Today was a very interesting day. I'm at the Spoke'n Hostel in Mitchel and it's amazing. The last three times I stayed here (2003, 2014, 2015) I camped in the park. But, this time I stopped in a bike shop in Prineville and the guy there said to check the hostel out and where it was - and as I rolled up the owner, Jalet, was sitting outside and she won me over pretty quickly. This place is amazing - and new since I last stayed here. Two floors, 12 bunk beds, tons of cycling info, food, coffee, all sorts of things! I'm the only one here today which is good and bad - I'd love to share this with other cyclists for the fun, but also I don't have to worry about snoring this way. Be sure to check out photos in the 2nd post from this day, and also stay here! Also, her husband it leaving tomorrow to ride the Divide from Whitefish to Helena, so I got to share info!
Today was hard! Potentially my hardest day on this tour. 67 miles total, Ochoco pass, heat, headwinds, and a fair amount of aggressive drivers (more on that later). I got to Prineville, 18 miles into the ride, around 9:20 and ate at Dad's Diner - (Service great, coffee great, food just ok), then grabbed a backup tire at the bike shop (the chipseal yesterday scared me, also Goatheads) and then a slow climb up Ochoco pass with a hot headwind.
I did the math wrong though. I though I'd be at the top of the pass at mile 45, but it really was mile 51. That was mentally tough. The 2nd day of a tour is always tough - it's gets easier after day 4 or 5 usually, then easier again after week 2, then you can do it forever after the 1st month if it's that kind of tour.
Then it was 12 miles of a headwind downhill and 3 miles up to Mitchel - but the canyons changed the wind at the bottom so it was a tailwind into Mitchel - which was actually a mixed blessing. Climbing in a tailwind is SUPER HOT and it was getting very hot.
I got into town at 3:45pm, 67 total miles, and 5:03 on bike time (that's a lot of on bike time this early in a tour). For own reference, I woke up at 6am and was riding by 7:45. Tomorrow is a shorter day but I hope to wake and start earlier. The Hostel will help with that (no tent, easy packing). I ate at a brewery that wasn't here in 2014 but I did go to a party in that yard, see photos for more.
So about cars - the car drivers are kind of aggressive this year. Most people give me plenty of room, but many are not. My first half of the divide I complained about the diffculty of dirt, how I can't zone out, etc - but I adjusted. Now I kind of really dislike paved tours. Car noise, even if they give me room, takes me out of my contemplation and meditation. Also, some are real dicks. I had one roll coal on my yersterday, a few honking buzzes, and then today, for the first time in 24 years of road riding, a guy stopped his car to fight me!
Well, kinda, I'm too good of a descalater to get in a fight nowadays, but he was ready for it if I didn't play my cards right. It also was partially my fault (not really, but kinda. In the same way that it's your fault if you walk into a wall you know is there.)
Here is what happend, two rigs passed me, one gave me lots of space and one buzzed me pretty good. I lifted my left arm in a "jeeze" motion - not above my head - just chest level, and I didn't flip him off. Just an exasperated hand wave. I know better than to react to bullies, but I thought this was a safe enough thing to do. I know not flip anyone off.
But no, he pulled his truck and trailer over, got out of his car, and and started saying shit as he walked towards me. My guess is he drives this bike route often and has been waiting to for an excuse to fight a cyclist (or does often). I had a few choices - stop, turn around, or ride around him. Stopping and turning around would just delay the inevitable and make him madder, so I went with "just keep doing my thing and move on." Our convo went like this, as I rode around him.
Him: Why'd you flip me off?"
Me: In an exasperated, tired, passive, resigned, "I can't believe this is happening" tone: "I didn't flip you of, I just waved my hand like this (showed him). You didn't give me much room back there."
Him: A bit calmer "What as I supposed to do, there is no shoulder!"
Me: Now next to him in the oncoming lane as he's blocking our entire lane, still riding about 12 mph "You're right, you're right, I'm sorry"
And then I was past him, and it ended. He didn't have anything to escalate with and he was a least a little reasonable. Of course he was wrong, the rig in front of him and 90% of other cars gave me plenty of space and there was no oncoming traffic - but I wasn't about to engage. The only way to win is to not play - no reaction at all - and let them feel dominant. That goes for gestures too - cyclists are too vulnerable out here.
Besides, he said "there's no shoulder" which implies that I shouldn't have been riding on that road in the 1st place. There was no way to win, but even if I didn't know what "there is no shoulder" was code for, giving the baby his bottle was the only choice. I wasn't gonna get shot by this lunatic or ran over later.
I'm sure he'll speak of me negatively every time he tells this story, and I likely will do the same. He also probably considers me the aggressor, since I made a gesture, and car people like him don't consider almost hitting someone with their car aggressive. Whatever. I would choose bears over cars, EVERY TIME.
I don't want negative interactions with anyone. It's best to let stuff not get to you.
It didn't ruin my day. I teach behaviorally challenged middle schoolers; I have lots of patience and I own my part in the conflict. As usual most everyone out here is awesome, and that hasn't changed!
Tomorrow I have a similar day into Mt Vernon, 63 miles with 3.3k of climb (3.5k today) and another pass. Should be fun!
