Final Message From Sally

Sally:

Well, I've been home 3 days now and it's time I wrap up the Blog. I have several things I want to say and since Bill isn't sitting across Cramalot shoving the computer in my face I am naturally slow to get to it.

First of all, if it wasn't for Bill this never would have happened for me, pure and simple. He handed me the opportunity and the confidence that I could do it. How could I pass that up? What an enrichment of my life. Not to mention pure joy.

And my husband Doug encouraged me to go for it. I wouldn't have gone so free and easy without his support and encouragement. See how lucky I am?

Of course my boys just thought I'd lost another marble. Wonder how many I have left.

Someone said to Doug soon after I left "What got into Sally?" Well I heard that and thought, it's always been in me. It felt so natural. When I was five I took my big sister's bike and rode with my 9 year old neighbor across town (Madras, the Dairy Queen was on the other side of the highway). Well I didn't make it all the way because my Dad realized I was missing and came after me. He swooped me off that bike, paddled my behind and stuffed me in the car. Poor Raynette (who had permission) didn't know what was going on. I vividly remember how angry my Dad was. He was scared that I could've gotten hurt. But see Dad, I CAN do it, clear across the country! The other piece that I remember with Dad is how I always wanted to see where a road went. We'd be out camping in the sticks and I'd ask to go further and further, just wanting to see what was around the next corner and where was that road going. Sometimes we'd go too far and get stuck, or Dad would say we have to turn around. Well on this ride I saw so many beginnings and endings of roads, plenty to last the rest of my life. They just end sometimes. And of course Mom plays into this as well. Her spirit of exploration, curiousity, and "can do" attitude was with me all the way. Watching Mom needing help to even get up from a chair convinced me to go while I can and that I needed more adventure in my life. I know Mom would've done this same thing if she had a Cousin Bill!!!

This was ultimately a very selfish act and I thank everyone who let me indulge myself. Wow am I ever grateful. I have so many beautiful vistas in my head when I close my eyes now. And smiles that come to me when I remember some little thing. With bike riding it's the small things that you really appreciate. And that feels so wonderful. To be truly happy and satisfied to have a warm shower, peanut butter on a bagel, ice in your drink, shade to rest in, an ice-cream cone, a good campsite at the end of the day; it's amazing what pleases you so.

And it was really super to get comments from many of you and to know that others were interested and following our course. It did give me energy to hear from each of you, many times just when I needed it.

Anyone want to go for a bike ride???

Sally's LOBAA Statistics

Click here to see a summary of Sally's LOBAA statistics in spreadsheet format.

LOBAA58 - Pacific Ocean - Reedsport/Winchester Bay, OR

7/13/08 Sun PDT
LOBAA58 - Pacific Ocean - Reedsport/Winchester Bay, OR
Sally bike mileage/time 65.25
Sally Total 4304.55
Bill bike mileage/time 19
Bill Total 1283.2
Jim mileage 56.4
Jim total 9005.3
Bill:
Well, she did it ! After one more early start, Sally, Ed and I started
out towards the ocean. I turned around after we passed through Drain
and collected the rig and drove home. Sally and Ed arrived around 11.
After some rest and nourishment the 3 of us rode and D'Anne drove to
the ocean in Winchester Bay for the ceremonial dipping of Sally's tire
in the Pacific Ocean and official finish of the ride. Sally then
graciously treated us all to fish and chips at in Winchester Bay and
then we rode back to Reedsport. Then we crammed Ed, D'Anne, Sally and
their stuff and bicycles into Ed's small compact car and they headed
back to Portland. Sally just called and everyone made it home safely.
The final statistics for the ride are interesting in a few respects.
The total ride length was about 4305 miles which was almost exactly
what we estimated. That distance was about 1000 miles more than I did
10 years ago on my cross country ride. Both rides also went through 13
states. Sally will add more to the web site once she gets rested. For
my part, I plan to spend 1 last night in Cramalot tonight before I try
out a real bed. I will miss my companion of the last 2-1/2 months but
I am sure her family and friends will be very happy to have her home
safe and sound (and very fit !).

LOBAA57 - Pass Creek County Park - Curtin, OR

7/12/08 Sat PDT
LOBAA57 - Pass Creek County Park - Curtin, OR
Sally bike mileage/time 117.71 / 7:24:17
Sally Total 4239.3
Bill bike mileage/time 10
Bill Total 1264.2
Jim mileage 237.6
Jim total 8948.9
Bill:
Well, Sally did it again by setting a 1 day distance record for the
trip at close to record average speed. She went 118 miles and averaged
15.8 mph. We had ice cream in Lorrane and I rode the last 10 miles
with her while Ed drove the rig. Ed did great while riding the first
107 miles with Sally and agreed to let me finish the ride over the
hill from Lorrane to Pass Creek Park in Curtin. We then drove to a
great little restaurant outside Drain and the riders had a great meal
and I had a great Margarita (and dinner too). Ed's wife D'Anne had
gone ahead to my house to spend the evening but right off the bat
managed to lock herself out of the house (it's easy to do ... I have
done it many times). To the rescue came my neighbor Fred who had a
ladder and she was able to get in through the patio door which she had
opened previously. Thanks, Fred!

LOBAA56 - Cold Springs Campground (USFS) near Sisters, OR

7/11/08 Fri PDT
LOBAA56 - Cold Springs Campground (USFS) near Sisters, OR
Sally bike mileage/time 67.64 / 5:27:56
Sally Total 4121.59
Bill bike mileage/time 30
Bill Total 1254.2
Jim mileage 53.7
Jim total 8711.3
Bill:
Up early again and drove Sally & Ed back to Terrebone where they
planned to ride to Sisters and maybe beyond. Unfortunately, they were
unable to ride the hoped for route over McKenzie Pass because the
route was closed due to downed trees and high snow banks so instead
they rode past Sisters and to the top of Santiam Pass. While they did
that, I got into the nice campground that D'Anne had chosen for us and
decided to see how far I could ride up Mackenzie Pass. As it turned
out I got within a few hundred yards of the top. The very upper
portion of the road was blocked by a large snow bank. It was a fun
ride as the road had been blocked for cars but bikes could still get
around the blockade. I counted about 12 or so bikes on their way back
and when I got to the top, there wasn't a soul around. The ride down
was even more enjoyable because of the lack of cars (or bikes for that
matter) and I continued into Sisters for ice cream. When I returned,
Ed and Sally were already back in camp and Doug and Dan arrived soon
thereafter. We had Mexican food prepared by D'Anne and then roasted
marshmallows over the fire before bed. Tomorrow will be a long day for
our riders as we hope to make it to Lorrane .. not yet sure where we
will be camping as the county fair is in Eugene this weekend and we
haven't been able to secure a camp site yet.

LOBAA55 - Adele's home at Rebecca's in Madras, OR

7/10/08 Thu PDT
LOBAA55 - Adele's home at Rebecca's in Madras, OR
Sally bike mileage/time 62.51 / 4:20:02
Sally Total 4053.95
Bill bike mileage/time 15
Bill Total 1224.2
Jim mileage 88.9
Jim total 8657.6
Bill:
Drove Sally & Ed to the drop off point at the end of the gravel road
and then waited for them at Post, a small town of 2 which is near the
geographical center of Oregon. It was 7:30 a.m. so the little store
there was not yet open but a small and extremely tame deer wandered up
to us and let us pet him. Then onward to Prineville where I hopped on
my bike and road out 7 miles or so to meet the incoming riders. It was
a clear cool day and we had a great view of the familiar mountains in
the area and Sally knew she was home. We had a yummy second breakfast
with D'Anne and then headed to Smith Rock and Terrebone where we put
the bikes on Cramalot and drove to Madras to visit Adele. Adele was in
the middle of a party that her caregiver's Rebecca and Barbara had
arranged with some of Adele's local friends. Sally had a nice visit
with her mom who treated us all to a Mexican take out dinner. The
clear day had turned quiet smokey and windy as a large fire had
started in the Warm Springs area.

LOBAA54 - Elkhorn Campground - 8 miles E of Post, OR

7/9/08 Wed PDT
LOBAA54 - Elkhorn Campground - 8 miles E of Post, OR
Sally bike mileage/time 74.4 / 5:14:31
Sally Total 3991.44
Bill bike mileage/time 0
Bill Total 1209.2
Jim mileage 80.2
Jim total 8568.7
Sally:
Got an early start this morning and it was COLD! I think the coldest
yet, of course downhill on a bike does have that effect. After 20
miles or so I finally got a hill and started to warm a bit. It was
worth it though when I was done by noon as the temperature was
soaring. So I've had a much needed restful afternoon in camp in the
Maury Mts. in the Ochoco Nat'l Forest. We've been studying maps trying
to figure our route for the remainder of the trip. We had counted on
going over McKenzie Pass out of Sisters, but now it looks like that
may be impossible. (Snow and bridge construction) The Santiam Pass is
doable, just lots of traffic so we'd much rather avoid it. We will
confirm tomorrow when we have phone access again. Since our route
takes us within 20 miles of Madras, tomorrow night will be spent with
Mom, catching up on the last 2 1/2 months!
Bill:
Way to cold for me so I wimped out and didn't ride. No new photos from
either of us as we are now in familiar territory which we have
photographed many times before. In fact we were in this very same
camping spot 1 year ago. It is eerily quiet in this campground as we
wait for our guests Ed and D'Anne to join us in camp this evening. It
now looks like Ed may join us for the rest of the trip ... all the way
to Winchester Bay. We hope to be there Monday. Note that Sally is now
9 miles short of 4000 miles!

LOBAA53 - Silvies River off FS road 63 about 20 miles NW - Seneca, OR

7/8/08 Tue PDT
LOBAA53 - Silvies River off FS road 63 about 20 miles NW - Seneca, OR
Sally bike mileage/time 88.69 / 8:13:12
Sally Total 3917.04
Bill bike mileage/time 12
Bill Total 1209.2
Jim mileage 97.9
Jim total 8488.5
Sally:
Wow, it's so great to be riding in Oregon again. We had almost no
traffic all day, clear skies, clear streams, green meadows, beautiful
pine forests, wildflowers, lots of deer and a couple antelope; just
all-around good riding. It doesn't hurt anything to know we're closing
in on our goal! Today Kay rode with me all morning, then Bill joined
for a bit. Had a good burger and fries in Seneca, cooked by a New
Zealander! Now we're camped at a remote spot on the Silvies River out
in the sticks. Its super. Even though we're looking forward to
reaching the Pacific, we are still able to savor the adventure that
hasn't quite ended. Tomorrow friend Ed joins us to ride the last 5
days. Very much looking forward to seeing him and wife, D'Anne. We
realized after spending last evening in camp with Kay and family how
fun it is to have others join in. Which reminds me of the super
marshmallow toasting forks (daggers) that we used last night around
the campfire. Bill found 4 of these amazing creations at a campsite in
Kentucky and stuck them inside Cramalot's bumper for storage. When
Karl pulled out the marshmallows last night the light bulb went on and
we hauled them out. These things must be six feet long. Worked great.
Bill:
Thanks to Kay for riding with Sally early this morning. I love riding
with Sally but this morning Kay got the o-dark hundred oatmeal and I
got late morning breakfast of homemade pancakes with syrup, sausage
and fresh coffee compliments of Jim, Karl and Sarah - yum! I also got
to build the morning fire. Life is good. Then, chasing the girls down
with the sag rig was great fun too because of the excellent forest
service road(#16) that wound its way up and down the hills in the
ponderosa and lodge-pole pine forest for 70 miles. I got to ride a few
miles as well by getting ahead of the girls in the rig and riding back
to meet them. Oh, and yesterday's campground was just inside the
Pacific Time zone so not only are we back in Oregon, but we are now on
normal time again.

LOBAA52 El Dorado FS Campground near Unity, OR

LOBAA52
7/7/08 Mon PDT
LOBAA52 El Dorado FS Campground near Unity, OR
Sally bike mileage/time 99.18 / 8:01:05
Sally Total 3828.35
Bill bike mileage/time 36
Bill Total 1197.2
Jim mileage 124.8
Jim total 8390.6
Sally:
Bill and I rode into OREGON today!!! We are so happy to be here, it
just feels like we're home. I also had company to ride with (other
than Bill) as my sister Kay and her family are camping with us
tonight. Kay rode back to meet me while everyone else went fishing.
Our campsite is in a grove of pine trees with a few aspen, little
creek and green grass. And Jim just handed me a beer! They are also
cooking us dinner. We are happy campers.
Bill:
Amen !

LOBAA51 - Snake River RV Resort - Homedale, ID

7/6/08 SUN MDT
LOBAA51 - Snake River RV Resort - Homedale, ID
Sally bike mileage/time 97.98 / 8:22:33
Sally Total 3729.17
Bill bike mileage/time 30 / -
Bill Total 1161.2
Jim mileage 101.1
Jim total 8266
Sally:
One word for today. Wind. In my face. All day. And then we got to this
wonderful camp on the Snake River with lush green grass, dense shade,
gentle river flowing by AND the ice cream truck came right to camp!!!
Life is good.
Bill:
Another word for today, hot. We got going before sunup again and I
almost didn't wear a jacket. There were cool pockets in the morning
but they were gone early. It was a long day for Sally because of the
headwinds, but the nice RV campground at the end made the day.
Tomorrow we will be back in Oregon our final and 13th state.