Cross Country Recumbent
Sunday July 20, 2003. Oxbow OR to Cambridge ID
Start time (Mtn .time)
|
1:17 pm
|
End time (Mtn. time)
|
5:30 pm
|
Miles
|
42.5
|
Time pedaling
|
3:37
|
Average speed
|
11.8
|
Odometer
|
579
|
Well I got my early start, but I went nowhere. I was in
competition with a couple of motor cyclists as to who would get going
first. I was just about to win when I noticed my rear tire was
flat. Errrr. I changed out the tube, looked for obvious
problems and then got going. I went about twenty feet before I
decided things didn't feel right. For some reason the tire bead
just didn't seem to seat right, and there was a bump on every
revolution. On closer inspection I realized the tire was
bad. I estimate that it still had a few hundred miles left on the
tread, but there was a split in the wall, and it just didn't feel
right. I wanted to ride, but in my old(er) age I've started
listening to the voice in the back of my head which usually says
something like: "this is stupid...". The heat yesterday was
probably 110, and the road was probably much hotter. I think the
tire literally couldn't hold together under the combined touring load
and the heat.
My tire plan had been to have compadres from home send me tires as I
need them. Of course this depends on the crucial assumption that
I could anticipate when I would need them. The closest place I
could buy a tire was back in Baker city. My options were hitch a
ride back there, or call friends and have them send me a spare.
The first option was uncertain, the second would take several
days. I gambled on a long shot. I had discussed tires with
Steve from the B+B I stayed at last night. He warned me
(prophetically?) that my tire wasn't adequate and offered to sell me a
better one. There is no cell phone coverage in Hells canyon
so I used a pay phone to call back and see if I could persuade him to
drive out and bring the tire.
Steve earnd much Karma this day, and got my tire situation under
control.
Anyway I decided to try and get some miles in. This is the part
of Hells canyon just above Oxbow dam 
A new state! Also a new time zone.
This is the view just before leaving Hell's canyon.
The climb was arduous, much like yesterday's but longer. After
cresting the pass I mostly coasted my way to Cambridge. Camping
options were limited so I'm staying in a cozy hotel (showers!, bed!,
air conditioning!, internet access!). I'll try the early thing
again tomorrow. It's another climb, but it should be cooler and
not nearly so steep. It's basically a big pass a day for the next
week or so, and I'm starting to wear down; so I'm scoping for a good
place to take a rest day.