September 26: Biggs to Shaniko, Oregon
After saying goodbye to Pat’s sister, Susan, in The Dalles, Oregon, we started the three hundred or so mile trek across Oregon. Our first leg takes us to Shaniko, Oregon, a small town whose population at the peak of the tourist season is 26.
To get there, highway 97 rises nearly 3000 feet in elevation over the course of 57 miles. It was a gradual, but steady climb with only a couple short downhill stretches to give your legs a break.
I had plenty of company on this climb. Highway 97 is apparantly a favorite among truckers and people going places in big RVs. RVs big enough to be towing big SUVs. Fortunately, highway 97 is well-maintained and has a very rideable shoulder, so I didn’t ever feel threatened by the traffic. The traffic comes in groups. I wouldn’t see any traffic whatsoever for quite a while and then suddenly there would be a group of trucks with a few cars and RVs mixed in. Then the road would be empty again. I guess that’s what happens on uphill two-lane highways — traffic gathers behind a slow-moving vehicle at the front.
On the way to Shaniko today, I would occasionally stop to rest and take a look around. To the west and north, I had fabulous views of Mount Hood (11,239 feet), Mount Adams (12,276 feet), and way in the distance, there was another peak that I think must have been Mount Ranier (14,410 feet).
Closer to Shaniko today, I stopped again at a wide spot in the road and there was a shoe tree. Not the kind of shoe tree that you might have in your closet for storing footwear though. This is literally a tree with shoes in it. I’ve done some reading about other cyclists who had ridden across Nevada on Highway 50 and there’s apparently a similar shoe tree near Fallon, Nevada on that route. This one was a surprise though. I’m not sure of the reason for it, but there it was.
We had hoped to stay at the Shaniko Hotel which is the only hotel in Shaniko. When we called yesterday for reservations, we found out that it’s not open on Tuesday and Wednesdays. So, we tried to get a camping spot at the Shaniko RV Park. The RV Park is closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays too. In fact, most everything in Shaniko is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Anyway, the RV park manager was very nice and said he would open things up for us. Whew! That was great news because the next possibility for lodging is Madras which is 40 more miles to the south.
| Total distance: | 57.15 miles |
|---|---|
| Time: | 4:36:28 |
| Average speed: | 12.4 mph |
| Maximum speed: | 36.9 mph |
| Total calories: | 4198 |
| Average heart rate: | 127 bpm |
| Maximum heart rate: | 155 bpm |
| Total ascent: | 4222 feet |
| Total descent: | 1154 feet |
| Ride profile: |  (click on image to view a larger version) |
| Ride comments: Another clear and sunny day. Cool in the morning. Warmed up to around 80 degrees by early afternoon. The ride was a gradual uphill all day with occasional short downhills to provide some relief. |
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