Hood River Weekend

Mt. Hood

A bunch of us went up to Hood River this weekend.  Saturday we rode the Hood River Harvest Ride, two loops,  including Lost Lake and Cooper Spur.  75.6 miles, 6421 feet of gain.  This is one of my favorite rides.

Old growth forests heading up toward Lost Lake

Cycle chicks, VA, Nancy and me

Lost Lake, Mt Hood in the distance

I spent the night at Tom and Ann's house in Parkdale.  We set out early Sunday morning to ride in the Gran Fondo Hood River.  The weather report called for rain starting at 7 am, but we woke to dry skies.  Four of us completed the 100.5 mile course that takes riders out to the Dalles followed with a gradual climb through a beautiful area carved by the world-famous Missoula Floods.  Our pace line nearly rode over a large rattlesnake sunning itself!  We headed to Dufur and then up a 20 mile hill which summits under Mt. Hood.  8320 feet of gain.  

6:30 am, view of the north face of Mt. Hood 

Where was Craig?  He has an ulnar 'handbar' neuropathy involving the right little and ring finger which started on Day 5 of our Spain/France trip.  He's been told to stay off his bike until the feeling comes back.  Anyone have any ideas/solutions?

Today's Oregonian article about Cycle Oregon mentioned a web site for a physical therapist from Eugene who is riding this week.  She posted some good stretching exercises for those of us that are experiencing some stiffness after a long summer riding;  Bodywise PT.

Bald Peak weekend

Bald Peak State Park
looking NW towards Gaston

Summer is winding down fast.  Portland had some great riding weather this weekend and the MAC Saturday ride's route was out to the Bald Peak area to Chehalem Hill.  Bob showed up on his cool Eddie Merckx bike, VA on her new Independent Fabrication bike.

We enjoyed a nice 38 mile ride with a fun descent down Chehalem Hill.  Sunday I set off by myself to Bald Peak again, this time going up the normal route to Bald Peak State Park, home via Gaston and the Hillsboro area.  72 miles.  If one wants some extra miles, and starts early enough, they could take the Haag Lake exit off Highway 47 and take a turn around the lake before going into Gaston.

Cornfields off North Valley Road near Gaston

Spotted in Cleveland, Ohio

Ohio License plate
'Birthplace of Aviation'
Badger X 

String of bad luck

After the Wednesday night MAC ride, I came back to my truck, which was parked at Germantown and Skyline, to find that someone had bashed in the back window and stolen my purse.  I never take my purse on rides, but had errands to do beforehand.  After spending all day cancelling credit cards, opening up a new checking account and getting a provisional license, a gas station in N. Portland called to say they had the purse.  'They' pretty much cleaned it out, but left my MAC and 24 Hour Fitness Card, Costco, AAA and library card, along with various store cards.  Gee, thanks.

Later I found out that Art, our friend that fell Sunday, had two pins placed in his upper trochanter yesterday to prevent necrosis & further damage.  4-6 weeks off the bike.

We leave today for LA to take our daughter to college.  Driving our 'new to us' Volvo.  It might be nice to be off a bike for a few days!

Ride slow going down slick hills

Just got news that our friend Art does have a hairline fracture of the trochanter.  Good  news is he should be able to ride in 2-3 weeks but his doctor said, 'no falling', which seems obvious enough.   

A riding weekend

Saturday we rode the Vine Ride, a nice ride that gives a rider the option of 35, 70 or 100 miles out in the Oregon wine country.  We opted for the 70 mile ride and completed the course with a quick 19 mph average, courtesy of a nice pace line made up of the usual suspects plus one enthusiastic, athletic 18 year old who's only ridden for a year.  Rolling hills for 2300 feet of gain.    After a cool start, the sun came out and we enjoyed a nice barbecue on the lawn at Newberg High School.

Today was the Portland Century.  Starting at Portland State, we rode out the Springwater Corridor and headed up to the Bull Run area out of Sandy where Portland gets our famous water.  The weather wasn't cooperative and we had cool temps accompanied by scattered showers.  Suffice it to say, the first rain of the season made for very slippery roads.  There were three crashes, one of which involved our friend, Art.  He fell descending a steep hill, slipping on a rainbow colored slick of oil on a tight left turn.   After checking him out, he attempted to get on his bike, but going up the first hill couldn't put pressure on his left pedal and we had to call for a van to get him back to Portland.  X-rays are pending but we really hope his injuries are minimal and that he'll be at our usual Wednesday club ride.  I heard the other two crashes involved possible clavicle fractures, so maybe Art will be lucky with only a large hematoma on his left hip and some bad road rash.  Art's first comment after he fell was, "I ruined my new kit!"  He was speaking about his new MAC club shorts and jersey.  He was also concerned about the condition of his  bike.  A true biker.

Coming back into Portland was an adventure with a west headwind coming up the Columbia River on Marine Drive, congestion with many riders coming in from the 25 and 50 miles route, along with some rain.  99 miles, 5300 feet of gain.

I decided I'm not an urban rider.  My favorite rides usually require a drive.

Clare and Judi at the finish line, Portland State University

Update - Good news; Art's x-rays were negative!