McKenzie Passed – Day 4

Date: Monday 9th August 

Route: Vida, Oregon – Redmond, Oregon 

Distance: 75 miles

Total climb: 8605ft

Net climb: 2834ft

After a casual family breakfast at our B&B near Vida, some listening to Ali in the Jungle by The Hours for motivation, a second breakfast near McKenzie Bridge, a couple of plays on the arcade games Mortal Kombat and Track and Field, a shop stop and putting some air in the tires, we felt nearly ready to make the biggest climb of our cycling ‘careers’ to date.  Postponement had gone far enough.

Hoy Stockham had been showing good form in the early stages of the trip, off the back of some solid UK training runs.  Wiggins Parkes had the pink jerseys of old in recognition of his climbing strengths.  It was set to be an epic battle, further intensified by 10 miles uphill on newly gritted roads before the proper ascent began – both of us needing a stop to clean the tar off our tires.

The target was a 5,300ft high pass, first opened for general travel in 1862 and now restricted to vehicles under 35 feet long – clearly not to the liking of all, since there were bullet holes in the sign pointing this out.  The tactics were to sing La Cucaracha at each 1,000 foot marker and then stop at each of 2,500, 3,500 and 4,500 feet for a short break.  The map suggested switchbacks, which are generally very steep, so some trusty Clif Shot Blocks were piled into the back pockets of our jerseys – the watershed between amateur and pro riding in our view (use of jersey back pockets being what all the proper ‘spandex warriors’ seem to do).

It turned out to be a long but relatively painless climb, with minimal traffic, beautiful views, no bears (disappointing for me), pine scents and a short interaction with Nate the cycle tourist on his way down the 22 mile route we were making to the top.  I managed Westwood (riding with the big cog) almost all of the way up, which gives an indication of severity – saving the smaller chain rings for steeper days to come.

Once on the top, we took in the beautiful views in all directions of the snow-capped Sisters and Mt Washington, along with the volcanic Belknap crater and the lava rock landscape.  A quick canter around the summit fort followed, which I had to undertake whilst battling feebly against the pain triggered by getting Jay’s ‘Kiss My Face’ sunscreen in my eye.  I’m not sure what was in that stuff, but I spent the 1,500ft descent into Sisters weeping and watching the road through one eye – not good for judging distances and obstacles at north of 25mph.

A food stop in Sisters (very nice little town) left us both feeling overindulged and made the final scrubland sprint to Redmond tougher than it should have been.  However, we got there and enjoyed a quiet night in a large town staying in the Village Squire motel.

We’re now 3,500 feet up in scrubland, with the temperatures rising, the ranches sprawling and the rattlesnakes on the mind.  Roll on tomorrow.

Other noteworthy matters:

–       The Garmin’s disagreement with altitude markers

–       The first National Rifle Association t-shirt spotted

–       Chipmunks at the summit

–       Jay’s clear victory at Track and Field

–       Damage to the Diardoras (my cycling shoes) – here’s to hoping we get them mended tomorrow, or I my being able to get some replacement Lottos, Golas or Jaguars

FP