Distance: 85 avg: 13.6
Today’s biking was probably some of the best I’ve ever seen. A couple quick climbs and some amazing downhill that went on forever. I pushed my Surly up to 37.2 mph. I probably could have gone faster but chickened out. 😛
Last night another ‘cycling enthusiast’ showed up at camp. His name’s John and he looks all stylish with his yellow 70s schwinn ( which I actually used to ride in high school :O ).
I heated up some chicken Wally gave me and we made some sandwiches. John was kind enough to pull out his special herb blend, the LEGAL kind, and it gave some spice to the admittedly basic dinner. The next day we headed off our separate ways.
I biked up to the John Day fossil beds (great stuff, pictured) then strolled into Dayville, population 150. I gave the town a cruise, trying to figure out where to get a burger and maybe crash. A teenage boy sees me searching and says, ‘if you’re looking for a place to stay, it’s right over there.’ He points and I turn around to see two girls waving at me from the steps of a church. I turn around and bike up the hill to the church and I see John’s yellow schwinn. I say hi to the girls and walk inside. ‘There’s spaghetti over there, help yourself!’ About 15 people are milling about, eating chatting, laughing. I feel like I just walked into some alternate universe.
Turns out this church opens it’s doors for all cyclists and I just happened to also walk in on a potluck dinner! They have a beautiful little church with shower and laundry. Each year they take in cyclists. And so here I am, hanging with John, blogging and chilling in this cozy place. 🙂
Comments
5 responses to “Day 10: Dayville”
Yay, I’m glad you met those church people and John! 🙂
I think it is very awesome that you get to meet so many new people 😀
it’s funny how many cyclist are gear geeks-often obsessed and excessive… latest and lightest seems to be the mantra for those of us that get caught up in the sport, and all the stuff that riders covet… and then you run into someone like John, riding a 30 year old bike that, alone must weigh 35 lbs, no special shoes or peddles, makeshift paniers, an umbrella strapped to the frame and he’s pushing himself up the same hills, and enjoying the ride just as much… probably more
Hahahaaaa…yup! He’s motoring along just fine. He’s like a polar bear, too, perfectly fine in a tshirt at 40 degrees. Those tubs on the side are mayonnaise tubs, too. BUT I’m faster Muhahahaa.
Some people have a very narrow perception of ‘them’ and so far every one we’ve met has been very helpful and nice. It is great too to see the lifestyles of many Americans. Some of which are really impacted by the economy.