Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway, return trip

We started off at 6:30 again. There was some discussion the previous night about moving that time back a bit, but I pushed for an early start, to minimize the time we'd have to ride in the predicted headwind. Mornings are cool and calm, my idea of a perfect time to ride.

Dave was tied up with his family, Paula had decided that Amtrak provided a good alternative to pedaling a second 150 miles on a hot day. That left just John Henry and I.

Neither one of us were smart enough to follow Paula's lead.

We rolled out, and started out by picking our way along some bike paths.

Crossing the Willamette Rive in Eugene

I haven't been riding much and was a little bit concerned about biking a 300 mile weekend. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my legs felt good, not 100% fresh, but up to the job. The "saddle interface area" was a bit tender. I stood on the pedals a bit more than normal just to help alleviate issues.

John Henry and I must have looked like road kill as we made our way along. Here an Osprey watches us as we pedal by.

A little later in our ride a pair of Turkey Vultures swooped low over John Henry, but I did not have the camera ready. I did get a chuckle as they flew over though!

The temperature was heating up but the scenery was still worth noting.

One of the mint fields that freshened the air!

We'd stop from time to time to replenish water supplies and cool down. The temperature was approaching 100, and we had picked up a bit of headwind, but not as brisk as we had feared.

A water, ice, and salty snack stop in Albany

I had been suffering a bit in the Salem area with heat and hiccups. I saw a nice grassy spot under the shade of a tree and took advantage of it to cool off.

As we rode our way northward we'd ride very near John Henry's home in Keizer, just like the Amtrak station in Eugene, if you have an out it is very difficult to keep riding.

John Henry said his good byes and headed toward home. I pedaled the last 30 miles solo.

My 30 minute rest under the tree had done wonders. I pedaled along fairly quickly, with the aid of an unexpected wind shift. I now had a tailwind!

I arrived back in Wilsonville just as John Henry was retrieving his car. We chatted a bit, then went on our way, him driving back down I-5, me pedaling the last 2 miles to home.

It was a good weekend on bikes!

This trip wrapped up the month, one where I didn't get many miles, but did get the experience of crew chiefing a Race Across the West rider. July I will ride more.  I have to.



...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today................149...........0..............0..........0.............149 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............484...............0..............0..........0...........484 Total...........3450.............0...............0..........0.............3450

The Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway

For the last few years I've led a trip where we ride the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway. Today was the day we did that again. We started off from Wilsonville rather than the official start in Champoeg Park. It gives us a few bonus miles, and I don't have to drive. ;-) We started out just past 6:30 AM.

It was a great day for a ride. We rolled through the Willamette Valley on a beautiful sunny day.

We only had one mechanical issue on the ride, John Henry picked up a piece of glass along River Road just south of Salem. That is my least favorite part of the route for a variety of reasons.

We weren't the only people out enjoying the weather.

After spending so much time in the deserts of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah the last few weeks it was nice to be back in the Willamette Valley. The grass seed harvest is just beginning and the Dutch Clover and mint fields filled the air with a pleasant aroma.

It was a little warm, and we stopped frequently for more water, and an occasional frozen treat.

John Henry and I ride longer distance routinely, but Paula had never pedaled 150 miles before. She did well, and always had a smile on her face.

We continued to pedal southward.

We arrived at Armitage Park, just north of Eugene, and the official end of the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway.
I figured it was worth a stop to record Paula's accomplishment. Dave and John Henry were ahead of us a bit and missed being in the photo. Congratulations to Paula on a job well done!

Despite arriving in Eugene before Paula and I, the others were unsure of the route to our over night lodging. After a mile or so we hear "follow those people!" from a parking lot as we pedaled by, . He who laughs last!

We all pedaled in together. Dave's wife was waiting there. His plan all along was to leave us at this point and attend a family event. The plan was for the rest of us to check in, shower, and then ride a couple of miles back to McMenamin's North Bank for dinner. John Henry said he was done on the bike for today and would just walk a few blocks to a Thai place he saw on the way in.

Paula and I decided that food and drink along the bank of the Willamette sounded just fine.

Dinner was surprisingly good, and the laid back evening with a a river view was nice. All good things must come to an end however, and as the sun set we made our way back.

Time for sleep, tomorrow it is time to ride back!!


...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today................153...........0..............0..........0.............153 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............435...............0..............0..........0...........335 Total...........3301.............0...............0..........0.............3301

Summer Solstice

I am still in Seattle and have heard that when in Seattle one should do as Seattleites do. An evident highlight of this time of year is the Solstice Parade, sponsored by the Fremont Arts Council. This group sponsors several somewhat quirky events throughout the year. One of the more popular aspects of the Solstice Parade are the painted cyclists. This year about 800 people on bikes got down to various stages of being clothing free and donned painted costumes. Many small groups joined together to ride in theme. Smurfs, bees, tigers, and super heroes were all evident.

Just prior to joining the parade most of the riders assembled for a group photo.

Once in the parade it was somewhat organized chaos. A slow pace, loop around points, and bike riders of varying skills and varying attention spans made for an interesting ride. I was on my fixie compounding my need to pay attention







...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today.................10...........0..............0..........0..............10 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............382...............0..............0..........0...........382 Total...........3148.............0...............0..........0.............3148

A Ride to Red Hook

I had a few hours free today and needed to ride. I rode out the Burke-Gilman Trail and hooked up with the Sammamish River Trail. I rode to Red Hook Brewery and back. No, I did not stop there for lunch or an adult beverage, I just rode my bike.

...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today.................51...........0..............0..........0..............51 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............372...............0..............0..........0...........372 Total...........3138.............0...............0..........0.............3138

Recharging

I have been busy the last week or so with crew chief duties for a Race Across the West rider. The Race Across the West starts at the same place and time as the Race Across America, and follows the same route but ends when the riders reach Durango, CO.  They have 92 hours to reach that point.  My rider used all but 30 minutes of that time, but DFL is better than DNF, and certainly better than DNS.   I got 6 hours of sleep total in 134 hours. It is taking awhile to recharge my batteries and unpack.  I'm now in the middle of processing video, photos, and data from that epic adventure. When it is all posted I'll provide a link on this blog.

Today I got out for a short ride.  I rode from the top of Queen Anne in Seattle down to Interbay to pick up a headset.  I've got an interview via skype coming up and didn't have my other headset with me, so now I have two. ;-)  I returned via Fremont and the "easy way" back up.  When I reached the top I turned around and did it again.

...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today.................18...........0..............0..........0..............18 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............321...............0..............0..........0...........321 Total...........3087.............0...............0..........0.............3087

2 Rides, 2 States

The plan today was to be a ride referee for Cascade Bicycle Club's Flying Wheels Summer Century event.  I was picking up a friend from the ferry terminal then getting an early start on the route because I had evening plans. A little snafu developed when my friend missed the ferry connection.  No big deal, it was an early sailing, leaving just prior to 5AM, and it was a Saturday morning! ;-)

I picked him up just over an hour later that we had originally planned.  We loaded the bike and made our way to Marymoor Park, the start  location.

Cascade is a big club and folks turned out in droves for today's ride.

There was a full compliment of ride refs to keep the hoards in check.
A few of us gathered pre ride for a photo.

There were many distance options, and with our later than planned start I opted for the 65 mile route since I wasn't sure I could get the 100 finished in time. I rode quickly today but stopped a few times to help riders with flats.  I also stopped briefly at all 3 rest stops.  I wouldn't want to pass up good rider kibble!

The day's weather improved as it progressed.  It looked like it might rain early, and I put my fender on the bike, but by mid ride some blue sky started to appear.

I felt like I was struggling as I climbed the hills, but I did notice that I was passing most of the riders. I wasn't passing them as quickly as I had wanted to, but at least I was passing them.  Race Across Oregon is rapidly approaching!

I finished the 65 quicker than Julie finished her 25 mile route, and quicker than Leo wrapped up his 65 miles.

  It was okay, there was a finishline festival, and ride refs scored a complimentary beer or wine.

Within a couple of hours we were all gathered together, as it ended up I would have had time to ride the full century.  Oh well, it was still a good ride.

3 of us then made the commute to Portland for a little protest bike ride.  It was a bit weird and thousands of riders milled around waiting for the ride to start, which it finally did, over an hour late.

The lack of punctuality, and what appeared to be a lack of cohesiveness, made this event not very much fun.
Oh well. 

It was still a good day on a bike.


...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today.................80...........0..............0..........0..............80 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............313...............0..............0..........0...........313 Total...........3069.............0...............0..........0.............3069

Race Across Oregon Strategy Session

Another beautiful sunny day in the great Northwest!  Today was spent on ultra cycling.  Not cycling, just preparing for two upcoming events.  I am Crew Chief for a Race Across the West rider and am a riding member of a two person Race Across Oregon team. Both of those duties are keeping me hopping right now. This morning I was packing bags for Sunday's flight to San Diego.   This afternoon I biked to Portland Community College where I met my RAO partner, John Henry Maurice, for a race strategy session.

It was warm, uphill, and into a wind on the way there.  We call that training.
Post meeting I got to go downhill with a tailwind.  It was also marginally cooler by then.

Fun ride!



...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today.................25...........0..............0..........0..............25 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............233...............0..............0..........0...........233 Total...........2989.............0...............0..........0.............2989

A blast from the past, Rocky Butte Hill Repeats!

My friend Monica now leads the Rocky Butte Hill Repeats, a ride series that I started several years ago when I was a ride leader for a social bike club. She invited me to come join the fun tonight. I accepted and invited another friend, Paula, to ride along.

I rode 11 miles to Rocky Butte from Sellwood Park along the Springwater and I-205 paths, since I remember all too well the traffic nightmares of commuting across town by car during rush hour. Paula was coming from Tualatin and had to fight the traffic.

I pedaled just hard enough to ride the 11 slightly uphill, and moderate headwind miles and be just barely on time for the 6PM start. Mark, Monica, and one other rider were there waiting. Paula was still on the road.

Mark and I lead the charge up the hill, he was just humoring me. Monica fell just slightly off the pace.

It was a pretty night for riding.

After about 45 minutes Paula was coming up the hill as I was coming down. We were now in full force.

Mark had to leave after two repeats, but the rest of us stuck it out to the 7:30pm finish time.

As is traditional, we found a location for a post ride debriefing.

Paula (L), Monica (R) and in the window reflection just above and behind Monica is me!

It was just getting dark as we scattered toward home. Monica did not have far to go, but Paula and I both had to ride across town. Luckily, I had brought a good light. Paula had a safety blinky on, but not a good riding light. I rode just behind her and to the side, sharing my light with her.

We took Portland Bikeways across town. We rode within a block of her house, but she took pity on the country boy and made sure I found my way to Sellwood. ;-)

We stood on the side of a street and talked bikey things for quite some time before finally looking at the time and deciding we needed to call it a night.

It was a good night with friends.

Oh, ya, I got 6 repeats in 90 minutes. Fair showing.

...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today.................40...........0..............0..........0..............40 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............208...............0..............0..........0...........208 Total...........2964.............0...............0..........0.............2964

A Portland Tour

A Kitsapian Facebook friend made the trip to Portland for some "family time" and brought her bike along. I'm not sure how it all transpired, but I ended up offering to lead her around the town today. Deb was staying in Gresham and wanted to time the ride to Sunnyside.  I decided to ride to the ride from Sellwood Park.

I got a good brisk 13 miles in on the way to meet Deb, rarely dropping below 20 mph.



I had never met Deb in person before, but recognized her right away.



We pedaled off toward Sunnyside under cloudy skies.





I knew the clouds were not wide spread as the sky was mostly blue at home this morning. By the time we reached Sunnyside they were beginning to break up.

After arriving in Sunnyside we talked a bit about what to do next and decided on a ride around Portland's 40 mile loop. We made our way back to the Springwater Trail and followed it to the Willamette River.  By the time we reached the river the weather was just beautiful.  We pedaled slowly along the Eastbank Esplanade so my guest could take in the sights.











We stopped at Widmer Brothers Brewing for lunch, we even sat outside in the sun! Following lunch we continued riding out to The Bluff overlooking  the Swan Island industrial area.







It was fun seeing this route that is so well known by me through a visitor's eyes.
 

We turned onto the Peninsula Crossing Trail and leaving the Willamette River behind we rode toward the Columbia River.

Before reaching the Columbia we crossed the Columbia Slough. It's a slack backwater, but almost always provides some views of wildlife.





We arrived at the Columbia and followed it upstream toward I-5. It was a gorgeous day for pedaling.





We got on the Marine Drive path and rode past the Portland Airport. Deb comes from a flying family and enjoyed watching the planes flying low overhead.

We reached the Glen Jackson Bridge (I-205) and turned south. The climb up to Gateway was a bit tough for Deb. She was on her heavy Surly Trucker and we were nearing 50 miles of riding for her. We made it to the top, then rode through Maywood Park, the little city within a city.

We arrived at the Springwater Corridor and decided against a trip to Cartlandia, instead turning east and riding back toward Gresham.



Along the way we met Carol. Carol and Deb are Facebook friends but have never met in person. Carol had planned to ride with us today but missed the connection. It was fun to listen to these girls chatter like long lost friends.





After some time Carol had to leave for work, and Deb was anxious to get back home for dinner. We bid Carol goodbye and continued eastbound.



Arriving in Gresham, Deb and I bid each other adieu and went our separate ways, her to her daughter's house and me back to Sellwood Park.

It was a great day with nearly perfect weather. If you are going to show an out of town friend the sights, you couldn't have asked for better!



...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today.................86...........0..............0..........0..............86 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............168...............0..............0..........0...........168 Total...........2924.............0...............0..........0.............2924