Long Time since Posting

Now planning for goals for 2013,  probably an R-12.  With the OR Randonneurs schedule of brevets, that leaves 7 months to come up with permanents to make up the other months.  Between August and September is a good opportunity to use the Bingen to Heffner 200k in August and come back the next day in September with the Heffner to Bingen.  It would happen on Labor Day weekend, so time to rest, as well.

One question is whether the same permanent can be use more than once in the same year, and still get credit for it?

Need to find out.
Getting ready to mark a record distance travelled by bicycle, this 2012.   Expecting to exceed 4,500 miles for the year.  

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

I'm an SR for 2012, One off the Bucket List

Up at 04:45AM on Saturday June 9th, and out the door around 5:50AM.  Helene dropped me off.  We saw Dave Parson continuing on Barbur as we entered the freeway southbound at Capital Hwy/Taylors Ferry Rd.  I wondered if he was going to make it to Newberg on time.  It was just about 06:00 at that time.

Dropped my bags off at the Travelodge, the owner was up and I was able to take the bags behind the counter.  By the time we got to the back of the hotel, Michael ??  and Ray Ogilvie arrived before Susan France did.  I got everything set up, then Helene drove away.  Finishing up registering, by needing to get back to my bag, to retrieve the $10 registration check it left in it.  I had mentioned to Susan that RidewithGPS.com showed 11,500 ft of climbing in day 1.  She responded that a “normal” 600k brevet has about 15,000 ft.   By the time I got back Michaal Wolfe had been dropped off by his wife, and  was concerned about where he could leave his overnight bags, and I offered to have him stow it with my things, in the office.  We went back there, an the owner had a room, and I registered and got two keys and Michael offered to pay for ½ of the rent for the Saturday night.  Good that was settled, and off to the start.  I missed a comment that Susan had about walking the bike, and it was the embankment along OR 18 after crossing the South Yamhill River to get to the South River Road.

We were off, and got split on the first light to make a left on 99W.  Ray, RB, and I stayed pretty much together the entire day.   I did see Dave Parsons coming the opposite way just at the split of the two streets in Newberg.  We fully expected that he would overtake us at some point, likely in a couple hours.

The shoulder quality was poor through Dundee and to the turnoff for OR18, it got a better.  Then into Dayton.  There’s a frontier fort replica in the central park.  The downtown is more interesting that what we see on the Three Capes ride. Back onto 99W for  a bit, then off again. The traffic is not yet bad, even on the big roads.   

Next up is Dallas, with a Safeway.  I go in, get my breakfast sandwich that did so well on the Edens Gate, and a gallon of water. I vowed to carry my Safeway Club Card on these rides, to save a few pennies.  Ray got some bananas and waited in the normal checkout.  RB was anxiously waiting outside.  His modus operendi is to limit the time spent at stops by as much as possible.  Ray was frustrated and vowed, yet again, to avoid big grocery stores.  RB lectured us on how most time savings can be made at the stops, to try to do as much as possible to be able to keep rolling.  He had me eat my sandwich rolling, as it’s better than to put a whole bolus of food in the gut, then exercise, Its’ better for the gut and your overall time, if the eating is metered out.

Kings Valley was a rolling hilly countryside.  Nothing to steep,  pleasant riding country.  Little traffic, too.

Blodgett was the first Control, and is was the first wide spot in the road (US20) west of Corvallis.  Friendly proprieters.  They had a small gas tank, and the pumps so old, they had to price their pumps to the ½ gallon when the price gets too high.

Back on to a State Highway, and much less traffic on the way to Logsden, and Siletz.  RB’s favorite stretch of the route.  The road is so narrow that it feels like hiking through the woods.  The a right turn on Logsden Road at Nashville, and a 16 minute stretch of picking through smooth hard dirt road, wit h ¼ to 1/3 “ gravel strewn over the top.  No flats!  Then roll into Logsden.  The proprieter there offered to prepare sandwich order, in advance, and with a weeks time, she could get avocado on them.  She wanted to let the organizers of the rides know that, if they route through there, this resource is available.  We learned by then that buying a gallon of water was too much for the three of us.  So 1 liter bottles worked out better.

Before Siletz, there were some serene roads, even reminding me of the alpine meadows bordered by pine forests, in narrow valleys.

Then on through Siletz and along the Siletz River to Siletz Bay and up the coast to Lincoln City.  It was all kinda familiar from when we stayed at Gleneden in January 2011.  It was near dinner time, and RB was more willing to stop and eat a sandwich, which we did.  I was watching the time, and appreciated RB’s pushing, as we seemed to be ahead of my “average time” estimates from 30 to 60 minutes.  The next hurdle was Neskowin by 8:00PM.

We kept going along the E Devils Lake Rd, and then back to US101 up to OR 18 and a wide shoulder to the Left up the Scenic US101 Route.  The traffic was non-existant, and the hill wasn’t too steep.  It connected with Slab Creek Rd, which seemed to have a steeper descent.  We stopped at the Information Control, and the question didn’t make sense, like it was coming from the opposite direction. 

Rolled into Neskowin at 19:33, a full 55 minutes earlier than my “average” brevet speed would have put us there, that’s with all the climbing.   Also found out that the store in Neskowin is staying open until 9PM

Susan had told us that the Little Nestucca Rd was closed for bridge work.  She’d found out with TripCheck.org  so we continued up US101 to Hebo.  The traffic was light, and good thing as the shoulder became narrow the closer we got to Hebo.  It was dusky, but we could see the forest in the bucolic valleys as we ascended, to meet the Little Nestucca and cross the Coast Range again.

It was somewhere in here, in the daylight, and being too careless, I stopped and didn’t make sure I had control of the bike, and if fell onto its right side.  Later on, shifting into the biggest cogs was harder to make a solid connection, the chain would skip and move to a smaller cog.  That lasted for the rest of the day and seemed to get better, and barely noticeable on the second day.  All this without doing any adjustment to the rear derailleur cable.

The more serious climbing was all in the dark, and I began to look forward to seeing the Sour Grass Summit sign.  It just seemed like it took longer to arrive than I recalled.  I was ahead of Ray and RB at this point, and I kept pressing on.  Made it into Grande Ronde and stopped in front of the now closed store.  With all the climbing up from Hebo, I hadn’t kept up with nutrition, and now had a sour stomach and a headache.  I just had to sit down and get more collected.  I didn’t want to get back on that bike, feeling like I did.  I must have forced myself to eat something, but I nearly regurgitated it, at one point.  (Ala, Papa’s Branding Iron in Albany, and about the same time of night).  I kept it down, and stayed long enough that Ray & RB passed me and I never saw them again.  I thought I might be able to, if they ever stopped.  I got back on, and got into the Casino’s gas station, to get some Gatorade to refill the water bottles.  This last stretch without services was long enough that the 2 liter bottle would have been a useful thing to have. 

I was happy that I’d survived the massive climbing of day 1. And was still rolling at a descent clip. I wasn’t too wiped out.

I had no trouble identifying the embankment to walk the bike down to the Yamhill River Road. And the crossing of OR18, Willamina, Sheridan, and Ballston Road came along in due time.  It was near midnight, now, and the businesses were all closed.  The coffee shop in Sheridan, seems to be back, but probably a new owner.

Then on the same route to get back to Dayton, and the convenience mart at 4^th was closed, so continued downtown, and back on OR18 to OR99W through Dundee and finally into Newberg.  I knew I didn’t want to awaken the Motel Owner to sign my card so I was hoping to find an ATM.   Downtown Newberg delivered with a BofA on one side and a US Bank on the other.  Got my balance inquiry at 03:04AM and looked for the motel. 

Michael wasn’t there, he left a note saying he’d continued on and was feeling good enough to keep it up.  Asleep by 03:30AM, I set the alarm for 05:45AM.  I took a couple minutes of head busyness, and I let go.  Next thing I knew, I had to go to the bathroom.  It was 05:27AM, and I got to showering and then the alarm went off.  Got dressed in the day two cycling gear, nibbled at and consumed the burrito I’d carried the entire day, while drinking one of the Diet shake cans,  I was please that my stomach felt better.  It was now a little after 06:00AM and Michael arrives, saying he made it under 24 hours and that he’d missed the Beuna Vista Ferry Service.  I told him about my stomach issues in Grande Ronde.  He said that he chugs Ensure and Ensure + to get enough calories without upsetting his stomach. I must have looked at the day 2 cue sheet (revised after the Little Nestucca Road was closed) and realized I had almost an extra hour to get to the next hurdle of Independence.  I saw RB getting his stuff prepared, and had a frozen waffle, barely thawed with syrup for a high calorie breakfast.

Day 2:

Going across the St Paul Bridge is never fun, but at 6:30AM on Sunday, at least the traffic is less.  The shoulder is bad, bumpy and dirty.  It does get better, the further away from Newberg you get.  The most improvement was after OR219 veered off to the East while we continued straight onto St Paul.  I as alone, having seen the other Michael with his wife in the Continental Breakfast Room of the Newberg Travelodge. And RB getting ready.  I assumed that Ray and RB were ahead of me. 

The cue sheet was dead wrong to get through Salem.  Coming up from the South is easy, compared to approaching from the North.  River through Keiser was tolerable, only because it was early enough on Sunday, but still unpleasant.  I stopped at the Starbucks between Commercial and Liberty and consulted the GPS. And ended up staying on Commercial through Salem.  The only difficulty is the OR22 bridge approach, but the WV bike way gets down to Owens and then it’s rolling hills with light traffic leaving Salem.   It opens up in the floodplain, and then over the bridge and a Right into Independence.  I go to the grocery store across from the plaza, and the clerk thought she’d already signed one of these brevet cards, that that should be enough.  I told her that each rider needs one, so the officials know  

It turns out that Ray and RB were having a breakfast there.  Like I did at the Salem Starbucks, and had seen me on the bench swigging down my orange juice. 

It was a little while, and only about a 50foot climb to Buena Vista, giving the site it’s name by having a view over this part of the Willamette Valley.  The route descends quickly to the ferry landing, and the ferry is on its way to the far side.  I get the camera out and take a few pictures, the first of the ride, as casualty of RB’s efficiency.  As I didn’t even know there was a third car ferry still in operation, I took some photos, once on board, too.  A older couple rolled on, too.  They both had New World Tourists that were well worn.  The husband was interested in my frame, and appreciated the fold down handlebars.  They had taken may long tours, including in Thailand.  The wife made sure that I paid attention to her odometer, as it was over 83,000 miles logged.  I explained what my ride was, as they were on a day ride from their home in Corvallis to Jefferson and back.  They had previously lived in Corbett, the wife saying that’s true Oregon.  I rode with them to the first intersection, while they turned on Talbot, to get to Jefferson, the shorter method.  I explained to them that I was supposed to say on Buena Vista Rd S.  I went about 100 yards and looked at the cue sheet, and I, too, was supposed to make the Right at Talbot Rd.  I scurried back and passed them about ½ mile later, passing them while explaining I hadn’t paid attention to my directions. 

Then a stop at a convenience mart in Jefferson, with a dried out crispy bean and cheese burrito and a root beer.   East of town got some good views of Mt Jefferson, so I came across the idea that maybe the town was named after the mountain.  Somewhere along in here, I came to the realization that the Mavic was no longer registering milage.  Upon further investigation, nor elevation gain, nor gradient.  It continued to show a rolling speed.  On one occasion, if blanked out and had a message that flashed by, and I thought it had to do with having a low battery charge.  Now I was glad that I had the GPS. Heading toward the ½ way point was nice, and Tennessee Rd was the ticket.  It was a little after 1PM and I was thinking that it would do me well to stop for a bit and lay down for a quick nap.  In the country side, everyone had a dog, and there were no public buildings.  With Tennessee’s twists and turns, it finally came to an intersection that looked like Tennesee had ended in a T with Tennessee School Rd.  I stopped and sat on the pavement, there being next to no traffic and my orange jersey was blatent.  It was a hot sunny day, the first I’d experienced in 2012.  I had been riding with only a jersey and shorts since before Jefferson, and that felt good. I checked out my position on the GPS, and indeed, the intersection was only a turn in Tennessee Rd, and coming from the other direction, there would have been no confusion.  A man and his daughter came by and I asked them how to get to Lebanon, and he said I could get on the highway or continue the route I was taking.   After about 10 minutes, I felt better and a few more 90 degree turns I was in Lebanon.

I knew this was an Open Control, and I saw as gas station, but went for a bigger store more central.  Then I heard my name.  RB was calling me, so I got my card signed in what was really a gas/convenience mart.  We were in a quandary for how  to get out of Lebanon and back north to the next control in Scio.  The que sheet looked like it was scribble out in highlighter, but in hindsight, that was probably the best route. 

We headed out of town on Brewster and never veered off it until making the Right on OR 233 to get into Scio.  More traffic, and a mostly 11% with a section of 12% on a ¼ mile long hill, to get us out of the valley floor.  It’s probably the same hill as Richardson Gap goes over, just on a bigger highway. RB made it up in his saddle.  Ray walked, and I decided that I too, would save my quadracepts for later in the day by not burning them up on this hill.  The hills after that were most 4-5%, much more manageable.  Our route may have been longer, too, going 13 miles.  Actually shorter, but on high trafficked raods.  It wasn’t really bad, just that they were driving fast.  It was a hot day, the first really summery day on a bike ride in 2012.  We got into Scio, and finally applied some sunscreen, and I got a Hostess Fruit Pie to take along.   

In the miles before Stayton, I munched on the pie, and when I got to the last piece, trying to push it up out of the packaging, the whole thing slipped out of my gloved hands.  I was doing about 12mph, and I didn’t feel like stopping to pick it up and eat it, but I felt bad about littering.  Ray did say he saw it, and almost stopped to pick it up for me.

Stayton was a few miles down the road.  We turn the same way as on the Hot Springs 300km, to avoid a hill to get all the way to Shaff.  I was very certain that Susan was not going to have a secret control, reinforced by Ray’s saying that she said that we only need worry about getting to the Controls.  A few minutes later in Aumsville, then across the freeway of OR22 to Shaw, and then a right onto Howell Prairie Rd.  This is a long North South Route, It’s hillier on the Shaw end, and Ray and I were amuzed by this day cyclist that was out for a spin, and we said we were tired, he said we should be pushing bigger gears.  He also had his seat too high and his hips were rocking back and forth on the saddle.

We did stop at a crossing with a gas station, a closed coffee cart, and a car wash.  There was a bit of shade on the east side of the coffee cart.  There was a clean Subaru Forester (2004?) with 128,000 miles for $10,400 and it looked like their bucket seats were 2-3” higher than ours.  It was getting late enough that I set up my lights here.  Not entirely sure we’d make it back before dark. 

I was beginning to really try and rest my right shoulder, as it was “bothering” me when on the handlebars.  It’s probably due to the bars being too low, but the right triceps were bothering me more than my bottom.  At least on the saddle, I can stand to pedal, or slide back to relieve the pressure.  The shoulders are always there, and with the handlebar bag, I can’t ride no-handed.

I also continued to notice some twinges of right lower back pain.  I could make it go away by doing some modified cat cow yoga stretches. And it came and went, tended to be after a big climb.  It was more noticeable on these last 30 miles on the second day of riding.

After 15.3 miles, a turn off of Howell Prairie and getting into the northern Willamette Valley. Finally back on River Rd, RB stopped to put leggings back on.  A couple miles later, we all stopped to put ankle reflectors on.  It was now clear we wouldn’t get back into Newberg before dark.  But we did get across the St Paul Bridge in dusk, with full rear lights ablaze.  I was also figuring I had enough water to make it to Newberg, and didn’t bother to stop in St Paul to refill. The traffic was light, and only one truck passed us.  No serious close calls.   RB knew the turns and the distance between intersections seemed longer than in the morning of the start of the Hot Springs 300 as we left by the same route.  I had the bright idea to have the hotel clerk sign our brevet cards, as they were there anyway, and that’s where we all needed to go.  RB and Ray drove off to home.  I showered, and searched for a dinner, finding not much open after 10PM on Sunday other than a Burgerville.  At least it was a Burgerville.  I had a bacon burger with fries, and felt I’d deserved it.  I was alone in the restaurant for a few minutes, when finally a young couple came in, too.

I did it.  A 600km Brevet.  It also happened to occur in the same year as completing a 200, 300, and 400, so I am a Super Randonneur! In 2012.  It’s also a check off my “bucket” List.  And I completed my 2012 New Years Resolution.

Overview.  I didn’t worry about hydration except between Hebo and Grande Ronde, and then again from Aumsville to St. Paul, but I never felt I got too low on fluids.   I peed every 2-4hrs, and the BM was soft.  I didn’t have a scales to see if I had water losses. I did, houwer only drink 5 of the pablum mixes, partially offset by a couple bottle of Gatorade, or Orange Juice.

I put sunscreen on too late, at 4:00PM, or thereabouts. Over the next days, the left cheek was red, as were above the knees below the shorts line.  No peeling.  I  knew something was up, as we entered the motel, it felt way too hot.  I got to my room and it felt like it was at least 90 degree, and looked for a way to lower the heating.  I didn’t want to counteract it with air conditioning, so I opened the window for the night.  By morning, it felt more normal.

The most soreness afterwards was my triceps and deltoid (shoulder) on only the right side.  For four days later, I could still feel soreness in the quadrecepts when climbing or accelerating too hard.  My bottom was not an issue, unlike the Edens Gate.

No serious mechanicals, other than the banging on the rear derailleur.  I did later examine the tire, and the cuts and gashes on the rear weren’t any worse than before.  Maybe it will last for 2,000 miles.

In one of several bike related conversations with Ray,  I told him that I’d managed to tighten the 13mm nut to stretch the leather saddle.  He said that on all the saddles he’s ever gotten, they come with an adjustment wrench.   I should look for my very own.

Overall, nice scenery, particularly on day 1.  No flats despite the dirt road, and plenty of crummy dirty shoulders.  And the hills did not break me down.  Even the 12% on day two, that I walked up.

Eden's Gate 400 brevet goal accomplished

May 19, 2012

Eden’s Gate 400km ridden.  Started out at Mentor Graphics.  Helene drove me down and dropped my over night bag at the La Quinta.  Michel Y was out testing his bike, and offered to take may bag, and put it in his room, as the counter was unpersoned.  I mistook Lynn for Leslie in the hallway outside of Michel and Cindy’s room, thinking that Leslie was signed up for this ride.

We then went over to Mentor Graphics and found the commons, even with the discrete signage on campus.  Susan L was setting up the drop box and we were the first riders there.  As I unpacked, other riders arrived and Susan had to let us into the Commons for the bathrooms.  Nice facility.  Susan gave her instructions, and sent us off at 06:00 and a couple took off, but the rest of us stayed together to get over the Boone’s Bridge.

Then another 4 split off ahead and I remained with a diverse group of 5 that set up a pace line until about Monitor.  RB, the Englishman from the Tri-City with the Arktel rear bag. Vance, the lead of the Southern Utah Randonneur club , the heavy set and myself, for sure.   RB went ahead before the Stayton, and I had another breakfast at the Safeway Deli of a breakfast sandwich.  That was good!  My first of several occasions where I realized that picking up prepared food is a tastier way to consume calories. Talked with the southern Utah Randonneur.  His concern was the low population density of Southern Utah makes it hard.   His counterpart in Salt Lake is sponsoring a whole series of Brevets. He’s out here to visit his children living in Portland.  He mentioned that when asked about taking a ride, they ask where, then he says 400km, and then they ask how many days.  Cyclist are a minority, and Randonneurs are strata of them.  When I was getting ready, Lynn and Michel arrived.  Lynn encouraged me to get going, as I was chatting with her.  Then the hilly section to get to Sweet Home.  The most severe was the second big climb on Cole School Rd and topped out at 19%.  I was never really with anyone, but could see a rider ahead of me.   At Sweet Home the Thriftway didn’t have any good prepared foods, but I took off the base layer, and put on sun screen.  Continued to ride with the Englishman with the Aktel bag. He helped me get out of Sweet Home, as he had a Garmin GPS, and used NiMH batteries, it was an eTrex mode.  He rides with the Eastern Washington Randonneurs,  a new group that pulled from SIR and OR Randonneurs.   I pulled away from him on the climb up Brush Creek Road, where I removed the base layer top, and rested.   He said that his knees were bothering him, and he’d stop for water in Marcola.  He split up, and I went on to Waltersville.  At the turn, the SIR big guy was punching the light that gave me a red.   About two miles later, I saw Dave, and then about 5 miles later saw RB coming the other direction,  he told me he’d left some water at the front door.  I figured that Asta and her companion had already gotten out of the leg.  I was first confused by the Tackle shop at the corner, and no Select Market. Going into the only grocery store there was, I saw the water on the firewood stack out front.  I got a decent turkey sandwich and a coke, and sat out in front of the store.  I got the bottle return coupon, but left it with the water, not wanting to go through the checkout a third time. As I was leaving, Ray Oglevie arrived, and mentioned that Al was still out there.  About 100 yds out, Michel and Lynn were just arriving.   Alone, I called Daniel a couple times, and the second time, got through.  He was having a big dinner and playing games with his friends.  I told him the best opportunity to see me would be across the McKensie river by Armitage Park along Coburg Road. He said that he did get the brakes back on his bike, and that they needed to be readjusted.  He figured that was too far out, and I agreed. He said he’d gotten a C on his philosophy paper, thus disappointed. Rolling through alone,  Coburg now has NO coffee shop, just the Dari Mart.  Onward to Harrisburg, and no headwind.  I was parsing out my two water bottles to be sure I drank them up by the time I reached the next supply stop.  They seemed to be about 40 miles apart, and I was sweating enough during the day, that I wasn’t peeing but 3 times by then.  The clerk at the Harrisburg store was pleasant, but they didn’t seem to have a good Deli.  I got a big bag of Fritos and a Root Beer, and then a gallon of water, applying the $.05 deposit to the purchase, lastly a coffee (my first of the day) to dump into the water bottle.  Ray Arrived, then Lynn and Michel, and as we went to find the bathroom at the firehouse, Al rolled in.  Ray, Lynn, Michel, and I rolled out and as it got dark along Peoria Road, we tried to form a paceline.  Lynn eating a burrito warning us not to get to close, made me think I could pack ½ sized burritos for the stops that don’t have decent food.   I realized that I must have left my reflective ankle straps on the bench in front of the Harrisburg grocery store. We stayed together until arriving in Albany.  I started to diurese after the Root Beer, Coffee in water bottle, and peed 3 times in an hour, once on the roll.  It being dark made it possible to be more flexible in the possible locations. Ray and I waited for Lyne and Michel at the turn onto Lyon St, in Albany and to see if they wanted to go to Pop’s Branding Iron.  I was feeling so much better than last year along this stretch, and figured I could eat, but would rather continue to Salem (unless there was no 24hr service).  Ray and I waited about 10min, until we took off and continued up to Independence. Ray’s stomach was bothering him.  The cue sheet said it was Open Control, and the Brevet Card said to answer the question on the Brevet card.  This was the first of the discrepancies between the two.  Ray was out of water, and local that wanted to use the ATM, after we’d used it to get receipts, told us that the bar would have water.  We looked around for a drinking fountain around the locked public bathrooms.  I volunteered to go into the bar, and the bartender gave me a bit of a bad time, saying no, then grabbed the two water bottles.  I should have tipped him.  On my way out a young , likely drunk, tapped my shoulder, and want to do a fist bump, a high five, then another fist bump.  She knew I was riding a bike and was trying to encourage me.  I was flattered that someone under 25 paid any attention to me.  As we left Independsence, Al rolled in and we showed him the answer to the question on the cue card.  He followed up and along River Rd, he was with us much of the time.  I pulled into the Plaid Pantry first,  as Al had been talking about it being the only sure thing in Salem.  The coffee was out, so I got a Red Bull, and looked through their selections of burritos.  Selected the Beef, Cheese, bean and warmed it up and was able to eat the whole thing.  I was too anxious to finish it, but it tasted a bit spicy and I kept on wanting more, until it was gone.  In my quest for coffee, Al had a cup of coffee and he’d taken a cold coffee and then microwaved it to get it hot.  He took a picture of us sitting on the front walk with his phone, asking how to spell my name.  We rolled through Salem around 2:30, and the traffic seemed be getting out of the bars.  River Rd through Keizer was quiet, and we finally got out of town, and Al was no longer with us.   I was feeling my diaper rash, that made it quite uncomfortable to settle back down onto the saddle.  It was also the sleepy time as it seemed to take a long time to reach Keene Rd.  Ray and I chatted when we were together, but I felt more awake just by having him nearby.  Then the birds started to sing and chirp and slowly it got brighter, as we were getting onto Butteville Rd.  Ray was feeling better and going faster after having had a waffle in Salem.  His average was around 15, and at that pace my HR was between 95-105.  At about 4:30 my Dinotte finally exhausted the 4 cells that I’d used in my made up 4 cell package, and was afraid that I’d reverse polarized a cell, when they wouldn’t recharge before  leaving the house. It went from the blinking blue immediately to the off and red within 5 seconds.  I stopped and Ray waited while I dug around and put the second set of cells in.  I then realized that I’d not closed the rear bag, since taking out my raincoat in Salem.  Everything still seemed to be in it, though, now that it was mostly empty, without my clothes.  It was quite light by the time we got to Arndt Rd. and getting across the Boones Bridge was better than when I’d come across in March, there was more room along the exit.  We saw a Denny’s but then scouted out the Shari’s.  As the cue sheet said, we got it signed, and we had a few minutes to spare to have made it under 24 hours.  We ordered and were served, then Al arrived and sat with us.  He checked Facebook, and Lynn had posted that they’d stopped in Salem at a sit-down place.   Al mentioned that the RUSA website has a way to see the results of all riders, if you specify the event by name. 

I've now completed an easy Populaire, that Dieter and I have recreated without the Snoozeville leg.  A tough 200km that took us up the Mollala and to Silver Falls State Park,  but helped get me in shape for the fastest 300km I've had from Newberg to Breitenbush and back.  

Its springtime, and It's snowing.

Looking out the back window of home, so I can reach the Clear(r) wireless tower, I can see the streetlight on the next street over and the snow is falling straight down around it.  It snowed on my way to work, then turned to rain, then turned to snow again, as the day got cooler.  now it's actually going to stick on the vegetation.

I'm just waiting for the Roomba to charge up again, and then let it loose to be only one sector away from vacuuming the living/dining area.  I can now do it without risking letting the unit loose all power before finding home base again by getting a third invisible wall, so the Roomba can't go too far astray.

It makes a beautiful Christmas scene, but wait, Spring is here, today is the second full day since the equinox.

End of 4 Day workweek with a celebratory ride home

Wow, it's already March 2012

And exciting, at that.  With last weekend being four days long, and bach(elor)ing it.  I fulfilled my desire to try cycling from home to Eugene, and back.  Combine a crash pad with a visit with my son.  As is typical of long bike rides, I always seem to learn several things.  I can still put up with the long rides, and my nutrition was only a problem when I ate too much.  With a headwind on Friday going down, it took about 2 more hours than the return trip, which mercifully, the south wind was still pretty strong until the early afternoon.  the bar end extensions worked pretty well for allowing me to tuck a bit into the headwind, and keep up about a 12 mph pace. (more like 16 mph coming back).

Serves me right for not adequately planning or scouting out the segment around Salem, as I looked at a particularly narrow/busy section of Commercial Ave, and opted for the WV bike route signed route.  That didn't get me back on a more friendly section of Commercial, but did give me about an extra 10 miles, following the Willamette River, as opposed to going over the hill it flows around.  I did get to see the bird sanctuary.   Had a late afternoon lunch at Pops Branding Iron in Albany, and it was a much more pleasant affair than the first (and last) time I'd been there.  this time, I did order the chili, and it stayed down quite well and wasn't too filling.  On the way back, I tried to repeat that success, by stopping at La Hacienda Real in Keizer, but the closest thing to a chili, was a tomato based meat stew.  It turned I would have been just fine with the side dishes of rice, and refried beans, and tortillas.  But I couldn't take it with me, unless I ate it all.  I felt full for a good 1.5hrs afterwards, but everything stayed where it is supposed to.

the second crossing of Boones bridge into Wilsonville, was knarly, as they're blocking part of the shoulder with safety gates, and reflective barrels to add a lane to the exit.  I know I was visible, but it's still unnerving to have cars go by, so fast, and so close.  A different time of day, would make all the difference, say early morning.  More later.

Happy two-thousand twelve

We're back on line!! since 2January2012.  That was over 3 weeks ago and due to Clear(r) having one of their towers out of service.  As it is the only one serving our homestead, we were without internet service.  After many calls, no repair was done, and they lost a customer to Verizon for a mobile hotspot for wider, faster coverage for $5/month more.

The kitchen remodel is progressing.   The tile floor is installed and grouted.  Tomorrow should be the first of the drywall installation.  We're hoping they tear out all of the old sheetrock, to be sure there is insulation on the entire outer wall.  Once the drywall is up, that will stop the cold air coming in from the attic, along with some dust and blown in insulation.  We'll also be able to uncover the foods and kitchen contents that are out in the living room.

Have at least 61 projects to keep track of at work, so thinking a lot about 4:1 day, and that much closer to Retirement.

'till later

Another haircut, two days ago

Happy New Year.
Should be figuring out my 2012 Resolutions, but can't decide between an R12 or and SR.

the kitchen remodel starts on Wednesday January 18th and should be all in place by Saturday February 4th

Daniel at home for the holidays.

off to finish up at work.