Day 24 of #ridingeverydayinNovember..............a Boring ride.

The weather forecast calls for a wet couple of days beginning late tonight so I figured it may be my best chance to ride more than the 5-10 miles I've been riding most days during the #ridingeverydayinNovember challenge. (if you are not a member of the group you won't be able to see it until Dec 7-ish.)

Today I hauled the fixed gear to the eastern end of the on road gap between the Willamette River and the rest of the trail.  Why take the chance of sharing the road with cars when I don't have to.  It would cut two miles off the round trip.

I began on the slightly uphill route east and noted that it now looked much more like winter than it did just a few short weeks ago.

When I got to Cartlandia I stopped for a late lunch. I still wasn't sure if I was going to ride all the way to the end of the trail in Boring, so I took my time.

I finally hopped back on the bike and continued eastward. The weather didn't give a hint of what was supposed to arrive later this evening.

I kept watching my odometer.  I was hoping to get at least 30 miles in.  It would be my longest ride of the month.  By the time I got 15 miles in (out and back route, 15 would give me 30 total) I was only 3 miles from Boring.  I had lights on the bike so I pressed on, not terribly worried if it got dark before I got back.

I arrived in Boring, a community named after a Union Soldier since we are a northern state and don't honor Confederates easily.

There is a lot of history surrounding Boring, and like many of the towns, it history can be traced back through logging and railroads.

Today it is the end of the Springwater trail. You can click on any photo to view it full size, making it easier to read the text.

I turned around just after 3:30 PM, knowing that I had 18 miles to travel, and being on the fixie, that was going to be a tall order to complete the ride before the sun set at 4:35 PM. I pedaled the slight downgrade pretty hard.  I stopped to turn my front and rear lights on blink mode as I took the on street detour around a trail bridge that was being replaced.  It was getting close enough to dark that I just left them on when I rejoined the trail.

I made it back to my pickup well before dark, but the light was dim enough that I was happy I had my lights along and on.

It ended up being my longest ride of November, with only two rides in all of 2019 being longer.(both on the Banks Vernonia Linear Park trail)  Pretty pathetic from someone who used to ride 10,000 plus mile years.

Today ...36....................0.................0......................0..............36

Jan...........0.................. 0..................0.....................0................0

Feb...........0..................0..................0......................0...............0

March.......0..................0..................0.....................0................0

April..........0.................0..................0......................0...............0

May..........0..................0..................80....................0..............80

June........63.................0..................59....................0..............122

July..........86.................0..................78...................0..............164

August......24.................0.................0.....................0...............24

September.23................0.................0......................0...............23

October........0................0.................0.....................0................0

November...287..............0.................0.....................0............287

YTD.........483...............0................217...................0.............700

Day 23 of #ridingeverydayinNovember

Today I had a language class in Beaverton until early afternoon.  The long noon shadows foretold an early sunset.  I stayed close and started on my bike from the Denney Rd trailhead for the Fanno Creek Trail. The shadows were long, and getting longer, and the temperature was brisk, and getting brisker!  I pedaled with purpose.

I stopped once for a photo at a chainsaw sculpture that I watched being created last year.  Today there were kids playing there.

As the sun got ever lower in the sky the temperature continued to fall.  I was glad that I arrived back at my pickup before it got too much colder.

Today ...10..................0.................0......................0.............10

Jan...........0.................. 0..................0.....................0...............0

Feb...........0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

March.......0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

April..........0.................0..................0......................0..............0

May..........0..................0..................80....................0..............80

June........63.................0..................59....................0..............122

July..........86.................0..................78...................0..............164

August......24.................0.................0.....................0..............24

September.23................0.................0......................0..............23

October........0................0.................0.....................0................0

November...251..............0.................0.....................0............251

YTD.........447...............0................217...................0.............664

Day 22 of #ridingeverydayinNovember

I had a lot of business to attend to today. What's up with that?
The weather was beautiful, some frost in the morning but quickly warmed up. I went back to my new favorite place to get a few miles without having to ride riding with traffic. I started from the Juanita Pohl Center in Tualatin. The path from there takes me next to the Tualatin River to begin with.

I first biked down stream to the Tualatin River Greenway Trail. It has a representation of the Tualatin River laid out as a timeline. Here I was stopped at a point 15,000 years ago when the last of the Missoula Floods roared across the landscape.

There is a lot of elevated wooden walkway.

After riding this segment I turned back upstream. After a couple of miles I came across a woman walking an Irish Wolfhound and a developmentally disabled man. My friend Lisa has one named Odie so I asked if I could take a photo.

While they would allow a photo they told me to not pet the dog and that he only liked her. I moved along. 

I came across some ducks and a Great Blue Heron out enjoying the day.

As I came back toward Tualatin the dog and his people were ahead of me on the path. I was still about 50 feet away as a medium sized dog and its human passed them going the opposite direction. As they passed by the Wolfhound jumped and grabbed the smaller dog by the neck and was shaking it. When it jumped it pulled the leash from the hands of the woman. There was a ruckus going on that you would expect. The woman grabbed the wolfhound by the hair on its back and was trying to control it. She had a foot on the leash. As the dogs tussled I could see the leash slipping from under the woman's foot. I grabbed the loop of the leash and tried to get the woman's attention to let her know. She eventually saw the leash in my hand and lit into me for touching the leash.  She hissed that it was not proper for me to touch another person's dog leash. I responded that it was not proper to allow your dog to attack another dog on a public path. I rode on but noted as I did that the leash slid out from under the woman's foot and the fight was in with renewed vigor. 

The rest of the ride was uneventful.

Today ...10..................0.................0......................0.............10

Jan...........0.................. 0..................0.....................0...............0

Feb...........0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

March.......0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

April..........0.................0..................0......................0..............0

May..........0..................0..................80....................0..............80

June........63.................0..................59....................0..............122

July..........86.................0..................78...................0..............164

August......24.................0.................0.....................0..............24

September.23................0.................0......................0..............23

October........0................0.................0.....................0................0

November...241..............0.................0.....................0............241

YTD.........437...............0................217...................0.............654

Day 21 of #ridingeverydayinNovember

I had a short window to ride this morning before having to attend a meeting in Salem. I toyed with the idea of just riding after the meeting, but finally decided to try to get at least 5 miles this morning in case the day ran longer than expected.

It was a beautiful cloud free morning and really warmer then it should have been given the clear sky. Certainly no complaints here!

I pedaled off from Tualatin City Park, since it was close to 24 Hr Fitness and a post ride shower.

I rode some alternate paths to get my nature fix.

Time was short, but I was quick today. Probably not much faster than normal, but definitely cognizant of time. It was a nature and wildlife ride today.

It was time to get moving so I pedaled back across the Tualatin River.

It wasn't a long ride but good thing I did it. The meeting ran a bit long, and the sun sets a bit early.
6 miles will have to suffice.

Today.......6..................0..................0......................0..............6

Jan...........0.................. 0..................0.....................0...............0

Feb...........0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

March.......0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

April..........0.................0..................0......................0..............0

May..........0..................0..................80....................0..............80

June........63.................0..................59....................0..............122

July..........86.................0..................78...................0..............164

August......24.................0.................0.....................0..............24

September.23................0.................0......................0..............23

October........0................0.................0.....................0................0

November...231..............0.................0.....................0............231

YTD.........427...............0................217...................0.............644

Day 20 of #ridingeverydayinNovember

Today I found myself in Salem, with a beautiful blue sky (in November!) and some time. Luckily I had a bike with me! I parked at 24 Hour Fitness and took off on Lancaster. It is a(gasp!) a real road with traffic, but the traffic was light and there aren't many right turn opportunities to get right hooked at. 

I pedaled south first, looking for parallel roads that night be lower in traffic. Being squeezed between I-5 and Lancaster Drive, and some lakes that remain from some mining operations didn't give much room for other roads.

After determining that Lancaster Drive was probably my best bet, I took a photo.

I then set about riding back north. Just an out and back, nothing really worth stopping and taking photos, except this one of the beautiful blue sky.

It was a beautiful day for a bike ride!

Today......16..................0.................0......................0.............16

Jan...........0.................. 0..................0.....................0...............0

Feb...........0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

March.......0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

April..........0.................0..................0......................0..............0

May..........0..................0..................80....................0..............80

June........63.................0..................59....................0..............122

July..........86.................0..................78...................0..............164

August......24.................0.................0.....................0..............24

September.23................0.................0......................0..............23

October........0................0.................0.....................0................0

November...225..............0.................0.....................0............225

YTD.........421...............0................217...................0.............638

Day 19 of #ridingeverydayinNovember

It rained about a third of an inch between 1am and 7am, 50% more rain than we had all month so far, but there was predicted to be a dry until after noon. I grabbed a raincoat just in case and took off. 

I started from Tualatin and rode Eastward on the Tualatin River Greenway. I pedaled the path and a loop around the parking lots of the two shopping centers at the end of the trail spurs, then turned back toward Tualatin and crossed Hedges Creek.

I paddled toward Cook Park, taking the alternate paths when available.

I rode around the paths in the park then took the abandoned road out to Durham Rd. As I turned around I thought I recognized a cyclist coming toward me. Sure enough, as he continued to get closer, I recognized my brother-in-law, Dave. He was out for a real bike ride today!

I kept checking the river for beavers after seeing them two days in a row, but alas, today I only saw scrub jays and a squirrel.  

The best thing? Not even a drop of rain!

Today.......8..................0.................0......................0..............8

Jan...........0.................. 0..................0.....................0...............0

Feb...........0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

March.......0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

April..........0.................0..................0......................0..............0

May..........0..................0..................80....................0..............80

June........63.................0..................59....................0..............122

July..........86.................0..................78...................0..............164

August......24.................0.................0.....................0..............24

September.23................0.................0......................0..............23

October........0................0.................0.....................0................0

November...209..............0.................0.....................0............209

YTD.........405...............0................217...................0.............622

Day 18 of #ridingeverydayinNovember

Today there was a 77% chance of rain, mostly in the afternoon.  I rode early. Yesterday I had noted a trail sign that said that the trail from Tualatin Community Park continued on eastward after a few blocks on a sidewalk next to the road.  Today I went to the other trailhead down the way.

The walkway had a representation of the Tualatin River, where it was setup as a timeline where one step equaled approximately 25 years.  I started in the time when Giant Sloths, Mastodons, and Sabre Tooth Salmon were common and worked my way forward in time. (you can click on any photos to view a full size version and read the text more easily.

I pedaled by signs telling me of cataclysmic eruptions of Mt St Helens and Mt Mazama, as well as the land changing Missoula Floods.

I pedaled along the path the followed the river.  I was reminded that the lazy river of today can be much larger! I also spotted another beaver today, and again he eluded my phone's camera

I clearly remember that flood, and how it was nearly impossible to get around with all the bridges and low lying roads under water..

My progress along the trail came to a sudden stop when I found myself 10 feet above the ground with a barrier blocking my way.  It seems that there is a parcel of land where a former trailer park kept the path from crossing their land.  Since I found a matching trail stub on the other side, and the trailer park is now empty, I presume that the trail will be completed through the gap in the near future.

On the other side of the former trailer park, I found myself on the Willamette Meridian. I was raised very near the Willamette Baseline and have traveled Baseline Road both in the Portland Metro area and as a gravel road in the Tillamook Forest.

Armed with all the facts I needed to navigate in the area I proceeded on.

I reached a section of trail that was too steep for me to pedal on my fixed gear.

The sky was darkening and I was at Brown Park, the end of the trail, so I picked my way back through quiet streets.

Today.......7..................0.................0......................0..............7

Jan...........0.................. 0..................0.....................0...............0

Feb...........0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

March.......0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

April..........0.................0..................0......................0..............0

May..........0..................0..................80....................0..............80

June........63.................0..................59....................0..............122

July..........86.................0..................78...................0..............164

August......24.................0.................0.....................0..............24

September.23................0.................0......................0..............23

October........0................0.................0.....................0................0

November...201..............0.................0.....................0............201

YTD.........397...............0................217...................0.............614

Day 17 of #ridingeverydayinNovember

It was predicted to be a day of rain showers.  Again, they missed it.  We had 0.06" of rain.  It fell in a one hour window beginning at 11:45 AM.  I started riding at 1:30!

I went to Tualatin and started from there toward the Fanno Creek Trail.

I never made it there, I got sidetracked by the Tualatin River.  The name Tualatin comes from the native Atafalati tribe's language meaning "lazy"  The river only drops 250 ft in the 68 miles from Cherry Grove to its mouth, having most of its excitement in the first 12 miles where it drops about 1800 ft.  Today it certainly looked lazy.

@Tualatin Community Park

The wind was calm today, allowing nearly perfect reflections on the slow moving stream.

I made the turn into Cook Park.  As I pulled off to get yet another photo of the placid river..........

......I spotted a beaver swimming gently upstream. I couldn't get my camera out of my backpack quick enough to get its photo before the streamside brush obscured him.  I spent the next 15 minutes playing cat and mouse with the large aquatic rodent, but the closest I came to getting an unobstructed photo of the beaver was to get a photo of its lunch.

The beaver won the game today, so I pedaled on.

It was a laid back day.  Unlike years past when I was closing in on a 10,000 mile year, this year I'll be lucky to get 750 miles. It is funny how getting run over by two inattentive drivers within 11.5 months (who were not held responsible!) can change your priorities.

I just tootled along taking in the scenery.

It took a lot of alternate routes rather than the main path I take when riding toward Beaverton. Today I was even on a few short packed gravel paths.  It was a peaceful afternoon.

I finished up just as the sun was getting ready to set. Nothing like getting my money's worth of the available daylight!

It was a fun pedal, and best yet?  No rain!

Today.......11..................0.................0......................0..............11

Jan...........0.................. 0..................0.....................0...............0

Feb...........0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

March.......0..................0..................0.....................0...............0

April..........0.................0..................0......................0..............0

May..........0..................0..................80....................0..............80

June........63.................0..................59....................0..............122

July..........86.................0..................78...................0..............164

August......24.................0.................0.....................0..............24

September.23................0.................0......................0..............23

October........0................0.................0.....................0................0

November...194..............0.................0.....................0............194

YTD.........390...............0................217...................0.............607