[Terrytaylor] Bike ride

[Terry Taylor]

Well I will try to catch up we left Eugene and rode to McKinsey Bridge we stayed at a USFS campground I had fun trying to pump the water and try to get my waterbottle under the flow before it stopped 
The next day was the one that would be my big test 
I wasn't worried Brent he's eighteen and ready for any challenge we had to decide if we took Santiam Pass or McKinsey Pass
The latter isn't even plowed open until the third week of June I said I was going Santiam Brent said he liked the challenge of McKinsey so he would do that one We split up agreeing to meet in Sisters our next town I remember 40 years ago that Santiam was a real tough climb for me so I stopped and prayed for help I asked that these fatigued legs be strong today and maybe a little push would help me it was the most difficult time for me in a long time
I believed if I could do this climb then I could do the rest of the ride I got into the climb and found my legs were strong enough and I had a good tailwind all the way up but for the last mile when the road curved. I beat thing I had butterflies with me always at least two they would move on ( l am slow!) and more would show up I could see shadows on th road of ones flying above me it cheered me up and helped me do my climb I ran out of water and was feeling a need for some over an hour after I ran out and I came to a highway maintenance station I went to the office and they allowed me to fill my bottles at their cooler I was able to make I climb and had a six mile steep down hill I had to brake considerable to keep it under 40 mph disc brakes are wonderful! My route was about 20 miles further than Brent's but I was willing to trade altitude for miles Brent had got us a hiker biker camp for 5 each Sisters is a great little town we enjoyed it 
Next day rode to Prineville Or and got camping space at an RV park there is a baseball competition  of three countries here in town so it's a bit busy. if you got this far reading this congratulations 
Be back soon gotta get on the road. Terry T
 







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