.... GO!!!... First ride complete!

At the start of our ride in Dunes National Rec Area

The rain let up just before dawn, so there was hope that we might get the ride in without being soaking wet all day.  After getting the RV packed up and Nicolas getting his training run in, we headed 2 miles down the road to our official start point in Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area on the Pacific coast.

The hope of riding without being wet faded after mile 20 and it quickly progressed to a cycle of light mist to a moderately heavy rain for about the next 4 hours / 45 miles.  With the temperature hanging around 50 degrees it was pretty chilly being wet for that long.  Beth road the first 50 miles and was ready for some dry clothes.  I road alone for the next 15 miles.  At mile 65, the sun came out and Nicolas joined me to the finish in Eugene.  A total of 84 miles and 2600' of climbing. (Track and stats of the ride today)

Nicholas is new to riding a road bike with clip-less pedals, but he did great today.  I can see he will be killing me very quickly... Oh to be young and 60 pounds lighter.

The 1st mile leaving Dunes

We considered getting a motel for the night so we could dry everything out, but when we got to the Armitage County Park, our planned finish, we found the park had full RV hook ups (elect., water, sewer, cable TV and WiFi) with paved parking spots and loads of room between sites for $30/night.  There were lots of open spots, and we just pulled in and hooked up. To dry things out we cranked up the heater in the RV and opened the windows.

Only misting at the moment on the road to Eugene

Tomorrow will be a real challenge.  We start with a long gradual climb for the first 60 miles, then the road splits.  The RV will have to take an alternate route since Hwy 242 is only open to bicycles until June 15 when the snow if fully cleared.  Right now the road is only cleared enough for a single lane for bikes.  So the 36 miles over McKenzie pass (~5300') will be unsupported and I'll meet up with Beth and Nicholas in Sisters, OR..  Hopefully it won't snow on me, but it is a distinct possibility.  Here is the route.

Getting ready to ride the last 17 miles

Our camp site at Armitage County Park