Bob on Cycle Oregon 2009

Day 5 Route

“Up the Creek(s)”
"This day will have a soundtrack of running water – we spend the majority of the ride alongside one of five creeks. We’ll climb steadily for 30 miles (only the last five are serious), past Galesville Reservoir and under the gaze of bald eagles, before following Evans Creek for an incredible 40 miles of gentle descent through deep forest. At the bottom we break out into a lovely valley of covered bridges and vineyards, and finish the day following the Rogue River down into Grants Pass".

Heaven On Earth Goodies

(Photo by Scott Bernard Nelson/The Oregonian)

We started the day with a long gradual climb under overcast skies. As the first rest stop got closer at around mile 18, we were trying to decide whether to stop. It was an out-and-back and I really dislike retracing my route. When we saw people with hand-lettered signs that read "Free cinnamon rolls", there was no hasitation. It seems that Heaven On Earth Restaurant and Bakery was sponsoring this morning's rest stop. They gave us free cinnamon rolls, marionberry cobler, apple crisp and other goodies. In addition, there was a dual playing country music. The singer was a big man with a bushy white beard and a beautiful mellow voice. In the food category, this rest stop rivaled last year's stop where thay served fresh organic top-grade peaches.

Reluctantly, we got back on our bicycles and continued the climb up past the Galesville Reservoir. This was an eerie part of our tour. You have to picture grey overcast skies, bare clear-cut hillsides and dark green still water with blackened dead trees sticking out of it. Jeff called it surreal and a good backdrop for Morder in "The Lord of the Rings".

We made another stop at the designated water stop and then continued the steep climb to the summit. As soon as we reached the summit, the sun came out and the temperature rose. This was welcomed because the next 45 miles were down hill. The first part of the descent was fairly steep. The road was in good shape so we could get off of our brakes and build up speed. I was passed by a speeding female bullet and immediately grabbed onto her wheel. After a mile or so, I realized that I knew whose bicycle it was. It turned out to be Sarah Gates, the daughter of Steve and Nancy Dudley - classmates of mine at Pomona College. Sarah pulled Jeff and me all of the way to the lunch stop at the Elderberry Flat Campground.

After lunch we had downhill rollers for the rest of the ride. We went along Evans Creek and past Wimer and the Wimer Covered Bridge. Stopping at the last rest stop, we were entertained by a local 14-year-old girl who played the fiddle and mandolin and sang. Jeff thought that he recognized her name as a promising young musician from Southern Oregon.

From Wimer, we rode south to Rogue River and then west into Grants Pass. Our campground was at Riverside City Park. It was a very pleasant spot on the Rogue River. There were lots of big shade trees which would have been nice for us in the building heat, but our Tent and Porter camp was out in the open and our tents were stifling.

Jeff and I did our normal after-ride routine. Some of the rest of our crew decided to take the free shuttle into town to explore. We decided that it was getting too late and we didn't want to miss any of the karaoke which was the scheduled entertainment for the evening. Except for a couple of acts, it was typically cringing.

Please visit Day 5 slide show from BikePortland.

You can take a simulated tour of today's route by clicking here.

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