Todd Miller / TransAmerica 2010 / Day 7 + 8
Day 7 summary
Ontario, Oregon: I’ve now been cycling for a week, and today three milestones were reached. I surpassed the 500 mile threshold (my odometer now reads 552 miles); I crossed a time zone, and am now on Mountain time; and I crossed an entire state (Ontario, where I am sleeping tonight, is close to the Idaho border). Today’s 83 mile ride was an easy one, and I have now already completed about 1/7 of the transcontinental journey. It was also an authentic Americana day with Holiday Inn, Dairy Queen and Sizzler among the experiences.
Day 7 route: Baker City to Ontario, Oregon
Day 7 mileage: 83.2 miles
Cumulative mileage: 552 miles
Today’s Elevation: 2,100 feet of climbing
Cumulative Elevation: 26,600 feet of climbing
Terrain: Flat and rolling hills; more down than up; farmland, prairie and forest
Day 8 summary
Boise, Idaho: Yesterday we cruised into Idaho and on to the capital city. It was a stress free and mostly flat ride on back roads through farmlands and neighborhoods into Boise. It’s interesting how the houses got bigger and closer together as we approached Boise. We made good progress and arrived in time for an al fresco lunch in the bucolic Hyde Park neighborhood. The balance of the afternoon was spent chilling (jacuzzi and reading) and doing some bike maintenance. Yes, even I am learning bike maintenance. Tomorrow I’m even going to learn how to change a tire. I also visited Georges, one the best bike shops anywhere, to pick up some more stuff (including a spare chain and a rear view mirror to affix to my sunglasses).
Today is the first of five rest days on this trip. After eight consecutive days of cycling, it seemed unnatural to not pedal today. Instead, we took it easy. I caught up on my work email this morning. We walked all over historic old Boise. Visited two bike shops. Went to Boise State University to find a bookstore. Had a really good lunch in a distillery, and topped it off with ice cream at Moon’s, which has been keeping Boise happy since 1955. In short, it was a “normal” day that didn’t involve huffing and puffing across a continent.
Tomorrow the pedaling resumes. Now that we’ve crossed the Cascades mountains, the Teton range of the Rockies is the next vertical hurdle on this eastbound trek.
Day 8 route: Ontario, Oregon to Boise, Idaho
Day 8 mileage: 63.7 miles
Cumulative mileage: 615.7 miles
Today’s Elevation: 1,650 feet of climbing
Cumulative Elevation: 28,250 feet of climbing
Terrain: flat, farmland
