Day 55 Halfway, OR to Baker City, OR

Yorktown, VA to Baker City+, Completed 3,710 Miles
Average 70 Miles/Day, Estimated Finish July 12, 2015

Biking Detail Halfway, OR to Baker City, OR (Phillips Lake)

Day 55 Sunday, July 5

Left Halfway at 6:00 AM. Day started with a good little climb (they call it the Richmond Grade) of 6 miles at 6%-7% before we dropped down to Richland. No shoulder as we continue on HWY 86 but traffic light and nice cool temperature! Stopped at a cafe in Richland for coffee and a quick breakfast. Back on the road for the ride to Baker City.

Followed the Powder River up the canyon. This is Hells Canyon country. Bare hills and lots of sage brush. Lots of cattle ranches with cattle dotting all the hillsides. Caught a few bathing in the Powder River. Enjoying the views of the Wallowa Mountains. According to locals in Halfway first time in their 27 years there that Wallowas have been totally void of snow in the month of June...normally not til August. 

Got to Baker City where we are spending the night but decided to bike few extra miles. Picked up a tail wind heading out of town so the riding was fairly easy for the first 10 miles. The road changed direction after that and started up so the next 7 miles were a little work but nothing too extreme. Three passes tomorrow so got a 17 mile jump on tomorrow's ride. 

Biked to Phillips Lake then put the bike on the SAG vehicle and headed back to Baker City. Needed to be in a motel tonight with good TV reception to watch the 4 PM Women's World Cup Soccer final between US and Japan! Will drive back to Phillips Lake in AM and start where I left off. Great outcome for U.S.Women's Soccer, bringing the World Cup back to the USA!!

View heading up Richland Grade

Summit is 6 mile climb from Halfway

Small farms and bare hills

Looking at the Canyon Hills

Heading into Canyon

Still cool and enjoying the ride

Making some time

You drop into the Canyon on the way to Baker City

Entering the the Canyon

Pretty barren landscape

A couple of deer taking a bath in the Powder River

Exiting the Canyon with view of Mountains to climb tomorrow

First corn, then wheat, now sage brush, oh my!

Oregon Trail Monument before Baker City

Cows getting some water in the Powder River

Starting to head up the mountain after Baker City (Powder River)