Milestones
- Part of my 2nd Annual “Bike-A-Palooza” (SEE the Whole Trip)
Arriving at the Hotel
It was an uneventful drive from Idaho. Checked into a “Home2 Suites” hotel. After 3 nights mud-camping, no shower, and 48 hrs of solid rain…. I soooo enjoyed a hot bath, clean sheets, and a soft bed.
Planning an Easy Bike Ride…. Not Really
I knew there were a lot of bike paths around Bend, Oregon. But, many of them are very short (1-2 miles) and in town (lots of traffic).
But, I wanted to ride in the surrounding forest or along the nearby river. I thought I had found the perfect trail.
On my bike riding app, I found an 11 mile ride along the Deschutes River Trail. The description said easy ride, 9mph average speed, 515 ft gain in elevation, paved surface. I thought this would be a no-risk, enjoyable option. It was only 20 minutes outside of town.
- My ride started at Benham Falls, a beautiful spot.
- However, very quickly… I got into trouble. I was tricked…. The route description said it was paved… it wasn’t…
- It had started out as a dirt/gravel road…and ended up being a full-on “Mountain-Bike Trail”…
- My back wheels barely fit through the brush, rocks, and logs…. I had to ask people twice to help me get over obstacles…
- None of this was my fault (OK some of it was) … I really try to avoid these kinds of situations… they just come after me, chasing me down like wolves.
Arriving Home
This is what my car and my bike looked like when I got home…
I actually apologized to the guy at the Route 66 Car Wash (nearby my house) when I turned my car over to him.