We spent the first few days of our family vacation in Yachats, a small village halfway on the Oregon coast, then a week at Black Butte Ranch, near Sisters in the center of Oregon. Using the Death Ride as a preamble, I decided to ride between the two—just shy of 200 miles in two days.
The weather was excellent, and I opted for the "travel light" plan: in addition to my standard kit, just tubes and tools, Mojo bars, extra socks, sun screen, rain jacket (not used), mobile phone, id and credit card. My plan was to ride down the coast to Florence, then east 75 flat miles on Hwy 126 to Eugene, then stop for the night somewhere east of Eugene in the McKenzie foothills, then wheel over McKenzie Pass to Sisters and Black Butte.
The Serotta was still in excellent tune from the Death Ride, so no worries there. Helen tracked behind me by a day, in case of untoward events.
August 1st
I took a speed run up the coast past Waldport, a slightly larger town with a bridge across the Alsea River. On the way, I chatted with three young Swiss cyclists early in their year-long trek from Vancouver Island to Tierra del Fuego Chile. They were hammock camping, riding heavy-duty bikes constructed specially for this trip.25 miles, ready to roll on my own puny adventure.
August 2nd
After goodbyes to my family, who were staying for another day, I departed Yachats at 08:30. After a quick grind over the speed bumps between Yachats and Florence—the highest a 750' bluff overlooking the Devil's Churn chasm at Cape Perpetua—I settled in for the 75 miles up the Siuslaw River to Eugene.With a slight tailwind, and only two small bumps to break up the flats, I made good time for 50 miles to a short lunch break in Veneta, just west of Eugene.
After lunch, I threaded through the Eugene-Springfield maze and the U of O campus on bike paths and side streets. From there, it was a steady 1% grade up the McKenzie Hwy, which vaguely follows the McKenzie River through a series of very small hamlets: Walterville, Leaville, Vida, Blue River.
After calling around, I stopped at Rainbow, a few miles past Blue River, for dinner and a motel. 140 miles on the day, feeling good.
August 3rd
After a big breakfast, I departed Rainbow at 08:30. After 10 miles at 1% to warm up, the grade averaged 5% for 20 miles up Hwy 242 to McKenzie Pass. Hwy 242 roadway west of the pass was paved last year, and was in beautiful shape.I saw only 40 cars during the 20 mile climb; quiet and beautiful track along the river in tree-shaded bliss. The payoff was in the views from the pass: the lava field and impossibly beautiful peaks—the Three Sisters and Mts Jefferson and Washington—followed by the 20 mile descent towards Sisters.
The Dee Wright Observatory at McKenzie Pass is an interesting structure, built from lava rock in the '30s. It has designed viewing windows to highlight the surrounding mountains.
No cars passed on the descent to Sisters, but twenty riders from the Sisters EuroSports club were out on their weekly "climbing Tuesday". They gave a quick wave, since I was wearing my "Sisters Oregon EuroSports" jersey.
Even though the last five miles were against a significant crosswind, I was into Sisters in time for lunch.
The 10 miles to Black Butte Ranch were a bit anticlimactic, uphill against a crosswind. Nearly 60 miles on the day, tired but very happy. A few hours later, my family arrived from Yachats. Altogether, a very satisfying ride.