Friday, July 16, Day 71
Oxbow to Baker City, Oregon (72 miles)

This was the hardest day physically for the two of us. We moved out of Oxbow at around 6:45am and did not get to Baker City until almost 6:00pm. In between, we had a helluva day in Hell’s Canyon. There are only two small towns in the canyon…halfway, which was 17 miles out…then the mountain pass to another small town at 27 miles out. Then it was a 45-mile stretch to Baker City with no services, no food, no water and temperatures in excess of 100 degrees. It was a long, hot ride that had the two of us bouncing off the ropes. We both hung in there and agreed by day’s end that this was the most difficult of days we’ve experienced. Sleeping was very easy. Bike Ted.