Today was a day of traffic, sore knees, and a stop at the Dollar General store. After Leaving Coburg it was onto 126. Great shoulders, lots or traffic, and lengthy delays for crews working to remove timber burned from last years forest fires so it can be turned into pulp. The longest delay was 30 minutes but there where two other shorter ones. Even though I might be first in line and I have to go last once traffic starts. It is safer for me and they hold traffic until I am through the check point.
I encountered two rain showers today. The first I dodged by getting under trees overhanging the road, the second I was in my tent.
Belknap Springs has natural hot springs and they fabulous. Definitely a good way to end a day. At the campground I meet Nancy, a retired army officer who is doing the same route as I am. It was from Nancy that I learned that McKenzie pass was open to bicyclists and not cars. That would be 500 feet more in elevation gain than the pass I was going to take but 20 miles shorter and no cars.
Today’s stats: total mileage 62.8 miles; average speed 11.9 mph; max speed 34.4 mph; elevation gain 1484 feet; and elevation descent 682 feet.