DAILY AGENDA OF 2009 OREGON TOUR

July 25th, Saturday:

Commute day from Eugene, Oregon. From Sacramento plan on about an 8-hour drive. This allows for a stop for lunch. Everyone is on their own for dinner the night we arrive. There is an Abby's Pizza Parlor just on the other side of Beltline Hwy from Shasta Middle School (1/4 mile). It's on the same side of the street as the school. It's a good place for dinner and to assemble as a group.

July 26th, Sunday: 56 miles & 2600 feet of climbing
Eugene to Sunnyside Campground

We gradually travel uphill today. There are 2 medium climbs that come near the end of the day. We pass through the small town of Sweet Home. Sunnyside Campground is a different campground than what we used last year. We have showers and it's easier to take a swim in the lake. Good news and bad news: the good news is we travel 10 miles less this day than last year but the bad news is we add 10 miles to the next day.

July 27th, Monday: 70 miles & 5200 feet of climbing
Witcomb Creek Camp Ground to Detroit Lakes Camp Ground

We travel a back road along side the Green Peter Reservoir. It's very scenic with some great views of Mt Hood. Our back road narrows down to a single lane and looks like a wide bike trail. The only cars we will see most of the day will be our SAG vehicles. The last few miles will be on the Hwy to Detroit and then a few miles onto Detroit Lakes Campground. There is one double summit to go over (there is a slight saddle between the 2 summits).

July 28th, Tuesday: 74 miles & 3580 feet of climbing
Detroit Lakes Camp Ground to Estacada High School

For the most part we are on back roads once again. The last 10 miles will be on a Hwy with a little more traffic. There are a couple of good climbs on this day with the hardest being just before Estacada.

July 29th, Wednesday: 55 miles & 2100 feet of climbing
Estacada High School to the Evergreen Air Museum CG (In McMinnville)

We begin with some up and down on some lightly traveled backroads. Then it is down hill into the Willamette Valley. We then cross the Willamette Valley on our way McMinnville

July 30th, Thursday: Layover Day

You can see the Spruce (actually made out of Birch) Goose at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum or explore the area around the town of McMinnville. The Evergreen Air Museum is the new home of the famous Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose which use to be housed in Long Beach. You can check out the museum at http://www.sprucegoose.org/ . Anyone up for golf on this day? Let Tim Koch know.


July 31st, Friday: 70 miles & 3350 feet of climbing
Spruce Goose Museum CG to Philomath High School

This day is one of our flattest days with some rollers as we travel to the town of Philomath. Beware: There is a local policeman who doesn't like bicyclist and is looking to hand out tickets for running stop signs, etc. We travel about 5 miles on Hwy 99 before turning onto the backroads on our way to Philomath. For those of you who remember the tour from 3 years ago, you will notice that Philomath has really changed from then. They now have 2 one-way main streets.


August 1st, Saturday: 41 miles & 300 feet of climbing
Philomath High School to Shasta Middle School

This is truly a flat road and one of our shortest days of the tour. We will still not be able to get back to Eugene in time to begin the long drive back to Sacramento and you should not think in those terms. Plan on using the remainder of Saturday to unwind and reminisce about the tour that you just completed. We are working on plans to having a catered dinner at the school that evening.


August 2nd, Sunday: Commute Day Back to Sacramento

Tim Koch