Warming Up

In preparation for our ride through the Pyrenees we decided that we needed some reality-check rides that had (a) lots of hills, and (b) lots of heat.  We decided to ride from Mitchell, Oregon to Fossil, Oregon (via the Painted Hills monument), and then back to Mitchell via the John Day River and Service Creek.

We picked the two hottest days of the year, so that requirement got ticked off the list.  And there were plenty of hills along the way, especially along Twickenham Road.  Beautiful rides through a part of Oregon that few people get a chance to visit.




Here are some photos along the way.

The Painted Hills are amazing!

Almost organic...

Tiger Town Brewing in Mitchell is pretty lively and brews some decent beers

Beautiful rock formations loaded with lichens

Descending down Twickenham Road through the canyon toward the John Day River

Downtown Fossil

Climbing out of the John Day basin -- our computer registered 106 degrees F (we were carrying lots of water!)

Along the road back to Mitchell

Descending back to Mitchell near the end of the ride.

Listing to starboard, or was it one too many beers?

It was a super fun ride if a bit too warm.  But we learned that we are in pretty good shape and that gives us confidence that we can make it over the Pyrenees -- we have a few weeks to put in some more miles yet.