Bringing the bike outdoors

A morning ride in the chilly Oregon air. Long overdue! I’m reminded of so many things I’ve been missing by not riding outside lately. The schedule just hasn't allowed much opportunity to ride during the daylight.

A little climb, a little descent, how differently a real bike handles than the one I've been riding indoors.

A waft of wood smoke lingers in the air from a nearby fireplace, followed by the welcome smell of breakfast being served up at local restaurants.

Only a handful of cars are out so far. For a little while, I can pretend that I really do own Twelfth Street, and I go careening down the middle of the car lane on Morningside Hill.  The speed and the cold air make my eyes water.

Those chaotic, scary intersections we all know about are no problem when the cars aren’t out.  I easily pass through one of them and turn toward downtown.

Walkers and joggers are already out along the Riverfront. Most of them say “good morning” to you, and they smile.

I stop down at the river’s edge.  Fifty yards away, a great blue heron is perched in a tree.  I wait for that magical moment when he stretches out his massive wings to fly over the water, but he wins our little waiting game.  This time.

Riding indoors has been valuable. It’s good for conditionining, but it’s not riding, really. Braking, steering, leaning, interacting with the world...most of the best parts of riding simply don’t happen on an indoor bike.

Heading back for home, I’m already thinking about tomorrow’s ride.

Outside.

Fall Into Winter

I took this picture at Detroit Lake, not far from the little town on the east side. I wish I could say that I was on a bike ride there, but that would be lying and bloggers never lie. I was just on a walk.

Oregon is so beautiful in late fall, when the weather and landscape seem to be in cahoots together, creating amazing combinations and textures. Even though it was a rainy, sloppy day when I took this picture, I felt like hopping onto the saddle and following a road into those hills and just enjoy the serenity.

I need to get out and ride more than I have been lately. Pedaling indoors is okay for a workout, but it's not the same as riding.

With the right kind of clothing, I've learned that riding in cold and wet conditions is really great.

Especially if there's soup afterwards.

Leaving The List At Home

There is something about fall that is restorative.  Nature brings a new rhythm and inspiration to us as we notice the changes of this season.

I’d thought about staying inside this afternoon to take care of part of the “to-do list” around the house. That would have been nice, I suppose. I’m glad that I forced myself out of the house and onto the bike instead.

For two hours I pedaled through the long shadows of the late afternoon, on a freshly paved road that was smooth and quiet as I rolled. 

I pedaled hard, but stopped a few times to notice things, like these apples.

I could have taken a few things off the list at home and used up what energy I had left today. Even though the bike ride was strenuous, it gave more energy than it took.  

Turning

We don't really need calendar to notice that the seasons are turning.

What a great time of year to get outdoors and explore this valley.

Fall is such a dynamic season.  Things are changing all the time!

Find a stretch of road and take a ride.

Riding The Scenic Bikeways In Central Oregon

However long it may take you to get there, the Oregon Scenic Bikeways in Central Oregon are definitely worth the trip. If you like cycling, and you like interacting with nature while you’re pedaling, you must find your way to Central Oregon on a day in late spring, summer, or early fall. You could ride two or three of these bikeways in their entirety in a weekend; the views along the way are nothing short of spectacular. The routes use roads that help to minimize your interaction with vehicle traffic, so it’s safer than the highways and main arterials. Most of them are fairly level and don't require big climbs. Farmland, forest, desert, and mountain views constantly make you want to stop riding and just gaze at the views. Aromatic cedar, pine, and sage add to the sensory experience that you can’t replicate inside a car. Several amenities along the way such as hotels and campgrounds, great restaurants and coffee shops, and bike shops galore will help you plan a trip in just your own way. Get thee to a Scenic Bikeway in Central Oregon. Pronto.

I just got back from there myself. In future posts I'll share about the bikeways that I rode in greater detail. I hope I can describe them in ways that convince you to try them, too. For now, though, just a little tattle on myself.

I’d planned a two-day ride that would cover three Scenic Bikeways: Metolius, Twin Bridges, and Sisters To Smith Rock. I brought camping gear, extra clothes, and the usual stuff you’d take along on a bike tour. I wanted to get a feel for fully-loaded touring. Unfortunately I learned that my tires had their limits, and I had pushed them too far. The pavement became hot and unforgiving in the summer sun. Out on Lower Bridge Road, miles away from town, I started getting flats. The blistering roads, the touring load, and jagged cinder rock proved to be too much for my tires, and they finally gave out. I ran out of spare tubes and patches, I was low on water and morale, and I wasn’t able to finish the final leg of my ride. Defeated, I turned around and pushed my bike and all my gear on a long, hot walk back into the nearest town. 


Lesson learned...the hard way. It's okay, though. Sometimes it's just how you have to learn some of this stuff. It's funny, just minutes before that first flat tire, I remember how ridiculously blissful it felt to be riding out in the forest, in such a great spot. I was thinking to myself: “Enjoy this moment. this ride’s going to be over before you know it.” Minutes later...it was!


I will get back there. Not only is there I ride I need to finish, there are several others waiting to be experienced.

Dodging Raindrops

Despite the weekend's rain showers, we found ourselves leaving the car behind and heading away from Salem on our bicycles. This was our first go-round with this thing called "credit card touring." We had packed for an overnight stay, including some books, a fresh change of clothes for dinner, and creature comforts that you wouldn't ordinarily take on a bike tour. That's part of the trade-off with this type of touring. You're not bringing a tent and sleeping bags so you can bring other stuff along if you want. 

The Lions Gate Inn, Newberg

We rode in a weather window up the valley. The rain never got us--but it was close. An angry-looking rain cloud chased us up from the south the whole way, finally overtaking us at Champoeg. Haha...just in time, we reached an overhang at the park. A bench underneath gave us front-row seating for the very short shower. We snacked on energy bars and talked and let the weather do its thing. Mrs C, I could tell, was having fun on this ride. What a relief...I really wanted it to go well! The sun reappeared and dried off the pavement, and we continued on to our destination in Newberg, dry and still smiling.


The Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway lets you enjoy miles of car-free riding, so you can ride side-by-side a lot of the time. These are the less traveled roads that connect farms and small towns. Cherry orchards are busy right now as workers fill 5-gallon buckets while perched on tall ladders. With the combination of sun and rain, the smell of mint nearly knocks you over when you ride past these fields with the dark green mint plants. Mrs C marveled at the agricultural diversity. Along with several nurseries and hazelnut orchards, we rode past fields with wheat, hops, onions, and corn. 


I learned a hard lesson about trying to improvise the route we were taking. The valley has an interesting web of highways and roads criss-crossing the region. Some roads are more heavily used than others. I knew there were roads that were more direct than the Scenic Bikeway. Almost instantly after choosing a "shorter" path home, I regretted it. The shoulder was narrow and rough, and the Sunday traffic whizzing by us was way too close. We split off and took farm roads as soon as we could until we could rejoin the bikeway. Once there, it was back to enjoying some quiet, picturesque riding together. Lesson learned.


Yep, we both agree, this kind of touring works for both of us.

The Path And Pioneer Cemetery

Part 3: I Love To Tell The Story...Once I Learn It Myself.

James and Laura Belle Carlisle
Bradshaw, Nebraska 1890's

This whole thing about the Pioneer Cemetery has obviously struck a cord for me. I’ve been learning more about my grandparents lately and even made a new connection. Thanks to the wonders of Google, I met a second cousin of mine back in Nebraska where my grandparents were from. We immediately started swapping information. He sent me old family pictures, including this one of our great grandparents. He and I are both educators. Our spouses have the same name. We have a part in each others’ story, and that is powerful.

While I was searching for the exact location of my grandparents’ graves at Pioneer Cemetery, I was greeted by a very jovial dog, off leash. He ran right up to me. As a cyclist I’ve learned to read dogs quickly. This one liked me and just needed a pat on the head before he bounded off again, across the grave sites. I like dogs, but I wondered if this was commonplace, bringing dogs to the cemetery and letting them run free like that.

I got my answer when I visited my other grandparent’s cemetery the same day.  There was another dog, off leash. Hmmm. 

Maybe I’m missing something, but it seems odd that we’re not talking about that in the conversation about the safety of this historic site. As wonderful as it is to have a place to bring a dog, I’m not super excited that they’re given free run of the place. 

Anyhow, our friend at Breakfast on Bikes set me straight on a few facts that I didn’t wholly understand about this topic. 

The City Council will decide on June 25th whether they will "vacate" the alley in question.  I hope that's not the outcome.

And I hope there can be a well-reasoned, respectful conversation about the imperative to move bikes and pedestrians through this area in a safe manner. Away from Commercial Street.

I believe a bicycle/pedestrian path would have far less impact on the cemetery than is being suggested by some. Yes, we need to care for our historic places and monuments. They remind us to care about our own stories, and how we all connect in one way or another. 

We also must consider the safety and well-being of the walkers and riders, the ones who are living the story that is unfolding.