Baker City to past Halfway

We got an early start and had excellent riding, heading downstream beside the Powder River in what otherwise looked like a desert landscape with few trees.

The wind was mostly to our backs, giving us a nice push while we stayed mostly ahead of the storm clouds which at times gave us a little spritz. However, on a long climb before the town of Halfway, the rain and wind appeared about to overtake us. Abandoning my normal practice of waiting for dad at the tops of major climbs, I sped down the hill, hoping to quickly cover the 7 miles to Halfway. I got hit with a little rain, but it was the wind that got to be a little scary. It would suddenly give me a push from the side on the steep downhill. I made in to town and waited for dad outside what seemed like the only restaurant.

We stayed in there from noon to about 2 p.m. Before heading 17 downstream miles more. We're In Hell's Canyon and will climb out of it tomorrow morning while also crossing in to Idaho.