Miles today 90.5

Total miles 304.4

Elevation today 4452 ft

Total elevation 21123 ft

Weather – Sun, sun, sun ! High desert in Eastern or, cool in morning (50 at start) and hot in afternoon (85 at finish); side and headwinds all day (plus trucks!) guess at about 10 with gusts to 25

We started in Condon and had 5 climbs but not as big as yesterday. Overall easier but still 90 miles with some heat. Also the landscape doesn’t change much – it was high desert, wheat files and gigantic sky. Very pretty built not much going on!

I am still trying to figure out the nutrition and hydration. Today lax on both. At the last rest stop I had no gas. Still poured into Hermiston around 17 mph but had no gas in the tank. The combination of food and chews were not enough today. Plus being windy and hot, it felt like I had a water bottle in my mouth all the time! Yet I’m dehydrated, probs at least a quart low.

Talking to others in the ride – we are all going thru the same process. The classic line is “ I’m starving and thirsty but I feel full!” I have a feeling this will be a constant battle!

So five days in a row of pretty hard riding and climbing. I’m in the middle group of rider, sort of the second tier. There’s the A group who head out first, this is the leisure riders. B group who have fast and lookin lu’s folks. Last is the C group, we have called the Hammer Heads. Speed is their game, consistently arriving an hour before me.

Body wise, my rear end is feeling the back to back days. Legs feel good and back/neck seem to be going along with program. Doing PT stuff and using a thumper gun each night (yes, I brought with me to be the mechanical masseuse). Butt recovery is now going to be a thing – no saddle sores, just tender in hot spots!!! So fun to have the feeling and be talking about it! Now it’s part of the trip! (I know most of you are saying told you so!)

Dinner at a brew pub tonight, later start in morning….off to Walla Walla!!!