Sisters is in high desert country where in the late summer and fall, sunny warm days turn into clear, cold nights. We woke up that first morning to temps in the low 30's, wondering what we'd gotten ourselves into. Too late, I recalled having been told to sleep with the next day's riding clothes at the bottom of my sleeping bag. We got dressed, packed the sleeping bags and tent, and headed to breakfast. Cycle Oregon and Bike Gallery (a major ride sponsor) retail tents were bustling with riders looking for cold weather gear.

Day one of the ride took us from Sisters over back country roads to Bend, and eventually La Pine: about 60 miles. This photo was one of the first of many places where we'd see many bicycles lying next to the road, their riders wanting to capture the scenery enroute. The photo here is of the Three Sisters.