Sisters, OR to Vida, OR
Friendly horn taps: 1
Miles: 67
Total miles so far: 4,503
The Cascade Range as we leave Sisters, OR
We completed our final mountain pass today, clearing McKenzie Pass and dropping into the pacific side of the Cascade Mountains. The pass was closed to all motorized traffic, so we literally had the road to ourselves. This was quite fortunate, as they intend to open it to traffic tomorrow and in the words of one of the road crew, “It will be a zoo.” The road is quite narrow and there are no shoulders. I am grateful for the opportunity to do this without traffic.
We were rewarded for our labors going up the pass by terrific vistas at the top, and a complete change in vegetation going down the 4,000 foot descent. The western slope receives about 100 inches a year in precipitation where the area we were leaving gets 10 inches a year. The Pacific silver fir, western hemlock, and the western red cedar trees are a magnificent change, and their enormous trunks dominated my eye. Ferns were growing on the forest floor and the green colors were sparkling in the sunlight.
We still have hills to deal with, but the monstrous mountains we’ve contended with are all behind us now. We spilled out below the Cascade Range onto the banks of the famous McKenzie River, and we will follow the same river all the way to the area of Eugene tomorrow. It’s downstream that way, so we are still descending (we like that!). By the way, I am finally below 1,000 feet elevation and that’s just fine with me. Summer can resume anytime.
Road closed...bicycles are permitted
Mount Washington as seen across the lava fields from near the summit of McKenzie Pass
At the summit of McKenzie Pass...pretty much freezing cold at that point too
Descending through the enormous trees
A covered bridge over the McKenzie River
The upper McKenzie River. We went by Greg Tatman's boat shop today too. If you are looking for a white water boat project to build, look up Tatman's boats.
______________________________________________________________
Tomorrow’s ride is dedicated to Richard Dean Boes
Richard Boes
Richard Dean Boes of Stayton, Oregon was killed in a crash involving a drunk driver on June 13, 2003. Richard was 26 years old.
In Memory of Warmer Summers 
Carl and Sallie,
I read this poem by Sylvia Plath last night and I thought of the two of you instantly;
Two Campers In Cloud Country
In this country there is neither measure nor balance
To redress the dominance of rocks and woods,
The passage, say, of these man-shaming clouds.
No gesture of yours or mine could catch their attention,
Nor word make them carry water or fire the kindling
Like local trolls in the spell of a superior being.
Well, one wearies of the Public Gardens: one wants a vacation
Where trees and clouds and animals pay no notice;
Away from the labeled elms, the tame tea-roses.
It took three days driving north to find a cloud
The polite skies over Boston couldn’t possibly accommodate.
Here on the last frontier of the big, brash spirit
The horizons are too far off to be chummy as uncles;
The colors assert themselves with a sort of vengeance.
Eac day concludes in a huge splurge of vermillions
And night arrives in one gigantic step.
It is comfortable, for a change, to mean so little.
These rocks offer no purchase to herbage or people;
They are conceiving a dynasty of perfect cold.
In a month we’ll wonder what plates and forks are for.
I lean to you, numb as a fossil. Tell me I’m here.
The Pilgrims and Indians might never have happend.
Planets pulse in the lake like bright amoebas;
The pines blot our voices up in their lightest sighs.
Around our tent the old simplicities sough
Sleepily as Lethe, trying to get in.
We’ll wake blank-brained as water in the dawn.
Have a good ride on the rest of your journey and God Bless You All. I will be praying for you tonight.
Jessica Weyer Bentley
Cycle Oregon 2007 rode some of these same roads, I’m pretty sure. Oregon is breath-takingly beautiful and it’s been great to relive that trip thru your blog..although at the time, I was not too thrilled with the hilly terrain…