Getting to Portland with my bike and the luggage was a big worry, having to depend on the airline doing its job. This worry seemed to be justified when I got a text at 5.45am that my flight to Chicago was cancelled!
Despite all the preparations, there is a lot to learn every day: what to expect from other road users, cycling on the hard shoulder of a busy, fast dual carriageway, how to cope with the heat, etc..
It's been a fascinating 2 days. First I cycled on back roads up the Willamette vally, making my way through one of the most fertile farm lands in America.
I am taking back what I said about Americans and their car: I just saw people in ordinary cars, going about their work, nothing fancy, no showing off. I will probably see a lot of these contrasts.
When I got over the McKenzie Pass yesterday, I didn't realise I was entering a desert. Apart from some shrubs and hardy trees, nothing grows here without irrigation.
Coming across the Cascade mountain range, I had not realised that not only was I entering a very different climate but also an area of Oregon that saw themselves culturally very different. Initially it was country music in the shops but also Trump supporting slogans, signs like "Move the Oregon Boarder" and talking to people.
A lot happened in the last six days. I went over four mountain ranges, followed two north west leading rivers and now up along the Lochsa River, going north east and tomorrow over the Lola pass, at 5,235 feet, the highest part of the trip so far.
Today I did the climb up from Darby over the Chief Joseph Pass (7,241ft). It was over 3,000 ft, and compared to the McKenzie Pass, my first climb, it was a piece of cake. I was rather pleased and feel more confident about tackling the Hoosier Pass at 11,542 ft at the beginning of September.
I arrived in the Yellowstone National Park today, after only 53miles. It feels a bit like a milestone. I have not seen much so far, but tomorrow will cycle through the Lower and Upper Geyser Basins. Hopefully I will see Old Faithful erupting.
Wednesday was also my first real acquaintance with a 25 mph wind, both good and bad. Climbing up from Lander it was either head-on or from the side, making cycling a real pain in the neck. Ret and Neil, who I met yesterday, started out at the same time, and although I waited at the top, I don't know if they made it.
Getting to Portland with my bike and the luggage was a big worry, having to depend on the airline doing its job. This worry seemed to be justified when I got a text at 5.45am that my flight to Chicago was cancelled!
Despite all the preparations, there is a lot to learn every day: what to expect from other road users, cycling on the hard shoulder of a busy, fast dual carriageway, how to cope with the heat, etc..
I am taking back what I said about Americans and their car: I just saw people in ordinary cars, going about their work, nothing fancy, no showing off. I will probably see a lot of these contrasts.
When I got over the McKenzie Pass yesterday, I didn't realise I was entering a desert. Apart from some shrubs and hardy trees, nothing grows here without irrigation. 
Coming across the Cascade mountain range, I had not realised that not only was I entering a very different climate but also an area of Oregon that saw themselves culturally very different. Initially it was country music in the shops but also Trump supporting slogans, signs like "Move the Oregon Boarder" and talking to people.
A lot happened in the last six days. I went over four mountain ranges, followed two north west leading rivers and now up along the Lochsa River, going north east and tomorrow over the Lola pass, at 5,235 feet, the highest part of the trip so far.
Today I did the climb up from Darby over the Chief Joseph Pass (7,241ft). It was over 3,000 ft, and compared to the McKenzie Pass, my first climb, it was a piece of cake. I was rather pleased and feel more confident about tackling the Hoosier Pass at 11,542 ft at the beginning of September.
I arrived in the Yellowstone National Park today, after only 53miles. It feels a bit like a milestone. I have not seen much so far, but tomorrow will cycle through the Lower and Upper Geyser Basins. Hopefully I will see Old Faithful erupting. 
For my rest day I was going to stay at the local church hall. However, I couldn't get in with the host.
Wednesday was also my first real acquaintance with a 25 mph wind, both good and bad. Climbing up from Lander it was either head-on or from the side, making cycling a real pain in the neck. Ret and Neil, who I met yesterday, started out at the same time, and although I waited at the top, I don't know if they made it.