Day 12, Mitchell to John Day, OR

Miles – 69

Ave Riding Speed – 3-22 mph

Hours Start to Finish – 8.75

Weather – Partly Sunny 64

We were up by 6am after falling asleep by 7:30pm. It was a great night’s sleep. I never even made it under the sheets and Kim was comfy, sleeping alongside the bear rug hanging next to her bed. Fresh coffee was on in the Victorian themed foyer and I brought Kim her usual, cream with coffee :), up the creaking steps to our room at the top of the landing. We took our time packing as we kind of promised the grocer that we would be by when it opened. He said that since it was Sunday, they would open sometime between 9 and 11am.

We packed our gear and began carrying it down through the foyer to our bikes that were parked in the back yard and struck up a conversation with Margaret, Pat and Margaret’s sister Katherine. We shared our stories about what we’re all doing in this little town of Mitchell. Margaret and Pat were in Oregon, from Virginia, visiting Katherine and seeing the sites. We shared our adventure, fundraiser and destination and they invited us to stay with them when we’re passing through. Pretty cool. Margaret also shared that she is a six-year breast cancer survivor. Seems to be the theme as we strike up conversations along our route that breast cancer hits a lot of people. I think it also feels good to share and know that they’re not alone in the battle and survivorship.

We dropped into the Wheeler County Trading Co, the grocery store two doors down from the hostel, which carries a little bit of everything, from grapefruit to fertilizer spreaders, and fully stocked. Kim grabbed some protein bars and we were on the road by 9:45 am. The weather was overcast and a cool degrees.  East we would head on Hwy 26 for the initial task of conquering Keys Creek Summit about 1,400 up for the first 6 miles of the day. It wasn’t pretty and it took us 2 hours of a continuous climb up to reach the peak.

Once we crested, we descended steadily for the next 20 miles into open and rolling grassland for the first 10 miles and then into switchback canyons of sheer rock cliffs on both sides as we crisscrossed the John Day River. A few sprinkles fell from the sky to increase the chill we were feeling from our sweat soaked clothes from the summit climb. About 37 miles in we hit the town of Dayville, and stopped at the Dayville Mercantile for coffee and a snack. The on-the-house coffee pot was empty so I asked if I could put a fresh pot on and proceeded to brew another community pot. The soon-to-be new owner, of the bare wooden floor with pockets of nailed sheet metal across the isles store, was very hospitable and told as to take a load off and rest on the Adirondack chairs out front. We did just that.

While resting up at the Mercantile Kim and I reviewed our maps and thought we could make it to John Day, about 32 miles further down Hwy 26. These next 32 miles was some of the most enjoyable riding we’ve done so far.  Even though the shoulders were few and far between, the traffic was lite and we were cruising at 15-17 mph between the mountainous bluffs.

Upon arriving into town, and on our way to our motel, Kim yelled to a couple guys walking down the sidewalk and asked if there was a place close by to eat. They said 1,000 feet up is the Out Post. We checked in to the motel, changed a shirt and quickly walked over to the Outpost for a cider on tap and dinner. I had the bacon wrapped meatloaf with mashbo and gravy and Kim had a steak, as she was craving the protein. Probably going to visit this place again for breakfast as tomorrow we’re taking a rest day!

There are many references to John Day along this route.  John Day was an American fur trapper from Virginia. He was engaged by the Overland Party of the Pacific Fur Company and arrived in the area in 1811 and Astoria in 1812.