NW Loop Day 18 - wheeeeeeee

Actually started today with steep short climb up the other motel driveway to breakfast. The group was split overnight between the two lodgings in town. The A group joined the B group for meals.

 Last night we were led to believe that we would start climbing as soon as we left so it was with some pleasure that we ride the first few miles down to the start of the climb.  The long slog climb.
We rode through a burnt section of the forest, still smelling of charred wood and too soon after it to see any sign of regrowth shoots on any of the trees.  I was I thought eerily silent until I heard and saw a few birds in amongst the trees, that was a heartening sound. The fire area was reminiscent of Black Saturday (2009) at home as the swathe the fire cut through the forest and hills was clear to see.

It was a relief to achieve the summit today as the weather was warming up a bit. Downhill a bit to our rest stop where a case that hit a deer had been waiting since late last night for help as the radiator and grille were badly damaged.
Downhill again for miles and miles into farming country passing the first wheat field we had seen for quite some time. It is all beautiful country.

Lunch, then a walk a mile to downtown Prineville which was somewhat disappointing as it has very  shops and those open were pretty ordinary. The Museum was good, set up in an old bank building expanded into the adjacent property.
I was again  of home, particularly Northern Victoria, by the very dry hot hot air as we walked there and back. We returned through a  lovely park, headed to Starbucks for something cold, and i came back to the hotel for a refreshing swim. I am very grateful for the number of places with pools we have stayed in.