Today was determination day. I had to get to a certain point to set myself up for future climbs. Today’s challenge was to make it to a hostel in Mitchell. Long hot day with a climb up to 4700 feet and then downhill to Mitchell. I realized that after yesterday’s climb of McKenzie Pass and over the Cascade Mountain range everything was different. It was noticeably drier and hotter. The trees changed from Douglas fir to Ponderosa Pine and the farming from tree harvesting to livestock in open fields. The landscape was now much flatter but an elevation of 2800 to 3300 feet.
I think I now have my eating regime set for each day and have been having the same breakfast every riding day, same kind of snack/lunch, and then eat everything I can for dinner. Especially in Mitchell. Bar food never tasted so good as the burger I had in Mitchell.
Day 9 stats: total mileage 94 miles; average speed 12.4 mph, max speed 30.1 mph, elevation gain 2415 feet, elevation loss 1184 feet. Some stats are partial because the bike computer ran out of juice at the top of Ochoco Pass.