I like to ride my bicycle - for long distances. I have earned the California Triple Crown and finished the Furnace Creek 508. My goals include qualifying for RAAM and ...(read the blog to find out).
"The bicycle has a soul. If you are able to love it as it deserves, it will give you emotions you will never forget."
Mario Cipolini
"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."
John F. Kennedy
"The important decisions in my life I make while out riding my bike."
Former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi
"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever.” Lance Armstrong
Baby, it is Cold Outside
We woke up to a very cold Sunday morning, but the sun was out and promised warm afternoon temperatures. Our group of Scott and Jim left the red log promptly at 10:00 am and finished the ride by 1:00 pm. We did not take any breaks along the way, instead we rode non-stop.
A whole herd of tandems!
Ah, summer in the Yakima Valley site of the 2007 Northwest Tandem Rally.
Yes, that is a Stop Sign
In 1997, Joanne and I rode our first Oregon Bicycle Ride. Somewhere in the outback of Eastern Oregon in a location now forgotten, we came upon this scene. In California, you have fours to get your dead car off of the highway. In rural Oregon, you have four decades.
Saturday Century in the Cold
The weather took a turn toward the cool and cloudy today after several days of spectacular sunshine. There was even a threat of rain. So, we decided to stay on the flats and we rode to the small town of Shedd. Mark Newsome had told me that the local market served food, so we just had to check it out.
Joanne and I met Mark Janeba in West Salem and headed south through Independence, Buena Vista and Albany where the casing on the front tire of our tandem failed and we had to resort to the emergency tire. Thanks to the two lovely young ladies in the local coffee shop who share their table with me as swapped tires.
Leaving Albany, we noticed a cyclists behind us trying to close the gap to us. We eased up and soon "Cookie" joined us and rode with us. Cookie move to the US back in '84 to Tuscan, Arizona from northern India. In April of this year, he move to Oregon and is enjoying his first winter here.
The market in Shedd met our expectations. Two very nice women welcomed us out of the cold. In addition to the ever popular chips and beer, the market offers a small deli that includes real, sandwiches. Joanne and I shared a turkey sandwich before the group headed north toward home.
He headed north on Seven Mile Rd and cross Scravel Hill Road to Jefferson. There, we turned to the west and rode through the Ankeny Wildlife Refuge before crossing the Independence Bridge over the Willamette River.
Scott's Tuesday Night
Cyclist with United States Flag in Oak Creek Canyon
When on a bicycle tour, you often meet other cyclists, but rarely if ever do you meet someone cycling with a 4 x 6 US flag attached to a BoB trailer. But we did. His name is Chip Schultz and his web site is www.omeh.org. He rode his bike and flag across the USA to raise funds for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund which "Honors the bravery and dedication exhibited by Americans in our armed forces who have sacrificed life and limb by providing educational scholarships to their children." A worthy cause indeed.
Best Restaurant in Jerome
Joanne and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner and yes, it was the best piece in town.
Wickenburg Ghost Bicycle
On our recent bicycle tour of Arizona, we came upon this Ghost Bicycle just outside of Wickenburg. This was the first day of our ten day tour and this sight sobered us up a bit.
A Saturday Double Metric Century
Joanne, Sal and I rode the Three Prairies 200K Permanent Brevets. We started in a light rain from the Coffee Cottage in Newburg and headed south toward the towns of Dundee, Dayton, Amity, Perrydale and Dallas. Between Perrydale and Dallas, the skies open up on us and rain came down in buckets at which point in time Sal spoke up, "If you wanted to know what Paris-Brest-Paris was like, it was like this!".
Fun.
We returned to Newburg, but our ride was not done, but the rain was. We did not see any more rain as we headed out of town crossing the Willamette River and rode through Gervis to Mt. Angel where we took a short stop at a new bakery in town. It was so good, I will be back.