D7 Deschutes to Condon

Mileage 55 but with 5700' of climbing.

Video: https://www.relive.cc/view/vE6J9yDpngO

Map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/90885769

I left the Columbia and I am now in Condon (which autocorrect always helpfully changes to Condom). I changed my route from the gravel of the Oregon Outback to wheat. So much wheat. There is a lot of wheat between the Deschutes and Condon. There's also the deep Cottonwood Canyon. I decided to stay in a hotel. I love old hotels and Condon has a great one.

The day began with a canyon warm up climbing out of the Columbia Gorge along Fulton Canyon. At the top I saw my first wheat field. I would see a lot of wheat this day.

My next stop was Wasco which had a small grocery that made a great egg salad. I sat on the bench outside the post office and watched folks doing their errands. I had a couple nice back and forths with a couple. There were a lot of people heading into the store. I think Saturday is when people come to town to shop.

From there it was wheat until Cottonwood Canyon. Along the way I met Mark from Washington State Patrol who's involved a big project to modernize public safety radios. He talked with Seattle employees I know just yesterday. Small world.

Cottonwood Canyon is deep. I'm glad I didn't know how deep or I would have spent the whole approach worrying about it. The John Day River runs through it. I now desperately want to float it. The canyon bottom was filled with boy scouts and rafters.

What goes down much come up and I faced a 2800' over 8.8 miles. The grade wasn't bad just endless. The endless grind and endless wheat slowly sapped my strength until I was limping into the town. I was so happy to have this luxury. Tomorrow I'm off to Mitchell or I may stop early and camp at Priest Hole on the John Day. I'll do even more climbing!