LUXURY AT SUTTLE LAKE

Dinner at Suttle Lake - a great ending to a hard
day of riding!

DATE: Thurs, Sept. 22, 2011
HOME: Suttle Lake, Oregon  Lodge at Suttle Lake
DISTANCE: 45 miles
ALTITUDE: 3730ft
WEATHER: Perfect
NARRATIVE:  Today was supposed to be one of those fairly easy days, tomorrow as well, then followed by a layover day.  I guess any day that involves this much climbing when our legs are already tired is a full day.  Another full day of climbing – 5% - but, it still takes time.

The word of the day is TRAFFIC and lots of it.  Highway 20 is a major corridor.  We thought we would get rid of it after the turn-off to Eugene.  Wrong.   Most of the traffic was big double trailered trucks and bus sized RV’s towing a car.  Even the pick-ups were noisy.  Not a fun ride.  Washington had a wide shoulder – full car lane – here the shoulder was narrow.

Climbing up Santian Pass at the end of the day in the Jefferson Wilderness we came upon a sobering sight – the whole pass area had been burned – and recently as we still saw and smelled smoke.  Turns out there have been several devastating fires in the area:  two in 2003, and two more in 2004 (Ithink), and then this one, which started on August 23 and has burned 10,000 acres.  It came within 2 miles of the Lodge we’re staying at – you can still smell the smoke outside.  

Our reward did come at the end of the day, though.  Our lodge is lovely.  An eco-lodge, built of old timbers, but with all the latest amenities.  We did get here in time for wine and cheese and to enjoy the views out over the lake.  Definitely the kind of place for a layover day; unfortunately, they are booked for the weekend.  But, we did find a fabulous place in “old Bend” which is only 37 miles and the map shows some, but not a lot of, climbing.  Looking forward to the layover day.

Dinner was fabulous here at the lodge.  Oysters on the half-shell and crayfish cakes from crayfish from the lake.  It’s nice and warm out so we sat outside by the lake – this is the way to end a hard day of biking!