Drenched.

We woke up at the Rural Retreat Lake campground and had oatmeal. If you're unfamiliar, oatmeal is great. Left around 10 AM. We got as far as a block before we decided that the clouds looked menacing and it was time to put on the rain gear. We were right, it started to rain again. Spirits were not high. Adam did find a frame pump on the side of the road – that may become a gift to his dad.

After 10 miles or so we encountered a major climb. This one was honorable. No more rollercoaster nonsense, just sustained inclines. The ascent treated us with respect and we answered back with a blistering pace. 13 and 14 mph up no slouch of a hill. Full disclosure: the wind may also have been at our back. We got to the top feeling good and arrived in a town called Troutdale and another restaurant/general store. Had sweet potato fries and hot chocolate. I was also quite pleased to purchase a roll of travel duct tape,

It stopped raining and the sun even came out briefly which was good for the various wet clothes drying on the backs of our racks. We made it up another climb and then started what I would not hesitate to call a rip-roaring descent. Long, wide curves. Trees soaring up on other side of the road. A river to the left. Fast enough to be a hell of a good time but not so bad as to make you nervy. We got chased by a pair of dogs somewhere in the last portion of the downhill, luckily we were going pretty quick. They were mangy. I almost knocked Jordan over executing some evasive maneuvers.

We pulled into Damascus, an adventurer's paradise. We went to a full-fledged outfitters store complete with sleeping bags, tents, and a wide supply of camping gear. It was great. Adam and I got rain covers to better protect some non-stormproofed gear and Jeremy bought Halt, some kind of pepper spray you use on chasing dogs. Now we're set. The most valuable contribution, however, may have been the information that we are one day behind a group of ten female touring cyclists. There was some excitement. But only from the available bachelors of the riding crew, of course. Some are already spoken for.

A house in town offered free wifi to bikers and hikers so we logged on to the website briefly. Reading comments was good for morale. Thanks everybody for taking the time to write.

Then it was onto a town called Meadowview where we narrowly avoided a major downpour. We were walking into a mini-mart to get water when a woman suggested we should take cover. Within 15 seconds, the rain began. We scrambled to get underneath a car wash with an overhang for cover. The wind started to blow so hard you had to brace yourself to keep upright. A consensus was reached that we should try to wait out the storm for an hour, and then keep going regardless.

We went into a laundromat in the shopping center and took off our shoes and socks, revealing stinky, wrinkly feet. We were joined sometime later by a girl doing her laundry. All admired her form. She had some disparaging comments about Mexicans though, something to the effect that we might take some back with us to San Diego. As we had just met her two minutes earlier, that was kind of weird. First instance of blatant racism on the tour.

We took off again when the rain was light and began the most difficult climb yet. The road was narrow and winding. It curved left, then right, then mellowed, then pitched up. It was raining the whole time. It went on and on, mercilessly. The top was inside a cloud and the fog was heavy. You started to lose your focus a bit, wondering if you were on the same stretch, whether there really was an end. It was like a dream. We don't seek pity but these words and any photos cannot do justice to the suffering incurred on that mountain. We made it to the top and had a short food break before descending to the Elk Garden Methodist Church.

The church is friendly to bicyclists and we're currently set up underneath another wooden awning. Had another stove dinner and strategized about tomorrow. There's not much in the way of camping for a stretch, so we may push a century.

On a final note, Jeremy successfully peed while riding his bicycle. As soon as we all learn, the efficiency level of this ride is going sky high. We'll be finishing at two in the afternoon. I'll give it a go tomorrow.

Don't fall in.

Water wheel.

Ride faster.

Looking out from our shelter underneath the car wash.

We've seen deer as well. And squirrels. And too many dogs.

The dream.