TransAmerica – Page 17 – Shaun Rides His Bike

Today’s topic is BUGS!

For Seattle-area bike riders, let me put this into familiar terms. If you’ve ever ridden through a cloud of gnats around dusk on the Sammamish River Trail, imagine that they are thicker than the thickest clould of bugs on the SRT or BGT, and that this cloud is almost continuous for miles. And that you are going uphill, so you have to breath through your mouth. Yeah, I ate a few. I stopped trying to spit them out, because I couldn’t tell if they were gone anyway, so I just swallowed them as best I could.

These were tiny nondescript flies, probably gnats, but there were so many of them it sounded like it was raining when they collided with my handlebar bag and windbreaker. Once, when it was light enough to survey the result, I stopped to take a picture. Before I even got my camera ready, the clouds of gnats had morphed into a cloud of mosquitoes. I released a stream of colorful language as I hurriedly got back on my bike and tried to outrun them.

One final word on the topic of bugs: The first time I was eaten by mosquitoes on this journey, it was a BIG DEAL. I am not used to getting mosquito bites. In Seattle, when I got the rare bite, I would inevitably scratch it like a little kid until it hurt and had a scab. With what felt like a supreme effort of the will, I didn’t scratch them at all that first time. Since then, I have learned to just ignore them. Sometimes I have as many as a dozen, and I barely notice them. I still use DEET, but only when I know there are going to be mosquitoes, which means usually one day too late. I will use some tomorrow, but that means there will be no mosquitoes!

I stopped for breakfast in Baker City, OR. When I got to the restaurant I’d picked, my eye was naturally drawn to two little dogs, and I asked if I could pet them. They were very friendly, but I soon forgot about the dogs, because their people were even friendlier. John and Donna asked me to join them for breakfast, and we shared stories for the next hour. John’s a pastor and involved in ministering to the homeless, and he was very interested in the genesis of my obsession with riding the TransAm, since it sprang from a near-homeless situation. John and Donna are good, loving, people and I feel lucky to have run into them. We parted with a hug and a blessing, and I had a warm feeling for the rest of my ride!

The sky was on fire! This is a benefit of starting early! On the downside, I never see sunsets 😁

It's a tool! Don't laugh! — It’s a tool! Don’t laugh!

I can't find the name of this little river that runs alongside highway 86, but it was so pretty, in contrast to the brown hills. — I can’t find the name of this little river that runs alongside highway 86, but it was so pretty, in contrast to the brown hills.

Similarly, I can't find the name of this impressive volcanic outcropping. — Similarly, I can’t find the name of this impressive volcanic outcropping.

These are the bugs that adhered to the sunscreen and sweat on one leg. That's a tiny fraction of the ones that hit me. They were also in my eyebrows and my beard. Especially maddening is when they stuck to my nose, because then I could see them! — These are the bugs that adhered to the sunscreen and sweat on one leg. That’s a tiny fraction of the ones that hit me. They were also in my eyebrows and my beard. Especially maddening is when they stuck to my nose, because then I could see them!

Darn, I forgot these guys' names! The guy on the left, from England, is doing the TransAm, eastward. He asked a lot of questions about the roads and people ahead. I only try to say good things. The guy on the right is heading to Denver. He's from Oklahoma. — Darn, I forgot these guys’ names! The guy on the left, from England, is doing the TransAm, eastward. He asked a lot of questions about the roads and people ahead. I only try to say good things. The guy on the right is heading to Denver. He’s from Oklahoma.

This is, allegedly, original ruts from the Oregon Trail! I didn't die of dysentery, thankfully! 😁 — This is, allegedly, original ruts from the Oregon Trail! I didn’t die of dysentery, thankfully! 😁

Monument to the Oregon Trail. I was tempted to uproot some of those impressively large weeds.

These folks live in Sisters, and were going to ride to the top of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (an impressive hill I decided not to tackle).

Donna and John, my breakfast companions.

Donna and John's doggies! The one in the rear is Franklin, and I forgot the name of the one in front, but they were sweet! — Donna and John’s doggies! The one in the rear is Franklin, and I forgot the name of the one in front, but they were sweet!

Category: TransAmerica

Trans Am, Day 97: Richland, OR to Sumpter, OR