Day 9- McKenzie Bridge to Sisters, OR

Miles – 42

Ave Riding Speed – 2-26 mph

Hours Start to Finish – 8

Weather – Sunny 84

Kim and I were up by 6am after a night of camping at the McKenzie Bridge Campground in Willamette National Forest just outside of McKenzie Bridge.  A nicely kept campground along the McKenzie River.  They had state park type toilets and a water pump for fresh water. After a peanut butter sandwich, supplements and brushing our teeth it’s been taking us an hour to break camp and pack up our saddlebags. We were back on Hwy 126. Yesterday was a pretty good day for us on this highway as they were cutting large timbers along the highway, so the flag people were out and backing up traffic.  The flag people were letting us pass through and ride the shutdown lane. One of “lead car” pulled up next to us and offered us a cold bottle of water and reminded us that Hwy 126 is the most dangerous highway in Oregon. Nice dude! We appreciated the water and advice. It was a reminder to us to just focus on the path ahead and try to stay close to the edge of the shoulder.

After 5 miles up from our camp site we swung off to the McKenzie Pass Scenic Route, Hwy 242. Hwy 242 is not fully open to vehicles yet, so much of the 4,000 feet climbs we rode the right lane.  We were on our way to Sisters, OR. My understanding is that they plow one lane in the spring and wait for mother nature to clear the rest. At the point they open the gates to vehicles.

Knowing we would be stretching our limits today, we each carried four bottles of water. Probably could have used another as we ran out before reaching the top. We saw roughly 20 bicyclists all day and we were the only ones laded with gear and a white plastic bag with peanut butter and buns hanging from our bike. It took us five hours to ride 25 miles, riding and walking. We chatted with roughly half of the riders who either passed us or were coming our way, asking where we’re going and some giving a little advice about where to stay, etc. We did meet a couple of people who have made the TransAmerica journey previously and they gave us some kudos to taking it on.

Once we got to the top at McKenzie Pass, we chatted with Bob and his two buddies, who were in their late 70’s and decked out in riding gear, up on the observatory and they took our picture with the Three Sisters mountains in the background. Bob also helped mapped some of the original TransAmerica Trail back in 1976 on the initial route. The observatory was built from the lava rock seen for many miles around it. After feeling a little energy, knowing it was 15 miles downhill to Sisters, we set out for town and within 40 minutes, and throttling back on the speed to 26mph, we made it.

We rolled up to the sidewalk and Googled the local restaurants in Sisters and a passerby said there was good food at the Open Door, about a block down. After some water, kombucha, pasta and small salad we set out for the motel that still had availability by backtracking a half mile. It never feels good to waste those extra miles!

Now we’re doing some laundry at the hotel, checking in on social media stuff and planning tomorrow’s route that should keep us at roughly the same elevation of 3000 feet. McDonalds is within eye site and calling my name.