| Distance | Average Speed | Max Speed | Time | Elevation gain |
| 69.13 miles | 16.0 mph | 35.5 mph | 4:19:07 | 3329 feet |
Day 1 started out early. I had decided not to get out of bed until 6am, but I also can't just lay on the ground because it hurts my back and shoulders. So I got up. I did try something new this year. Normally I completely pack up, take the bag to the truck, and go to breakfast dressed and ready to ride. This time, though, I just packed my sleeping bag and Therma-rest (mostly to waste time until 5:30am when breakfast was served), and put on my shorts and jersey under my fleece pants and jacket. The bonus is that I wore regular shoes which are much easier to walk in. Breakfast was scrambled eggs and ham, a waffle, oatmeal, granola and yogurt with orange juice. Everything a growing boy needs...to ride 70 miles. Afterward, I chatted with a couple people and headed back to take down my tent. There were areas that you could drop your bag off to be carted off to a baggage truck. Of course, it was later that I realized that by doing this, I had absolutely no idea which truck my bag was on.
I rolled off around 6:45am. It was a cool morning, but it was sunny. I went with just arm and leg warmers with a vest. We rolled past fields full of sweet onions waiting to be harvested and put on trucks. There were onions just laying on the sides of the road from all the trucks that roll through here. It all smelled great. The butterflies must have liked it as well because the air was thick with little yellow ones trying to fly into me in the windy conditions. It was a tough 15 miles into the wind until we got into the relative protection of the canyons. Just before lunch we turned onto an awful chip sealed road that was so rough I could barely keep the speed above 10 mph. I rolled into lunch around 9:30am. (or second breakfast, as I prefer to call it). It was a yummy ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce and tomato. No onions though which I thought was a bit odd considering where we were. I was very warm in the sun, so I put away my arm and leg warmers and vest.
After lunch we returned to the chip seal for a little 18 mile climb. It was very gradual at least. After the ODS rest stop, we had 4 miles of the climb to go. After the summit (3180ft), we had a nice little 12 mile down hill without too much headwind into Heppner where I arrived at 12:15pm for my Alpenrose Dairy sponsored chocolate milk. There was a report out at some point this year that chocolate milk was just as effective a recovery drink as Gatorade, so the local Portland dairy became one of Cycle Oregon's sponsors to provide us with free chocolate milk at the end of every day's ride. It was good stuff, and it seemed to work ok.
I staked out my camp site and went to find my bag, but there was no bag yet. Apparently when I left my bag at the pick up area, it got on the second truck which came in an hour after I got in so I had to wait to take my shower. It did, however, eventually show up, and I got my shower without much wait. One of the guys who set up his tent next to where I left my bike to reserve my piece of grass (another grassy camping site!) suggested that I head to the shower trucks on the other side of the tent and porter service tents to avoid the line.
For those not in the know, or didn't read our weekend log, the Tent and Porter service is an extra on Cycle Oregon where you can pay to have a tent set up for you and your bag waiting at your tent when you arrive in camp. They actually have 2 identical sets of 500 tents so they can set them up ahead of time at the next camp site. The first year they did this in 2003 which I was also on, I often got to camp before they were even setup. But that's no longer the case, though it's still possible to not have your bag there waiting yet. I prefer to do my own tent for the weeklong ride. It's less expensive, and if I get my bag on the right truck, I don't have to wait around much for anything, and I still get a pretty decent pick of camping spots. As I said, this camp site was on soft grass again. You can't beat that.
The shower trucks are also improved since the last time. Each shower stall has it's own bench and dressing area which is nice since the communal bench that we used to have to use was always wet, and crowded. After the shower, I found a spot in the shade to read. It was in the upper 80's in the afternoon. Maybe even 90's. I chatted with a few people while sitting there on the bench including a Canadian from Victoria, BC on his first CO. The Scenery around the city was brown hills and blue skies. The canyons looked like they were formed from basalt which was exposed in places. No tree cover at all.
Eventually, 4:30pm came around which meant it was dinner time (roast beef, broccoli and cauliflower, potato Au Gratin, salad, and lemon meringue pie). I relaxed in the shade of the dinner tent with the day's Oregonian newspaper. Then it was off to the main stage setup in the city center to find a pay phone. Anticipating a cool evening, I put on socks and shoes instead of sandals, and grabbed my fleece jacket. I found a pay phone at a Shell station to call home. There was no line. Just 3 years ago, I was always waiting in lines for pay phones as long as 45 minutes to an hour to call home. Now, CO doesn't even carry the phone trailer around because everyone has cell phones, and most of the time you can get service. I had my cell phone, but I preferred to save the battery and use pay phones where possible.
After talking to my girlies, I found a bench with a fella from Hillsboro close enough to the main stage to hear, but much more comfortable than a hay bail or bleachers which were near the stage to sit on. He had a friend who was killed by a careless driver while commuting to work by bike who was supposed to be on the ride this year. The driver was talking on his cell phone and just didn't see him. At least they caught the driver. All too often, they drive off.
Following announcements, I walked back to brush my teeth and get ready for tomorrow. It's going to be a tough one. I'm also trying to something different tonight. I'm leaving the rain fly off my tent to see if my tent stays dryer and doesn't build up as much condensation. Also, I think my Therma-rest isn't inflating all the way. I'll have to see if I can get it fully inflated tomorrow.
Well, it's almost 9pm, time for bed.
Continue to Day 2.