Tuesday, August 18, 2009 Mitchell, OR

This morning it was much cooler than I realized, so for the first 38 miles, I was way underdressed. Besides arm warmers and wind vest, I could have used socks and fingered gloves (liners). There was a time when I wondered if my toes and fingers would thaw! We continued all morning thru John Day territory, criss crossing his river four times, as well as going thru Dayville, which had the cutest little one room city hall with beautiful flowers outside. Dayville also has a clean, public restroom for cyclists (probably other travelers, too). The ladies' RR even had a vase of fresh flowers! Services in this part of the country are few and far between. The one cafe in Dayville was out of business, but I found good, fresh coffee (w/hazelnut cream) at a mini-mart. Most took the short detour at mile 35 up a steep hump to the John Day Fossil Beds Overlook. What an awesome view of the result of volcanic disruptions over 40 M years ago. Several took a longer detour to the Fossil Beds and Visitor Center. Instead of the side trip, I began the 21 mile climb to the top of Keyes Creek Summit. We climbed over 2700 ft. and the summit was at 4,357 ft. At 1-3% grades, it almost seemed like the summit that wasn't! From the top, it was a rather steep (began at 6%) descent into the village of Mitchel, OR, where we're spending the night in various locations. The scenery today was mostly cattle in the valleys and beautiful white pine forests as we ascended. Nancy N. and I are roommates upstairs at the Oregon Hotel which was built in about 1938. There is no AC and no private baths. There's a toilet/shower room, a tub room, and a toilet/lavatory room. Shabby Chic comes to mind - similar to the Riverview Hotel in Calico Rock, AR. It has lots of charm, though, and we're quite happy here. There are 16 of us on the 2nd floor - feels like a dorm floor. No cell service or internet. Dinner was at the Sky Hook Motel - down the street and up a steep driveway. Gubernatorial candidate Allen Alley stopped by with some of his young staff who are guests at the Sky Hook. He's walking across Oregon in 15 mile increments. Lastly, there are 3 ladies at the Little Pine Hotel which is over the Little Pine Cafe where we had lunch today. With only 9 more days of biking, folks are beginning to talk about arrangements for shipping our bikes home, etc. . . .