Day 10 La Grande to Baker City

Another beautiful day in Oregon. We sure can't complain about the weather. Right now it's about 80 and I'm at the library in Baker City.

We left just after 7 AM today, a little earlier than planned. But we took our time through some of the small towns along the way. The first place was Union, calling itself the Victorian Heritage town. I've got a few pictures there, the old house, the library donated in 1912 by Andrew Carnegie and a couple of others, one you can maybe make out Levi Strauss painted on the brick a long, long time ago.

Form there we met Walter at the 40 k (24 mi) mark for a water refill. Our support staff including Betty T, Dini M, Diane S, Geri V are doing a great job. (thought I'd throw that in there a second). There are others helping too of course and they are fantastic as well. We met Walter just after 9.

We hit North Powder before 10. There is a picture of an old mercantile bldg from that place. That was about it. No chocolate milk anywhere I could see. But lots of cyclists stopped at a road side java stand in Haines. Pop 402, no 404, a lady across the road had twins last night. Thought she was only having one! That's what the lady at the store selling chocolate milk told me.

At Haines we only had 20k (12 mi) to go and Fred and I rode in with Barb M (Sioux Ctr IA)and Gerry K (Yakima, WA). Barb can haul like you wouldn't believe. She's pulling and I have to work to keep up. She's in the lead at about 34 kph (20 mph).
So we were at Baker City HS before the gear truck at 11:20.

We biked to town, had lunch, then I went sight seeing. If you see the pictures, the tall bldg is the Baker Hotel, built in 1929, a world class hotel at the time. You could buy shares from a total pool of $ 300,000. At the time a lot of money. The Geiser Grand hotel with the top turret was built first, in 1889. The new Baker Hotel didn't help business at the Geiser. (Stopped at the museum, that's how I know all that stuff). Btw Alma, lots of antiques and old things there. I was thinking about you. The museum used to be a natorium or indoor swimming pool, complete with a ball room on the second floor. The Catholic church was built in 1908. (Again, my pictures should show up on Fred Meyerink's site. No flats for Fred today also. Things are looking up).

Well, I best be off to camp and set up my tent etc. Totals for the day: 81 k (49 mi), 4:15 total, but only 3:12 cycling (we'll pay for it later, trust me), avg speed 25.4 kph (just over 15 mph)