455 miles and a rest day!

What a great and sometimes difficult few days these have been! Out of Mt Vernon we climbed up and over the Ochoco Mountains via 2 major passes. These were highlighted by incredible (I have a feeling we'll be using that word a lot!) views, quiet roads with little traffic, pristine woods and a young man named Joseph who stopped to give us oranges as we climbed.  He was a fellow cyclist who had just finished a tour of his own; he was a photographer from San Francisco.  Coming out of the forest, we stayed at Unity Lake Rec Area, where the campground manager with an impressive mustache welcomed us like long lost friends, having seen us climbing earlier in the day when he was getting wood.  He jokingly tried to give us a huge rock as a " good luck present" as we left the next day.   Coming out  of Unity, we were soon met by a very talented chorus of goats as we passed by their pen.  We laughed so hard we could hardly stay on our bikes as they bleated in true harmony very loudly, cheering us along the way.  I think they had been practicing that seventh chord just for us! " and there was much rejoicing...yay..."

In Vale we stayed at the city park. We wanted to make sure it was ok, so we knocked on a gate in the adjoining fence as we heard a voice on the other side, to ask permission, whereupon, the "man behind the gate" (Wilson?) appeared and not only said it was ok, but let us use his guest house shower and bathroom, and left the gate open in case we needed anything during the night!  He even apologized for the park sprinklers that came on in the middle of the night soaking our tent.  Magical....

Leaving Vale was fast and easy at first, but it got so hot that I was soon burned pretty badly despite 50 sunscreen lavishly smeared on.  We crossed the Idaho border early afternoon, and slogged into Nampa, hot and very tired. After a stop at Winco, for steaks for Father's Day supper, we found our warm showers host. Actually we found his house, which we have all to ourselves.....furnished but just used as a sometimes office.  We are taking a break now, resting for the day.  We have a shower and a bed and a kitchen for our use, as well as a car for the day!  What a host!  He came in this morning with coffees and breakfast groceries, and we had a great visit with him.  Amazing hospitality and kindness, and a very interesting guy. One of 5 bean breeder specialists in the world!  

So we will take a break today, and start our trek through Idaho tomorrow.  What a difference a little rest can make! 

Still climbing.... No that is NOT our beer bottle on the side of the road....

And climbing.....

And climbing

You get the picture....

Encouragement snack......

Second state line crossed!  (Yes, crossing into Oregon counts!)

This house, all to ourselves.... Thanks to the incredible kindness of our host and fellow cyclist.  Generosity prevails here!  We even have the use of his car for our day of rest... Wow.

Father's Day supper....