valley which was full of hay, cattle and a few horses. I wonder if the farmers ever stop and think about how pretty itContinue reading “Day 6 Get Your Kicks on Route 26”

Another gorgeous day in Oregon. There was no smoke in the sky this morning. The route took us over two passes, Ochoco (4,720 feet) and Keys Creek (4,369 feet). The roads coming down from the passes were not that steep but they were very long down hills. Mitchell (population 121) was the only town onContinue reading “Day 5 Kate Cloud”

Another great day in Oregon. Leaving McKenzie Bridge we began climbing through pine forests. The sky was hazy due to forest fires. Here is Chad. Soon we turned onto Highway 242. In 1862 Felix Scott and 50 men created a road over the Cascade Mountains hoping to take supplies to the gold fields in Idaho.Continue reading “Day 4 King of the Mountain”

Another beautiful day in Oregon. The first half of the day was flat and we rode by a lot of orchards. The crop land was confusing because it looked like hay except they cut it to the ground. Maybe a grass that they plant every year? Where is Joe Brown when you need him? ThenContinue reading “Day 3 Toy Tank”

We started out today on a brisk morning (48°F) with a bright blue sky. Pockets of fog were in the valleys. Most of the morning we were in dark pine forests. The countryside then morphed to ranch land with the tree covered hills in the distance. We were fortunate to have some tail winds. GoingContinue reading “Day 2 Buying Antlers”