Jacob Usher

Hi guys, I’m Jacob Usher (or just Usher). The first 2 days of (and week leading up to) this trip have been super exciting but also pretty tough. Tomorrow is going to be a pretty big day but I’m looking forwards to it.

We started this morning at 6:30 after a good night of sleep in Eugene thanks to our Warm Showers host. The day started on bike paths taking us through the Oregon University campus. We had breakfast at a nice covered shelter with picnic tables.

Breakfast at Armitage Park

The rain started not too long after that. We briefly got onto I26 in the pouring rain, but luckily had a wide shoulder. We found our way onto smaller roads and got just ahead of the rain, but it started to sprinkle again at every small stop we took.

Michael, Friend, and Usher try to escape the rain clouds along McKenzie River

We got to Vida around noon and stopped at a gas station right in time, as it started to pour again. I got chicken tenders and fries which was a huge moral boost.

Usher enjoys some chicken tenders and a break from the cold rain

After lunch it got sunny and we met Doug, a local Vida resident. Doug told us about his cousin, who owns the only establishment in Dayville, a tiny town three days ride down the road. He told us to stop by his cousin’s restaurant for free food and drinks.

After lunch, the sun came out and the landscape became beautiful as we followed McKenzie River farther into the mountains. We arrived at Blue Sky Market after a few hours of steady, but low grade, climbing. We bought our dinner supplies and waited out another rain storm there before heading to camp. It got sunny once again and we were able to dry out before dinner.

McKenzie River near Rainbow, OR

Our campsite in McKenzie Bridge, OR