Originally Posted by
Ranger Dan
During the summer of 1976 I was working for the US Forest Service on a survey crew in the Ochoco National Forest in Oregon. I saw many of the BC riders making their way between Prineville and Mitchell, Oregon on US 26. Our survey crew spent some nights at the hotel in Mitchell when we had projects in the eastern Ochocos. We met a number of bikers who stayed at the hotel or camped out nearby. It looked like a lot of fun, but I didn't get to make the trip until I graduated from college in 1980.
only time in my life I kept a journal. Checked it to see if we crossed paths and it doesn't appear so
Day 5 (May 25) Had good weather for ride into Prineville. Got up in the morning and were treated to clear view of the Three Sisters Mountains - snow capped - much taller than the sourrounding mountains and volcanic. Today and last miles of yesterday marked end of Coastal Cascades and beginning of Columbia Plateau where trees are much smaller and land is much drier. Not many big hills today. Stopped in Redmond for cofffee and lost one glove. Five miles out realized it was missing -went back but couldn't find it. In Prineville we stayed in small white church - ate salad for supper. Ate breakfast next day in Martin's Chile Bowl cafe. Very small place and Martin is 78 years old. So many of us overwhelmed him and had to help him out. Got sunburned during day and broke rubber band that holds pannier down (tied it back together)
Day 6 (May 26) Very clear and very hot. Land gets drier still and in many places just sparsly covered by shrubs. Had to wear long pants because my legs were already badly sunburned. Satyed at the Oregon Hotel in Mitchell (pop 200) - ate in local cafe. Lady who ran hotel talked of hunting coyotes and bobcats and fishing for trout. Very friendly hotel - more like a boarding house. During the ride had a steep 7.8 mile climb followed by fantastic 25.1 mile downhill - saw millions of prarrie rats. Night ended with me and Jack finishing off everyones beer and watching three inch slugs crawling around.