Day 29: To Lakeview

September 25, 2008

It was 55F in the morning. Amazingly warm. I got on the road at 9:45 and a brisk headwind had already developed. The road goes south towards Adel with a large ridge (the next range I have to cross) to my right. The scenery is interesting-wide open views because the road stays slightly above the sometimes swampy basin.

The scenery is especially nice along the shore of Crump lake with rabbit brush starting to bloom. And no traffic.

Crump Lake and county road 3-10 north of Adel.

A few miles past Crump lake the county roads ends at the town of Adel, on state highway 140. I stopped for lunch at the Adel store. Adel has a population of 78 according to the sign, but it looks smaller. As I was finishing lunch the lady at the store informed me that a neighbor is moving bulls on the highway. I grabbed my camera and ran out to have a look. Maybe a hundred bulls on the highway were herded by a solitary woman on horseback. Yes, this is ranch country.

This cowgirl was herding the bulls to a new pasture.

Adel is the southernmost point of this tour. 10 miles from the state of Nevada. In Adel (4200 feet elevation) I turned west on highway 140 towards Lakeview. It's a very scenic climb into the Warner mountains, starting along Deep creek.

Highway 140 and Deep Creek west of Adel.

This rancher was about to go check on his cattle.

At first the surrounding hills are mostly grass with a few juniper trees. But I climbed into pine forest for the first time in several days. Traffic was very light, maybe one car per minute. The light headwind didn't slow me down much.

I start to see pine trees as I gain elevation.

Much more forested now, in the Warner mountains.

The road tops out at 5846 foot Warner summit at the base of a small ski area. Then a fast 1000 foot descent to the next basin. I turned left on US 395 and pedaled south 6 mostly flat miles to Lakeview.

US 395 north of Lakeview. Another basin.

Weather was great but I decided to stay in town and get a motel. That will make it easier to wash all my clothes. I got a room in the downtown area, showered, then found a laundromat (3rd laundromat on this tour). I bought groceries and ordered a take-out pizza. Many chores after primitive camping the last 3 nights. The TV weather forecast says the weather will be unseasonably warm for the last 5 days of the tour. I watched the news about the economic collapse and later watched the movie Casablanca on Oregon public television.

At 4800 feet elevation Lakeview is the "tallest town in Oregon".

Today was a great day. High of 80F. I felt strong and was in a good mood. I enjoyed the variety of scenery, good weather, and light traffic.

Distance: 53.3 miles (85.3 km)

Climbing: 2417 feet (732 m)

Average speed: 8.2 mph (13.2 km/h)

Maximum speed: 34 mph (54.4 km/h)

Today's ride: 53 miles (85 km)
Total: 1,287 miles (2,071 km)

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