We had an enjoyable ride into Bend, and we got to see our final sights of the Ochoco National Forest as we hit a 30-mile descent. We also had the chance to visit the last Blockbuster on Earth and eat at King Buffet before getting to our stayover in Bend. During our rest day, a group got up early to enjoy a hike to Tumalo Falls, while others chose to sleep in. We also got the chance to explore downtown Bend, where we visited bike shops, stores, cafes, and restaurants! The night ended with a group choosing to scarf down a spicy chicken sandwich to win a free t-shirt, a picture on the wall of Wonderland Chicken, and the meal for free!
quote of the day
Yuncong: “There’s some beauty in randomness”
Veronica: “Mmm so true queen”
ride overview
Mileage: 69.5 Miles
Elevation: 2,006 ft.
Points of Interest: Ochoco Reservoir, Prineville Coffee Company, Blockbuster, King Buffet, Tumalo Falls, Wonderland Chicken, Old Mill District
Ride Dedication: Scott Fornek
Tales of the trail
Day 63
We woke up on the Ochoco Campsite, ready for our upcoming rest day in Bend! Today was especially exciting because we all put on fake mustaches donated to us earlier in the ride, which made it a really funny start to the ride. The first portion of the ride was incredibly speedy, as we had a 30-mile descent that we absolutely flew through – I guess it’s nice to start the day at the top of a pass! We also got to pass by the Ochoco Reservoir, where we had a short stop before continuing on to Prineville, where we stopped for some coffee and did a portrait at a McDonald’s. For the rest of the ride, we had steady tailwinds and great views of Mount Hood and the Three Sisters Mountains, which are prominent mountains in Oregon! We enjoyed a quick side of the road rest stop, where we were met by Josh, a bikepacker we met going into John Day!
The last rest stop of the day was at the last Blockbuster on Earth, and it was truly incredible to see a place that felt like a fever dream in all of our childhoods (besides Jason’s, maybe). The Blockbuster had some really cool movie memorabilia, including signed movie posters and a signed copy of the first Ghostbusters script! After leaving Blockbuster, we stopped at King Buffet for lunch and enjoyed a well-needed all-you-can-eat lunch special! Unfortunately, it started storming and hailing outside, and we had to shuttle everyone 5 miles to the stayover. After arriving at the stayover, some of us got to meet with family/friends, and we had a chance to set up for the night. We also got to meet the church president, Dave, who recommended some hikes for the next day. Everyone got to bed somewhat early for a restful night, as a group wanted to wake up early for a hike in the morning!
Day 64
To start off our rest day, some of us got up bright and early once again to go on a short hike. A small group of us went to visit Tumalo Falls, a gorgeous 97 foot waterfall in the Deschutes National Forest (but not before a quick McDonalds breakfast). After their short hike, we all regrouped back at the church to make plans for the day. At the church, we got to talk to some locals from the quilting group. It was a pleasure to be able to talk to such lovely people of the community, and they were so supportive of I4k!
After meeting with some of the locals, we went to a nearby bike shop to look for some bike parts and visit the coffee shop across the street. Once we were all caffeinated, we visited the Old Mill District in Bend and walked around some shops to get souvenirs. Soon after, the groups split up once again to get lunch since everyone was in the mood to get something different. One group went to Jackson’s Corner, another went to get some Asian cuisine, and the last group went to Wonderland Chicken Co., where we were introduced to some spicy chicken, and a challenge for later… Following our adventures in the Old Mill District, the team spent time back at the stayover to relax and shuttle over to some showers that John and Denise let us use in their home! We met Denise earlier in the day with the quilting group and she so generously offered us to shower in her home. As we took turns taking showers, we got to chat with John and Denise, learning more about them and their own adventures. It was a pleasure to get to meet you guys, and thank you for opening up your home to sixteen of us to be able to shower!
Later in the night, some members of the team decided to tackle a challenge that had been tickling their brains since lunchtime. At Wonderland Chicken Co., we were informed of their spicy chicken sandwich challenge. A challenge that had you eat a level 7 (the spiciest) spicy chicken sandwich in under 10 minutes. The reward? A free meal, shirt, bragging rights, and a photo on the wall of completed finishers. Our members are not ones to back away from a food challenge, so some of the guys took on the challenge and were able to complete it! With great pressure from the owner during the challenge, tempting them with a glass of ice during the challenge, the guys resisted and went on to eat their spicy chicken sandwiches in under 10 minutes! They were rewarded with a free meal, a shirt, and most importantly, their photo on the wall of finishers in the restaurant. They represented Illini 4000 in all its glory! Well done! Despite this being a major victory for the team, the guys spent the rest of the night shuttling back and forth between their sleeping bags and the bathroom. But it was totally worth it!
Thank you to the Nativity Lutheran Church for hosting us for two nights in Bend on such short notice! Your hospitality is greatly appreciated!
cyclist’s corner
Today’s Rider: Micah Yoder
How are you feeling today?
I'm feeling pretty good. I got to tire myself out a bit by going pretty fast with my group, and I had a great time with the descent at the beginning, and also enjoyed our rest stops. At our first rest stop, we met a cancer survivor when we stopped at McDonald's, and it was interesting talking to him and hearing his life experience in rural Oregon. Then the scenery was all very nice today. It was, yeah, the beginning was nice.
Which chore have you been doing for the team in the past week? Can you share your process doing this chore?
So I've been on water jugs, PB and J box, and policing. So what we do with this is we make sure to first each night, clean out the PB and J box, primarily washing the utensils that we've used the day before so they're all clean, and have fresh utensils for the next day for the peanut butter and jelly at our lunch stop. Then also every two days or so, sometimes slightly longer, if we don't use or eat much food, cleaning out the entire box. Also, another part is policing. So when we're leaving a stayover, making sure that everything looks nice, taking out the trash, and making sure no one's left chargers and other stuff around the stayover, we also fill the water jugs, either in the morning or at night, and that's about it.
What’s the best food you’ve eaten on the ride so far?
The best food I've eaten on the ride so far has to be in Boise. I stopped by the market area, and they had these weird chicken and cheese filled phyllo pastryish dishes, which are very good.
Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform?
Yep! So a while ago, I found a cone on the side of the road. I was planning on giving it to Veronica for I4Kristmas, so I originally started carrying it on my handlebar. But then I realized that it was either going to fall off or keep me from braking, so I decided to attach it to my head instead and put it on my head and left it there until I4Kristmas, but I found another I4Kristmas gift (which all of them have to be from the side of the road instead). So I abandoned my original plan of making a pinwheel holder and kept wearing it on my head, and now, about every rest stop we stop at, someone asks me about the cone, so I figure I got to keep it on until the end of the ride.
Any favorite team memories so far?
My favorite team memories so far are probably just conversations around the fire or camping days, because I love camping and being outside.
Anything else you want to talk about?
A while ago I got jelly from State College, and it's still in the PB and J box, because we haven't gone through it very quickly, but my favorite jelly has to be strawberry.