Day 13: Halfway - Baker City

In the morning we are at Stockmen's again. Tomi has cereal and hashbrowns with gravy for breakfast, Tei orders a veggie omelette made from scratch outside of the menu.
When we start packing, it starts raining. A guy from Florence, Oregon comes to talk to us; he is riding across the country to the other direction. He stayed in a tent for the night. The rain keeps pouring as we ride up to the first Summit (elev. 3653'). After a short and steep downhill we are in Richland and at the Cappuccino Corral & Cafe for coffee, half sandwiches and cups of chili. It is 11:30am. So far we have 20.4km and 1:44 behind us. It is still cloudy, but it is not raining anymore. We chat with older guys who have driven from Baker City to Richland for breakfast.
The pictures at above and below are from the early morning downtown of Halfway.
We have two more summits to climb before entering Baker City; elevations 2589' and 3684'. There is a short and steep descent from the latter, Flagstaff Hill Summit, to town (elev. 3449'). We rode 87.6km in 6:30 today.

In Baker City (elev. 3449') we have the most inexpensive motel accommodation of the whole trip and right downtown. Budget Inn offers a double room for $37. We prepare for laundry and dinner. The coin laundry is relatively far away by the Interstate 84 exit. It takes time walk there, and we need to check directions several times on our way. It also starts sprinkling.

When finished with the laundry, rain is pouring down. We take a taxi (the only one in town) back to the hotel and then to Barley Brown's Brewing Company, which we have spotted earlier. They don't have their own web site, but here are some reviews. The beer selection includes golden, "turmoil" (dark heavily roasted beer), brown, pale ale, red ale, maibock and stout. We have pasta for dinner, heavy and hearty. Tomi starts feeling sick and we have to close early.

In the picture at right you can see the entry to Richland.

Day 14: Baker City - Sumpter

This is another rainy and cool morning. We have continental breakfast at the motel. It starts raining right when we hit the road. We change rain gear back and forth when the rain keeps shifting gears. We even get some hail.
Few miles after leaving Baker City Tei has a flat. Fortunately, it does not rain, while we change the tube. We go on but not too long, since Tomi does not feel too well. After riding 48.4km and 4:15 we call it a day in Sumpter (elev. 4424'). Tei has a flat again when riding to town.

In the picture below you can see McEwen Station, the other end-stop of the Sumpter Valley Railway, a narrow-gauge steam railroad, running between McEwen (currently a ghost town) and Sumpter, still a vivid outdoor community. On the effort of local Baker County residents, initiated in early 1970's, the railroad was re-acquired, coaches renovated and non-profit operation of museum train was started in 1991.


We decide to stay in Depot Inn, which is expensive. There are several motels in this small town, since it is a vivid winter sport and hunting resort, but the dining options do not look promising. There are two taverns that offer burgers and steaks. The motel hostess informs us that the pizza and pasta place next door, called Borello's, is closed on off-season weekdays. We insist on checking that place, since it has lights on and the "Open" sign is lit. It is open, indeed, with a small menu of couple of entrees. The full menu, especially the pasta dishes, looks really good.

Tomi has lasagna for $10 and Tei chicken fettucine for $12.95 (side salads included). With the entrees we have glasses of Blue Moon Oregon Riesling, 2002, Bridgewood, Cave Junction. After the dinner we return to the motel to watch some more Olympic games.

Day 15: Sumpter - John Day

We wake up at 6:40am. and start a new day in good spirit. It is somewhat grey outside, and it sprinkles a bit. The temperature is 42F. At 1:40pm. we have ridden 46.3km in 4:10 and gone over two mountain passes: Larch Summit (elev. 5082') and Tipton Summit (elev. 5124'). It has been raining all day, so we don't feel like stopping and taking smiling pictures. We push on instead.
After a nasty descent from the mountain passes in cool and wet conditions we are in Austin Junction by the highway 26. The elevation of town Austin nearby is 4115 feet. We have lunch at Austin House (see the pictures above); an Elk burger and a Dixie burger. From Austin Junction we continue on OR 26 uphill to the Dixie Pass (elev. 5279'). The landscape looks like Finnish pine forest. A continuous flow of trucks hauling logs pass us. It goes without saying, it is still raining.

At the Dixie Pass we prepare for a chilly ride down to Prairie City. It is raining but the view is gorgeous. From Prairie City we continue even lower to 3038 feet. Even if it feels like headwind, we have an easy ride to John Day (elev. 3084'). We are there before 7pm. after riding 93.2km in 7 hours.

We have Baja Fajitas with shrimps and veggies for dinner at the Outpost. It is not too good. How many bars do you have? John Day has none (open). Therefore, we head back to Sunset Inn where we stay for a ridiculous price of $77.

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