• Miles today 105.1
• Miles total 3798.8
• Elevation today 7897 ft
• Elevation total 153522 fy
• Weather – stunning, chilly 45 degrees warming up to mid 60’s – layers of clothes. Little to no wind

Today’s ride lived up to its billing – long time in the saddle, multiple big climbs! What wasn’t advertised was the volume of traffic – oh my god! Two distinct areas a grid lock – in the town of Lincoln, riding thru parking lots and on sidewalks to get thru. The second was on the big climb where the top was a viewing that was completely full. For this climb people were half on the shoulder, so bikes were stuck. I said screw it and ride up the center on the double yellow line. I know sounds unsafe but it was safer than the shoulder. On coming traffic, had space to move over, so lots of space for bikes. It was Mike and I who did this – we got a bunch of yells from drivers in both directions, mostly saying in a flavorful way we were crazy!

So much traffic, that didn’t stop much for tree color. We finally got to hotel at 5:00 from 8:00 am start – ya, extra saddle time – my baling wire and surgical tape met its match.

Tomorrow is the final – very surreal and it is expected to be very wet and blustery day…on to Portland!!