Sometimes, a route is so good, it is worth riding again and again. The last time I rode the Sutton Mountain - Spray loop, it was a solo jaunt during peak wildflower season in early June. Riding this area in early April means you need to watch out for snow patches at camp, pack cold weather sleeping gear, and pack a filter since the pumps at the campsite were not turned on yet. With a few good friends and extending the route by starting and ending in Mitchell, it was a great way to kick off the Oregon bike touring season.
There are a ton of ways to extend or shorten this route, but this was a really lovely iteration that allowed for lazy mornings, an extended lunch stop in Spray, happy hours, and lots of time for fellowship.
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Screaming descent down Girds Canyon.
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| The three amigos. |
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| Our snowy campsite at the Shelton Wayside and Jordan's makeshift bivvy. |
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| I wish this was a video because Jordan had an amazing conversation with a baby goat. We also had an emu chase us. |
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| The surprisingly well stocked store in Spray with a convenient spigot out front. |
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| Mark's happy hour selection. |
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| A much sunnier campsite right on the John Day. |
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| It's worth looking back every so often. |
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| The last descent into Mitchell... time for burgers, wings, and beer at the brewery! |
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