01 August 2012

Halfway to Baker City OR 55 miles (TransAm 3,747)

Today was 12 miles between First and Second Breakfast so I believe the day before yesterday was, indeed, a record at 5 miles. Of course the trip isn’t over yet and Gina loves to eat so this record could still fall. Or should I say with emphasis, be “shattered!” like Bob Costas loves to say in his Prime Time Olympics coverage. Not to diminish the setting of new records in any way, for I do believe these world class athletes deserve every possible accolade, but when you stop to think about the differences in records being mere seconds or tenths of seconds or even hundredths of seconds, something you couldn’t actually detect if you were the observer being asked to call the race, well, then “shattered” seems a bit overdramatic. But god bless Bob for his enthusiasm.

Today was also a usual day with regard to climbing passes under the blazing sun. After crossing two (3,653 and 3,684 ft), it’s hard to blame our TransAmmers for what happened next. Gina tells it best:

From the top it was about 4 miles to the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. We were all planning on going (locals told us it was a must) but when we arrived at the bottom of the entrance and saw the wagons and Interpretive Center one mile up a huge hill there was no way I was doing a 3rd climb for the day. So I saved myself $8 and another long, hot ascent.

The way I see it, I’ve been biking the Oregon Trail seeing the views from my saddle, meeting Lewis and Clark, spending time at Split Rock (of Pony Express fame), and cycling through the Nez Perce Indian Reservation, therefore getting educated on all of these expeditions along the way. So, no, I don’t feel bad about skipping the Interpretive Center. Plus, I can go on-line and read more about it.

Ah, technology. It brings us new world records and old world history from above and below life’s summits.