Day 4: Three Forks to Antelope Reservoir (and then to Crane Hot Springs)

With the full badassed Bend biker babes convened, we decided to race the rainclouds as a team. On a day like this, misery loves company, because of course, our entire route to get back to the safety of our cars was straight into a headwind. We took turns drafting each other, telling stories, and being stoic in silence.

The crew after we made it to the top of Donkey Bitch.

The overlook into the canyon made for an amazing lunch spot.

We found the naked dude from the hot springs at the overlook and he took our picture. 

Riding into the storm.

We made it! Marnel and I drank some whiskey in the bathroom to hide from the rain at the Antelope Reservoir while Ani drove Patti to grab her car from Jordan Valley.

We had no idea what time we would get back to the car, but we knew our original plan to camp at the reservoir wouldn't be good since the rain started right as we got back. So we checked the weather (I had two bars with my ATT service, and no one else seemed to have service there), and saw that the weather would be okay (if a bit windy) closer to home... so we decided to camp out at the Crane Hot Springs and rinse off the grit of the road. I truly believe every bike tour should end with hot springs!

Over and out.

A few tips for bike tourists:

• Slow and steady does it on the climb out of Three Forks. It's only about a mile, you'll make it even if you have to walk the whole thing. 
• The road out of Three Forks is long and unforgiving when confronted by a storm and a headwind... and bulls. :).
• Buuuuut, the best views on this trip were on this section... do NOT skip the overlook. 
• The worst part of the whole trip was having to ride the 95 back to the turnoff for the reservoir. Traffic is fast and relatively heavy for these parts and there was no bike lane, just a shitty shoulder with the rumble strip on the wrong side of the white line. We stayed close and put on all our blinky lights and made fast work of it.