Oregon (part two)

After Eugene I was anxious to continue west towards the coast, but that would have meant adding on unnecessary miles returning east for Portland. I was so close, but still had a long way to go.

Riding north I got to experience the Oregon weather I was told to expect. Each intersection I crossed was like a river crossing.

I have been looking forward to Portland for a while now and was a much needed city break after months of my "small town America" tour. The city is everything I expected it to be; it is very easy to cycle around, plenty to see and do, and too many breweries to visit in one week.

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Oregon (part one)

Eastern Oregon is mostly high desert with some green valleys dotted here and there. Volcanic formations kept me interested in a landscape I was beginning have enough of. The John Daly Fossil Bed was spectular.

Coming up to McKenzie Pass the scenery began to change. The summit was like another planet, the road cut through an ancient lava field which provided an "out of this world" view that stretched out for miles.

After McKenzie Pass the landscape, weather and the attitude of the people changed. This was the green, cooler more liberal Oregon I was expecting. Eugene was an interesting introduction to the west and a fun place to take a few days off.

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Idaho

Idaho is full of wild animals and wild people. Once I crossed over Lolo Pass I entered Idaho and started to descend up into a densely forested valley. It was so beautiful and distracting, so much so, I managed to ride over a rock and crack my rear rim.

It wasn't until White Bird that the wheel really became a problem. Luckly I was put into contact with a mechanic in New Meadows and the rim managed to hold up for the day. After a couple of days, a lot of running around and Don the mechanic going above and beyond to help me I got a replacement wheel.

I really enjoyed Idaho and found the people amazing. I was lucky to get through the state when I did, roads behide me were closing due to forest fires in the area trapping people trying to leave the valley for Montana.

 There was something about my time in Idaho which reminded me of Ireland, or maybe it's because I can see the end coming and homesickness is starting to sink in. 

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Montana

My experience of Montana one of great hospitality and generousity. Like Colorado, the people were very active, and very supportive of what I was doing.

During my time in Montana I witnessed two accidents for the time in trip, besides some scrapes and bruises no one was seriously hurt.

From Hamilton I got a lift up to Glacier National Park were I took a few days off and went water rafting for the first time. Glacier Park was amazing, with views far superior than anything else I have seen on the trip so far.

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Yellowstone (Wyoming part two)

Being a nerd about all things volcanic; I was very excited about getting to Yellowstone. I was not disappointed, the days riding around the Tetons and up through Yellowstones were the most beautiful days of the trip so far.

The traffic was an issue in some sections of the park with some close calls with passing RV's, but that never took away from the glorious views that bombarded me. 

Milege wise the days were short in Yellowstone, which allowed me plenty of time to explore. Since Lander I have been traveling with a group of ten which changed the pace and mood of the trip. Yellowstone was a holiday within a holiday. 

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Wyoming (part one)

I had no preconceptions for Wyoming. It's a big state with a small population, so small there is only one area code for the entire state. The first couple of days in Wyoming was stormy and windy. I found the wind in Wyoming more challanging than the wind in Kansas. The hills and rock formations channeled the wind and I seemed to be constantly cycling into a head wind.

All that said, the landscape was beautiful, with a wide variety of shapes and colours. The towns between the wide alien like landscapes offered up some of the warmest people I have met so far on the trip. 

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