Memorial Day Away From the Flock

After our extended waiting period to get into our rooms yesterday we really didn't want to end up in the same situation today.  Linda (the smart one of the crowd) had called today's hotel yesterday and they weren't prepared to promise anything before 4.  With only 40 miles to cover today we could have left after lunch and been here in time.  So....... breakfast was officially at 8 and most folks left soon after.  Cindi, Linda & I stayed behind for a later start.  I left about 9:30 while Cindi & Linda left about 10.  I poked around Ashland for a bit (very cute historic downtown), but nothing other than coffee shops was really open yet.  We were on the Bear Creek Greenway bike path for about 13 miles from Ashland to Medford.  Very nice - meandering mostly along Bear Creek, but also next to the freeway or close to orchards at times.  It was nice to see it well used.  Not crowded by any means, but lots of people out biking, walking and jogging.

Once in the town of Medford the bike path went through U.S. Cellular Park, which had about a half dozen beautiful ball diamonds.  There was a kids tournament going on so I stayed to watch about 3 innings of a 10-year-old game.  Great skills for their age and fun to watch.  I had never seen baseball played on artifical turf before.  Interesting; wonder if they get rug burn if the slide to catch a ball or steal a base.

Although I had let Kat (our SAG driver today) know that I would be off the grid today, she was still waiting for me at the designated 16.2 mile SAG stop.  Nice......  Medford is a sizeable city (about 75,000) but our route was through quiet residential areas for the most part.  Really pretty gardens, especially the roses.

We could see Mount McLoughlin off to our right (east) as we left Medford.  I'm guessing this is the same one we could see yesterday as Mount Shasta was being left behind.

We then followed a few secondary roads until we came to the Rogue River.  I stopped at a small day-use and boat launch area to have my lunch and just sit and enjoy the river.

Met Cindi after I rejoined the route.  Rode in with her and then went into Shady Cove for a huge ice cream (she had a diet coke).

We're staying at the Edgewater Inn tonight.  Right on the river and with a little park next door which I will explore after dinner.  We even have an osprey nest right in our parking lot!

Had a really nice mellow day and absolutely no Memorial Day traffic issues.  Big climbing day into Crater Lake tomorrow!


Stats for the day:
68 km / 42 miles from Ashland OR to Shady Cove OR
1881 feet up
2164 feet down
Weather:  lovely.  Started at about 15C and got up into the high 20sC.  Bright sunshine all day.