Rides

From Beverly Beach. First out to Otter Rock, then back to Newport. Gorgeous day on the coast.

From Big Elk Campground it's 19 miles of gravel road to Elk City. There had been log trucks going by yesterday and this morning so I was a bit concerned. Turns out they were coming in from another road just a mile up the road and I never had to encounter one. In fact I only saw about 3 vehicles the whole way to Elk City. The road was in good shape with none of the washboard I experienced last year when I rode it. It was a very quiet still morning.

Stopped for a quick snack at Elk City and then stoppend for anothe snack at the boat launch just before Toledo. This is where I get cell service again so I had to check in. Stopped for esspresso in Toledo but it didn't do much for me.

Stopped at the Sail Inn Cafe for lunch. I ate here recently and it was very good and much cheaper than everything else on the bay front. The sun was now out and I had made it across the mountains. Time for a beer. I had a very tasty lunch of fish tacos and then chatted with the Thai lady that owns the place for a while. Then a liesurly ride through Newport, avoiding the main drag, before heading out to Beverly Beach.

I was now confident that the C2C trail was well signed and rideable through to Harlan. Although the trail goes up Old Peak Road I still much prefer Woods Creek and so I headed that way. There was still some blue sky in Corvallis but the clouds where hanging in over Mary's Peak and it soon clouded over completely. It would be great to have a nice cool day to do this ride.

My first stop on Woods Creek was to admire the gorgeous garden I have passed before. This time I got to chat with the lady there who said they've been there since 1975, and 3 years before that did a coast-to-coast bike tour!

Woods Creak Road was in great shape with no loose gravel, washboard, or pot holes. There were some log trucks coming down and I had heard that they were logging above the gate.

At the junction of Old Peak Road the C2C takes Lower North Ridge trail, which is single track. I tried to ride down this a few years ago and had to walk most of it. It's likely that the C2C trail builders have improved it, but that was not my challenge for today. Instead I continued up the road knowing that the trail comes out just above the gate.

The gate was open for the log trucks. I have heard that they put down a lot of course rock on what used to be a very smooth ride. Too bad, but not my concern for today. Here is where I would join the C2C the rest of the way to Harlan. When I rode up TumTum with some Tenners a few months ago we could see where the C2C veered off. I would now ride down to that point and then be on roads I have never been on before. From here the road would be up and down, but predominantly down as the gate on Woods Creek Road is the highest point on the C2C

The trail makes a left right around a recent clear cut. You would never know it, there are no signs saying so, but this is now Shotpouch Road. The C2C sign however was very obvious. In fact at ever intersection where you could possibly have a choice, the C2C signs were unmistakable. There was never any chance of getting lost.

Eventually you starting going downhill, pass a farm, and hit a signed intersection of Shotpouch Road and Shotpouch Trail. The C2C takes Shotpouch Trail to the left, across Shotpouch Creek and then back up hill to a new clearcut. Here the road is heavy rock and I had to get off and walk, past a gate, and then downhill a bit before it gets rideable again. This was the first time I was inside of a gate where there could be no vehicles. The road soon deteriorated to overgrown single track, and then came to a section of newly built single track trail. The trail is downhill with a number of switchbacks. It is very well built with no rocks, roots, or ruts. It was fun to ride. At the bottom the trail joins more overgrown road which gradually improves as it makes it's way down to Sugarbowl Creek and the gate where it joins Mary's Peak Road 3.5 miles from Harlan. I had done it. Thanks to the C2C trail builders there was now an easy to follow route that flanks the north side on Mary's Peak all the way to Harlan. Six more miles of easy gravel and I arrived at Big Elk Campground.

Tuesday club ride. Out Tampico to Berry Creek, Airlee to Elkins. Stop at Helmick Park and then back 99. I took Mountain View and Highland back.

I felt like a ton of lead today. I really had to work hard for very little power. Nice day as the smoke is gone. We did have a little wind.

Late start and no motivation, but the smoke finally cleared enough to ride, and it's nice and cool. 

Nice. 

Nice group of tenners. Cooler morning, very nice.

Around Beverly Beach Campground with January, Otter Crest solo, and a bit of Yaquina Bay Drive with Linda. 

Smoky sunrise ride to the garden.

Pre ride. Cool cloudy day after months of heat. 

First came a 45 mile ride out to Kings Vally. At times I felt like I had no power, but when I got the bike going it really flew. Hundreds of motorcycles. Big rally with a stop in Kings Valley. 

Back in Corvallis, had lunch and then rode out to meet some of my Rando friends who were on the return leg of a night start 400k. So inspiring to ride with them for a little ways. 

Hot days of summer

Day 4 mini loop

Day 3 mini loop

Day 2 mini loop

day 1 mini-loop

One more practice ride before mini-Loop. 

Cold morning but the route started climbing right away. Back up from the wide prairie to 5,889' at the summit. Then 20 miles downhill to Prairie City. Second breakfast which I regretted because the service was so slow and the day was getting hot. 

Then east on 26, now following the route of my 3010 tour.  Soon came a brutal hot climb. The first part to the prairie schooner was the worst. We all stopped and took shelter inside the display which was funneling through a nice cool breeze. Spent a good deal of time recovering before heading out. 

The rest of the climb was not as bad. Still very hot but every now and then a cloud would roll by or a breeze would spring up. I stopped a lot. There were some shady places which were delightfully cool as we gained elevation. The summit was 5280'. 

Then a long downhill to Austin House. The heat picked up as we lost altitude. Camping out back is very nice. 

Left Canyon City and immediately started climbing at a very gentle grade. We slowly made our way out of the valley and up into the trees. 

Testing various loaded configurations before loop tour. 

Rode to where NWTR was happening at Timber Ridge School. Biketopia was there playing music. Strong headwind to Albany. No wind on return via Riverside. Big party happening on the river front when I got to Corvallis.

Probably the lowest milage June since I started riding. Well not quite, but low, and no doubt I'll pay for it on Loop Tour next week.

More narrow steep streets until you get down to B street, then it's flat.

All the way. 

After over a month of dry weather it rained. Not as cold as last year though. I finished, and not last, but it was hard. Might be my last time doing the full century.

We have learned to ride a tandem!

Started at 8. Great ride 

Very low miles for May

Straight up Tum Tum. Robert wanted to take us to Thompson Lake but the road in was clearly marked "private logging road, no public access". We decided not to go. 

Instead we kept going up Tum Tum looking for the C2C trail, which we found right in the middle of a new clearcut. We continued up to the Woods Creek trailhead. 

Sunny and warm all day. We took the Wheatland ferry and rode into Salem on the west side of the river. We took a nice bike path/bridge attached to highway 22 back across into River Park. We then discovered this amazing new pedestrian/bicycle bridge which tied into the trail system from Mento Park. Then back on River Road to Independence. This rout was 10 miles shorter than the way we came. We even picked up Robert who road out to meet us.

Bike overnight. Great turnout. Tenners even rode out with us as far as Buena Vista. Picked up the Tracys just before Independence bridge. Nice day. Cloudy with no wind. Flo rode with us the whole way and Loren picked her up at the park.

Ashland is steep. I couldn't believe how steep it was going up Holly and Terrace to the start of the loop road. Didn't have time for much more other than some trips into town.

Riding to school with January most days.