Cancer VICTORY Tour!!! Day 1

They came by train, car and caravan, thirty two riders, ready for the challenge of the Mid-Valley Bicycle Club's Loop Tour 2011, "View of the Lakes". 

I how ever was there to celebrate life, mine.

This is my "Cancer Victory Tour" 

We converged at the fair grounds, in Klamath Falls, riders off loading some of their gear to the Tour Sag's before we headed out, meandering along the bike path, as we wove our way out of town, to the west side of Klamath Lake.

 

Meeting up with the Sag.

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A once beautiful resort - Lake Shore Inn

All along this side of the lake were fragrant lilacs and rhododendrons in bloom. Oh, just breath in, did you get a whiff? Ah....

A group of riders heading around the lake.

 

Klamath Lake

One of many sailboats on the lake.

As we start climbing, leaving the lake behind, we're greeted by the towering pines as we head to the summit of Doak mountain elevation 4776.

 Smile, we made it up the first summit!

Wahoo!

Our first town, Fort Klamath, after a scenic ride through rich, green pasture land, dotted with  herds of cattle. Birds singing their songs as they preached on fence post along the way.

After grabing an ice cream bar, I spent some time visiting with this couple who were spending the day  traveling the back roads around the area on motorcycles. They had just left the park where we will be camping tonight and said it was a beautiful, well maintained campground.

We chatted about Fort Klamath and it's history. They asked if we had seen the original fort, or that the post office had been established in 1879.  The Fort grounds are now a museum and the only evidence remaining, flag pole, parade ground and the graves of 4 Modoc Indian leaders along with a replica of the fort guard house. We hadn't, but I found a link with the history of the Fort  and some photos.

Not far down the road we encountered an organic grocery, brakes on, u-turn, for a quick stop. It seems others had the same idea. How refreshing to find a great little food market on our way to camp. A few items purchased, and we're ready to push on.

Across the street from the market stood this large, strange building. Old hotel, boarding house? we could only guess. I wish there had been more time to explore, I could see some great photo possibilities. 

A headwind greeted us as we started out for Kimball SRA but as we turned toward camp tailwind.....

We get tents set up, sleeping bags laid out, next is dinner.

Candis and Joellen happy campers.

Ruthie fixing strawberries for our group meeting tonight.

After dinner we took a walk up to the headwaters of the Wood River. The water, cold and clear, flows out from under the rocks.

We couldn't stay long the skitters were hungry .... Time for bug spray!

Group meeting to go over any changes in route, problems and then introductions and how many loop tour we have done.  We had brand new 1st timers and old timers with 28. I fell in the middle with 14. We have a fun group, tour will be a blast as always.

Time for strawberries and Ruthie's homemade cookies!  Oh Ya!