I'm staying in a hostel tonight.  Actually it is the Community Presbyterian Church in Dayville, OR, Population 200.  The church opens its doors to anyone, especially cyclists.  No charge, but donations accepted.

I did miserably today.  Yesterday I developed sore buttitis.  My sit bones hurt badly, so that no matter how I wriggled around, I was really hurting.

Last night was another interesting experience.  I camped in the park of the city of Mitchell.  It was free, and clean.  No showers, but use of the public rest room, which must be the most popular in Oregon.  Cars and trucks were constantly stopping to use them.  I dashed in between customers for a spit bath, and had to get dressed and get out for up to three women travelers before returning to finish off.

In the morning I had an early breakfast at the Little Pine Cafe.  It was packed, all five tables taken, also the bar stools.

Four local people sat at the table next to me.  One was a very thin woman aged about 50, with a beautiful face.  I heard her say she had gotten up at 2:00 am, in order to begin herding cattle at 4:00am.

Today's started, yes--started! with a steep climb up Desey Pass, 4300 ft!  I think I started out about 3,000 ft so it wasn't all that bad, but still taxing.  I took double doses of Ibuprofen so I wouldn't have complaints from my sore butt.  This was probably a mistake, as in the afternoon I felt very sleepy.  Also, it turned hot.

I reached Dayville about 2:30 pm after only 40 miles (I detoured to see some fossil beds) and had a Gatorade and frozen ice-cream.  I decided I was not ready for another 23 miles in the heat, to the next town, so I checked out the church hostel.

It has a shower and a kitchen, and a community dining room.  The church proper is where I will sleep.  They are very trusting.  I have the run of the place, and they trust that everyone will clean up after themselves.

Food

I worry that I will develop scurvy before September.  It's just not easy to find fresh food in these small towns.  Tonight I made soup of Ramekin pasta.  I made the pasta dish from a packet, drank some V-8 (must have some vitamin C in it) and will finish off with ice-cream.  The only store in town has no fresh fruit or veggies.  I buy an orange whenever I can.  Most of the days, protein comes from breakfast, sometimes a "breakfast served all day" cafe, where I have 2 or 3 eggs, plus toast.

June 25, Monday

Yesterday and today were hard.  I was extremely tired.  I accepted the offer of a ride yesterday after walking up a hill no steeper than many I had ridden up in the last two weeks.  The driver's name was Andrew, and he works for the US Forest Service.

Today I dawdled, and finally decided I was miserably tired and hitched a ride for about 30 miles to Cambridge, where I rested in my tent for the remainder of the day.

Hope I feel better tomorrow.

Last Friday I did 67 miles, including three passes, and a 27-mile stretch into Baker City, mostly downhill but the last 10 miles were flat and into the wind.

June 27, Wednesday

Right now I'm sitting in my tent while a rainstorm is passing through.  It was very windy and then it began to seriously rain.  So far my tent is keeping me dry, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I'm at the Springwater RV Park in White Bird.  It's very nicely kept, brilliant green grass, carefully mowed, flower beds, a gazebo, beautiful shower facility.  Have quickly learned to go for the RV places because usually they have great showers, laundromats etc.  City parks are cheaper but usually have no facilities and I hate to be stinky for two days in a row.

Today was pretty easy, downhill, following the Salmon River.  The scenery is incredible, absolutely beautiful.  The mountains are mostly bare of trees, which I like, as you can see the shape of the land.  I really don't like cycling through forests, nothing but trees, but I suppose that's the same as going to a museum and saying, "There's nothing but pictures."

Thank goodness, I got to this RV Park early today, so I can rest up for a horrible climb tomorrow.

It has really stormed while I have been writing this.  During a lull, I dashed out to tighten the tent stays.  Its started raining again although without the wind.

Hot Springs

Yesterday, (June 26) I made it to an RV Park that has an outdoor pool filled by water from hot springs.  I floated in it for about an hour after dinner.  This was just outside New Meadows, Idaho.

Outhouses

The day before yesterday, I stopped at a building that was identified on the map as a gas station.  Actually it was the home of an elderly man, a rancher, who kept a stock of sodas and ice-cream bars for anyone who wanted to buy.  He talked about his ranch, its a mile square. The cattle were out eating the grass.  Each cow needs 35 acres.  The cattle roam at will except that they are fenced in at various places.  He was irrigating land for hay production.  The water is pumped from the river.  The irrigation machinery is moved every 12 hours.

He said he was in W.W.II, served in France.

While we talked, two women drove up, with t-shirts saying "Fiddlers Annual Festival."  They asked for a rest room and the old man said they were welcome to use the outhouse. "It has a seat."  The women appeared to survive the experience and I took my turn.  It's been many years since I last used an outhouse..  but hey! what's a porta potty?