OTT Day #13- July 25, 2018: Random Flat Logging Site to Sisters!

Before we tucked away to sleep last night one of us joked about the logging trucks showing up early in the morning of a forecasted hot day to finish their job. Oh, and we were not pressed for time, so we could even sleep in, which in the summer means maybe 6:30 if you're lucky.

Beep! Crash! Motor of large vehicle... as foreshadowed, the log picker uppers came just after dawn. Rather than stick around for breakfast, we quickly threw our gear together and rode the 5 miles left to 3 Creeks Campground for coffee and breakfast. Even at 8:00am, it was already hot. We were in for a scorcher. 

Fed and ready, we hopped back on the Metolius- Windigo trail heading for Peterson Ridge, just south of Sisters. Due to a recent burn, this section was so eerie. The heat of the flames had scarred the trees to a grey ghost forest, creating a perfect setting for the next Tim Burton movie. It was also beautiful and the only vegetation besides some high  mountain grass, were some wildflowers poking out along a very small creek. In the video below, I mention Mt. Hood. It was actually Mt. Jefferson

Getting through the burn in the late morning heat finally gave way to woods that had escaped the fire the year before. It was a great place to have some lunch. 

The next section of trail, was pretty rocky and surprisingly technical, but again gorgeous... and still hot. Eventually our decent down Peterson Ridge took us to Sisters. 

At some point, I felt that the air hitting my face, hooked up under my glasses and I felt hot air on my eye balls. The last few miles were long and flat. I was a bit surprised to not see many people out riding and hiking, but again... hot. How hot we wondered. When we finally made it to town and 3 Creeks Brewing, we passed a bank sing. And in the shade, the temperature reading was 97. The funniest part of the day that I can remember was the hostess at the brewery asking us if we wanted to sit outside.

NO!

More great food and more great beer and we quickly decided that we would be sleeping indoors that night. We needed showers, air conditioning, and beds. A couple of great friends in Bend tried to connect us up with host housing in Sisters and even offered to come get us to stay the night. But for convenience, we decided to to just grab a close hotel room for the night. 

My treasures collected at the grocery store included sushi, chips and salsa, coconut cream pie, cherries, and canned wine. We bathed. We laundered. We watched action movies and felt luxurious.

Tomorrow's forecast was another hot one, over 95, and it was going to be a long last ride. Our LAST RIDE on the Oregon Timber Trail this year.