D10 Mitchell to Mt Vernon

Mileage: 62

Video https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDAw5oVLv

Map https://ridewithgps.com/trips/91156109

Before I start, I need to issue a correction. Yesterday I said I met my first cyclists. What I should have said is that I met my first touring cyclists. I’ve met wonderful cyclists every day of the trip.

Sitting on the picnic table at Clyde Holiday State Rec Area listening to the traffic on US 26 go by my campsite. It’s 7:27 and I have 3 minutes left on my Good-To-Go Mushroom Risotto to go. The huckleberry wine from David Hamilton Winery in Mt. Vernon is helping to pass the time. I was hoping that Chad from the Spoke’n Hostel would pull in. We’d planned to camp at the fairgrounds in John Day, but the aforementioned David Mitchell said this place is a lot nicer. I sent Chad a message via Instagram (I followed him) but I didn’t have his phone number. I borrowed a pen and paper plate from the camp host and put a sign that said “Chad -> TJ” on the campground’s road sign, but alas no Chad which is a problem because I bought a bottle of huckleberry wine from the aforementioned David Hamilton thinking I split the bottle. When I pulled into the hiker/biker site, I found Jim, but Jim doesn’t drink. I just may have to violate the open container law tomorrow…


Today started with me making pancakes at the wonderful Spoke’n Hostel and trading stories with Chad, Greg, and Olav over breakfast. I was the first out of the gate leaving at 8:30 ish. I was worried about my wrist but it was fine! The day began with a moderately graded six mile climb. I’ve learned to put it in a low gear and enjoy the scenery unfolding at 5-6 miles an hour. Once at the top, I was treated to a seemingly endless downhill through beautiful canyons.


After 38 miles I came to Dayville. I ate at the Dayville Merchantile. As I was munching my sandwich Olav pedalled by but he didn’t see me. Olav is a machine. He’s cranking out 100 mile days. After Dayville I got treated to Picture Gorge, the prettiest canyon of a place filled with pretty canyons. Somewhere along the way, I saw a bike ahead of me and cranked hard to catch up. It was Olav. I thought I was hot s**t, but then I learned the only reason I caught up with him is because he had a flat. I also learned that he left his front panniers at the hostel and didn’t notice until he was three miles down the road. I’m not the only one!


The day was going fast. After the big climb it was downhill or flat. By 4.15 I was in Mt Vernon. I peered in the window of a seeminly closed junk store / winery. Just as I was concluding it was closed, I heard a “Psst, you, over here!” It was David Mitchell who was in his truck about to leave. He looked like an Amish farmer, but sported a Vietnam Veteran hat, told me he ran a junk store in Duvall, and has occasionally smoke weed laced with opium that gives him the most wonderful erotic dreams. I bought the huckleberry wine.


At the Clyde Holiday State Recreation Area, I met Jim from Iowa who biked here from Iowa and is heading to Bellingham and then down the Pacific Coast and maybe back to Iowa. In a definite pattern, all solo cyclists (me included) are all super chatty after pulling long mles along on the bike. What was highly cool is that knowledge is complementary. He told me about Wyoming and I told him about Washington. It’s past 9 now and dark. The horse in the next field is neighing. I need to wrap. Goodnight!

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