A chance to rest and recuperate at the end of our time in our penultimate state, Klamath Falls gave us a chance to prepare for the absolute gauntlet that biking through half of California will be during the coming week. Now that we are in the final ten days of the ride, we are fully immersed in the very emotional reminiscence of all that it took to get ourselves this far as a team and as individuals. With this in mind, enjoy a bonus pre-ride journal entry after you finish reading this one. :)
A few riders took the van to the rim of Crater Lake for a sunrise that can’t be beat.
Ride Overview
Mileage: 54.6
Elevation: +863’/-2669’
General Direction: Exit the campground onto southbound Crater Lake Highway (OR 62), continue for 30.3 miles until making a right onto southbound U.S. 97, at mile 51.1 keep left onto the business loop, turn left after three miles onto Washburn Way and climb the hill to reach the stayover.
Points of Interest: Cascade Mountain Range (Union Peak, Sky Lakes Wilderness, Aspen Butte), Upper Klamath Lake, Williamson River
The western view for much of the second half. Mountains are obscured by the haze from smoke in the atmosphere.
Tales of the Trail
Ten miles of descent off the smooth yet pined backside of Mount Mazama and its sister mountains started our day off with a bang. Jackets were worn by all to brace for the chilly mountain winds as light continued to fill the sky and pierce between the trees. This boost in mileage offered us a sense of silent optimism for the day that lasted for the rest of the route, even when things got a little hairy in the second half. We continued to make our way along the eastern mountain ridge with flats to our right full of blissful emptiness and grazing cattle. Taking apart the silence at the beginning, mile 30 brought us back onto U.S. 97, and an extremely wide Upper Klamath Lake appeared on our right as the highway began to squeeze itself between it and some imposing rocky hills. Cars and trucks thundered by as we were confined to a pretty gnarly shoulder, and the lake looked more like a sea as wildfire smoke created a haze that covered the mountains to the north and west. A few bald eagles as well as ospreys and other birds of prey delighted us as they flew along the edge of the water. Entering town from the north, we continued onto the business spur for a few miles and, as is tradition, climbed one last hill to our stayover. For our efforts and early arrival, we got lunch in groups in downtown Klamath Falls.
Finishing van packing for the day.
JY and Adam pedaling along Upper Klamath Lake.
Kathryn’s group among some Oregon conifers.
We are staying at the United Evangelical Free Church where we have been given a kitchen, showers, and lots of space to spread out and sleep (including a room of couches!). We gave ourselves the opportunity to settle down and rest up for this final and important rest day.
First San Francisco sign!
Some actually incredible Thai iced teas to start the rest day cycle off right.
Absolutely enthralled by our dinner of chili and veggies by Chef Hanna.
The Rest Day
Klamath Falls gave us much to do for being on the smaller side of towns we’ve had rest days in. We split into groups for lunch and ran a few errands including some post office runs, shopping for prom clothes, and bike repairs. Many stayed at the church and slept or ran some laundry and took care of other necessities. For dinner, we dined at the, er, interesting Red Rooster, which while not entirely notable food-wise gave us the chance to start to reminisce as an entire team; truly a wonderful time as well as a sign of the end being in sight.
Chilling in the main room of the church.
A top five sunset to end off the last rest day.
Cyclist’s Corner: Team Edition
From now until the end of the ride, this segment will be a single open answer or poll-style question that most or all of the team will answer. :)
Today’s Question: Where was your favorite stayover? (Written by order of appearance on route.)
River Forest, IL: Sam R
Lincoln, NE: Nina
McCook, NE: Sam M
Boulder, CO: Jaylen, Jonathan B, Jean, Kathryn, Adam, Laurel
Frisco, CO: Jonathan Y
Big Piney, WY: Patrick
Jackson, WY: Edward
Arco, ID: Paul
Boise, ID: Nabeel
Ochoco Temporary Stayover (Hwy 26): Hanna
Bend, OR: Olivia
Rest day shenanigans. :)