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The Russ and Renee Tour, 2014, followed a counterclockwise-loop course, but for the short stretch between Mt Vernon and John Day. The first day, most folk did a Painted Hills out-and-back, but Marty-naturally-had a less-travelled addition for us. That is the small loop at left on the map.
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| Mitchell! Bikers of all sorts welcome. |
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| Well, it's just a big bench, isn't it? Randy, Gary, Marty. |
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| Carroll Rim |
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| Painted Hills National Monument |
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| Yep. |
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| Some of the Wild Bunch: Dan, Bob, Gary, Marty, Randy, and Dan |
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| Heading off with Marty along Burnt Ranch Rd. |
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| That'd be Marty, wouldn't it? |
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| Goodbye to Burnt Ranch Rd. |
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| The John Day River, from the very British-sounding South Twickenham Rd. |
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| Love the water staining/polish. |
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Met up with the rest of the non-staff TBT gang on OR 207, aka the Service Creek-Mitchell Rd. (TBT meant Team Big Talk WAY before any of this Throw-back Thursday nonsense.) Gary, Marty, Randy.
TBTer Russ was in Mitchell, taking a bath. Really. |
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| On the John Day Hwy to Mount Vernon. No. Mount Vernon OREGON. |
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| Near the junction with OR 19 to the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day National Monument. |
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| Hwy 26, Looking back toward Sheep Rock Unit, just visible through canyon John Day River has carved. |
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| Snacks. Cyclists hiding in shade in Dayville. |
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| "D" is for Dayville. |
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| Camp at Clyde Holliday State Recreation Area: chins a-waggin. |
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| Chef at work. Gary takes some risks. |
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| He's just trouble a-brewin'. You can tell from one look. |
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| Looking back, left John Day and Canyon City, about to turn onto NF 65. |
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| Summit Prairie, South side of Strawberry Mountain Range |
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| East side of Strawberry Mountain, about to drop into Prairie City. |
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| Strawberry Mountain Range |
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| Outskirts of Prairie City |
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| Prairie City lunch |
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| Marty, Richard |
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| Gary can read? |
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| Jake |
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| Jeff, Jose, Ken |
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| The Portland Reids, Pam and Ken. |
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| Lovely spring at Trout Farm, near Prairie City. Worth stopping on the descent. Sometimes a yellowjacket problem. |
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| Prairie City breakfast.... |
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| Rest Day dinner-out panorama. |
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| Long Creek: Randy, Russ, Marty, Jeff |
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| Home. |
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| Bob checking his OK Cupid action. |
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| Jose, rainbow.... |
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| And off to Spray! |
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| Spray Camp! |
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| Silver, at right, our host in Long Creek, drove all the way to Spray to bring Richard his hat back. |
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| Along the John Day to Service Creek... |
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| Pam! |
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| Ken! We're on a lovely climb on the Service Creek-Mitchell Rd. |
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| Jose! |
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| And, we're back! Time for a snack. |
