Day 17-Real Dead Fossils

Both Doug and I slept really well last night! We ended up having the entire bunk room to ourselves. There was air conditioning, and it was just pleasant. We each gave the $25 suggested donation, and it was totally worth it. 

Spoke n Hostel entrance. 

They speak…me! (For those who followed my Appalachian Trail Hike, you’ll get this)

We left the hostel at 6:45. I think that’s our earliest start yet. Helps when we don’t have to take down tents. As we rode out of town, we saw this sign. You know a town is bike friendly when there is a bike sculpture next to their town sign!

Ride out of the gate, we started the 6 mile climb up Keyes Creek Summit (about a 1300 foot climb to 4300 feet). This is why we wanted to get going early…so we could get this climb done in the nice cool temps. It was cool, and very quiet for most of the climb. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a fellow Da Brim wearer pedaling up behind me rather quickly. Turns out he was on an ebike. 

It was far easier for him. 

At the summit, he was talking to Doug. His name is Robert, and he is from Pennsylvania. He is doing the whole Trans Am. He carries two batteries for the bike. His voice sounded exactly like the guy who is from Canada, and has the podcast called the Vinyl Cafe (I think the Christmas Dinner one is the most well known). Seriously…exactly like him!

Obligatory summit photo (with Robert’s ebike too)

The rest of the ride was mostly descending. There was the occasional rise, but then more down. 

We descended to the John Day River. When we got to the river, we had the option of going to the John Day Fossil Beds Sheep Rock Unit Visitor Center. It was just two miles off route. We opted to go. 

John Day River. 

Doug making the turn. 

Sheep Rock. It looked more like a sheep from here than at the Visitor Center. 

Pretty views today!

Layered rock (apparently, the green rock is not due to copper). 

We arrived at the Visitor Center about 11:30ish. We toured the exhibits, and saw a whole bunch of “real dead fossils”(is there such a thing as fake dead fossils??? Aren’t all fossils dead???). We then fixed ourselves some lunch at a picnic table outside. 

A real dead fossil???

From the Visitor Center we had just 9 miles to our destination of Dayville. I noticed my tire was losing air. Three miles out of Dayville, we pulled over in someone’s driveway that had shade. I had decided I needed more sealant. I put another 2 ozs in, aired up the tire, and we took off. Just as we got to Dayville, there was a puncture, and sealant leaking out. We saw Matt at the turn to go to the church that allows cyclists to stay. We wheeled up to the church. By then, the tire seemed to seal. 

We couldn’t get ahold of anyone at the numbers listed on the church door, but I discovered the door was unlocked. Inside, there were signs to say to make ourselves at home. There are showers (including towels), full kitchen, tables…all the good stuff. We could stay inside, but we are camping outside with Grace, Matt, and Matty. We seem to have become this little group. 

Presbyterian Church that doubles as a hostel. 

Again, they speak me here!

Once everything was done, I decided I should have a closer look at the rear tire. I flipped Tilmann over. The puncture was still slightly bubbling sealant. I put a plug in. Hopefully that does the trick. 

Now it’s about time to go cook dinner in the kitchen!