May 16, 2004 -John Wayne Trail &
Great Western Bike Rally
Rail to Trails with Jerry, Ray and Byran. Ilene is support.
I made the van ready with gas and that was a week ago. Now it is up another 10 cents a gallon or so. This will not stop us.
Ray drove in from California the 16th and Jerry by plane from Texas on the 18th.
Ray and I biked from Milwaukie to Saturday market in Portland, OR that first day then took the train to the racetrack where they were practicing time racing. It was fun to watch them race.
We got back on the bikes and headed down to Marine Drive and Hwy 205 to home again - 32 miles total.
The next day we rode our bikes to the doughnut shop and had maple bars with my old shop buddies, or as I call it, “As the Shop Turns”. From there we drove (in the car) to Banks, OR (40 miles) and then by bike to Vernonia, OR, a 38-mile rail to trail ride. We didn’t do all of it, but we did do a lot of it. I told Ray that it was only 10 miles one way. You really have to tell a good lie to get some one to ride a long way with you.
As we went by this trestle that was half gone (no we would not climb over the fence and walk out on it) (NOT), I looked down about a 100 feet to the road below. There were rotten ties all over. We are smarter men than that and would not do a stupid thing like that. There was one rotten tie and we didn’t go all the way out. The other end was not there – why? I do not know.
We rode down to the road and I told Ray we would soon be walking and he laughed. When we went up the other side, we were soon walking it. It was steep but not long. On the way back, it was crazy to ride down.
We had lunch in Vernonia and then back. The ride and the scenery were great. I really liked the ride. The landfills and the trestles are large and long. I want to walk down to one of the landfills and see how the water goes through. Sometimes it is just a lot of logs stacked together.
In Vernonia there is a building that has trees in it that are a foot through. When we asked the locals what it was used for, they didn’t know. It was a cement building 30 ft by 100 ft and about 50 ft. tall and had blocks in it. It had two regular doors and two small openings at the other end and one window. It was a sawdust dryer for the largest saw mill in the world in 1950.
There is so much history on this ride.
Day three – a rest day. We finished packing and waited for Jerry to arrive. Where are you, Jerry?
May 19th
This is a day that will be in my mind for a long time. We were to start at 6:00 a.m. Not true – we started at 5:30 a.m. We were anxious to go. We were showered, dressed, had breakfast, packed, and on the road a little before 7:00.
Our first pit stop was at Starvation Creek in the Columbia River Gorge. OR Jerry and I walked up to the falls, then past the fence, and finally a slick walk up the bank where you had to pull yourself up with whatever you could get a hold of. The view of the falls is something you have to see. There were two of them about 100 feet high, one over the other.
Jerry and I had a great time. Yes, he threw his $700 camera across the creek, then took a leap of faith and only slipped a little.
We arrived at our motel in Ellensburg, WA around noon and then went off to start the John Wayne Trail ride. We drove “down” to the Columbia River, found the trail and signed in to go through the Yakima Training Range. I was wondering if I would have enough water.
The roadbed was loose sand some of the time. Big cuts and large rocks in the road made it hard to ride. This was Jerry’s first time on a mountain bike. What a way to learn. Ray was saying we would be back at the hotel by 6:00 p.m. NOT!
It was a good workout to the top and then there was a creek road to ride. We would smell real good to a dog. Jerry is beginning to wonder, “What am I doing with these guys, the rocks, and the sand?”
Ray and I rode into this tunnel. There were no lights and you could not see a thing. (Jerry!! Jerry!!) Then we started to walk. You still could not see a thing, but soon you could see a glimmer of light. The other end was coming. When you walked where the cars made a groove, you could walk with your eyes closed and do just as well. When your foot went up on the side, you knew you were not going the right way. Jerry was wondering, “What is next?”
The ride got better. We came to a downhill. Yeah! My butt was dragging. It was about 80 degrees. We were averaging in the sand 8.7 MPH. We were finally on a real asphalt road. We were making good time now. Yes, all good things come to an end - back to the trail again. It was better, just little bumps that were on a gravel road. It was kind of like rumble strips. Now you would think this was bad. NOT!
We got to Kittitas railroad station and stopped to rest (one of many stops). We looked out at the lightening. About ¼ mile down the road from the station, it started to rain. I thought it would be a short shower. WRONG! It started to hail – hail about ½ inch in diameter. We took shelter under some trees and dug out the rain gear. We went back to the train station. This hail hurt. It was a real cloudburst. In some areas it was an inch deep. It slowed after a half hour and I was really cold so I said, “Let’s go.” Ray and Jerry thought it was a good idea. Most of it was over. We got another little shower, then we had tracks and dung made by horses that were in the loose, bumpy, gravely road. Where is the water tower? There it is, but it never seemed to get closer. You could see it a long way off and when you are cold that doesn’t help.
The hot bath at the hotel was the greatest. My feet were warm and stopped hurting. What a day - 32.4 miles. We almost killed Jerry on his first day on a mountain bike. No one fell. Jerry is wondering about Ray and yours truly. Is this really fun?
Day two on the trail
We drove up to Hyak, WA and rode back to Ellensburg, 64 miles. They were working on a bridge that goes over a reservoir. We were lucky to get through. They were nice and let us through. I don’t now how we would have gone around.
We ate lunch at Cle Elum, WA and back on the trail. Half of it is dirt and rock that heavy trucks (100,000 lb to 110,000 lbs) put down about 2 to 4 inch deep. Then a 37,000 lb. grader goes over it and then it is rolled. What a great surface to ride.
This was a boring day after the first day, 61 miles. Oh yes, one diamond back rattlesnake was sleeping on the side of the road. It looked like it had eaten about three mice and could care less about us. The ride was mostly down hill and real easy. There was one thing that Ray brought up. When you look down the rail bed, it is straight and down hill and you seem to never get to the turn. It is a strange look. This was one great day!
Day three Hyak, WA to North Bend, WA
This is the day we have been talking about, and yes, Jerry trusts us now. (NOT) We have been talking about this tunnel that is 2.3 miles long that you can see from one end to the other. Ray brought good lights for us. It was an easy ride to the end and out. Lights do make a difference. When you come out, you are on the hillside with a great view and the long trestles. The tunnel was built in 1910. How did they move so much dirt and dig a tunnel in rock 2.3 miles long in only two years. Have you seen a 1910 tractor or car lately? I think they look a lot like horses.
The water was still beating the 21 drums there at the Cedar Falls Recreation Area. From there we rode to North Bend and had the best hamburger in the Northwest. We got in the van and drove home.
We took Jerry for one last ride over to Vernonia, OR and 40 more miles. He knows we are trying to get him by now. Ray thinks it looks like the rain forest. What a great ride.
I am packing for a rally with Ray in California – The Great Western Bike Rally. I’ll be back next week.
* * * * *
Chapter II
The Great Western Bike Rally
Monday, May 24, 2004
Ray and I left Portland and drove about 850 miles to Cambria, California. It was a full day.
Tuesday we put in a dishwasher and a faucet at Ray’s house in Cambria. Then we went to Lompoc, CA. His other house. It was another day without being on a bike. Carolyn bought us dinner. The ribs were good. Jerry is back in Texas.
We will ride tomorrow. Yeah. We don’t know where but it will be fun. The time passes so fast when you are with friends and having fun. I bought a 40-ounce slurpy for lunch. Ray’s new car now has 1,938 miles on it.
Tuesday. We had a great ride today. The fields are in bloom with a lot of flowers and the weeds are doing the same in yellow. We went about 40 miles in the sun. I found my first wheel weight in weeks. That made my day. I am still looking for a graveyard. There were two bull snakes on the road.
Carolyn made a great dinner.
Wednesday. It looks like another day in the sun. We arrived at Paso Robles, CA and went to the county fairgrounds. It was empty. The bike rally really filled up fast. By the end of the day, they had about 3,000 riders.
We went on a bike ride, only 22 miles, through grape vineyards and farmlands. The road had trees on both sides. It looked like it had a canopy over it. It went up for what seemed like forever but was great winding down through the curves. It was a great day – 6 wheel weights and 11 cents. I do like to pick up things.
Next day it was early so we went to get a croissant and some coffee. I will finish giving away Ilene’s embroidered hankies today.
I am making some good friends. Some of them will be on the Coast ride in August (Astoria, OR to Crescent City, CA). The sun was out and we had two great rides today (50 miles) and 13 wheel weights. In the evening we viewed the old cars as they had a drive-by. It was a good car show.
The following day we had a perfect 40-mile day. Star Farm and then swimming. What a great place to have lunch. In the evening we had a Bike toss. It was something you had to see. The Huffy finally broke in half.
Two more days to go. It has been so much fun. I rode from Paso Robles to Cambria on the ocean, about 30 miles. I talked to another rider who rode about my speed on the way back. He took a picture of me at the top of the hill, 1700 feet. Six bottles of water, 12 wheel weights, and a penny and I am back. The shoulder and view were awesome. A delightful Barbeque was planned for this evening.
38 Wheel weights total and counting or should I say looking?
We took a ride. It was cool but didn’t take long to get you warm – 90 degrees plus.
Memorial Day – since the train passes through Paso Robles, I decided to leave from here. Now I am 2 hours early for the train and Ray is on his way home. There was no need for both of us to wait. This place is locked up. The South Bound will be about 4 hours late (WRONG). The bus stopped by to pick up the passengers. The driver said tomorrow is when it “might” be by. It makes me wonder if the North will get through. I hope the North will stay on the tracks.
The train was late by about 20 minutes but gained “lateness” as it went. The reason I think it was late was so you could buy more food and they could make a lot more money.
I met a lot of nice people on the train. I had to change people a lot because they got tired of me talking about the bike ride. They just kept walking off when I talked about biking. I don’t know why - J? Anyway, we were only a little more than 5 hours late getting into Portland, OR.
Summary
This was an awesome two weeks. I met a lot of new people and had a tremendous amount of fun. As Warren Miller says, “If you don’t do it this year, you will be one year older when you do it next year.”
From the memories of the Famous Biker, Byran
Great Western Bike Rally
Rail to Trails with Jerry, Ray and Byran. Ilene is support.
I made the van ready with gas and that was a week ago. Now it is up another 10 cents a gallon or so. This will not stop us.
Ray drove in from California the 16th and Jerry by plane from Texas on the 18th.
Ray and I biked from Milwaukie to Saturday market in Portland, OR that first day then took the train to the racetrack where they were practicing time racing. It was fun to watch them race.
We got back on the bikes and headed down to Marine Drive and Hwy 205 to home again - 32 miles total.
The next day we rode our bikes to the doughnut shop and had maple bars with my old shop buddies, or as I call it, “As the Shop Turns”. From there we drove (in the car) to Banks, OR (40 miles) and then by bike to Vernonia, OR, a 38-mile rail to trail ride. We didn’t do all of it, but we did do a lot of it. I told Ray that it was only 10 miles one way. You really have to tell a good lie to get some one to ride a long way with you.
As we went by this trestle that was half gone (no we would not climb over the fence and walk out on it) (NOT), I looked down about a 100 feet to the road below. There were rotten ties all over. We are smarter men than that and would not do a stupid thing like that. There was one rotten tie and we didn’t go all the way out. The other end was not there – why? I do not know.
We rode down to the road and I told Ray we would soon be walking and he laughed. When we went up the other side, we were soon walking it. It was steep but not long. On the way back, it was crazy to ride down.
We had lunch in Vernonia and then back. The ride and the scenery were great. I really liked the ride. The landfills and the trestles are large and long. I want to walk down to one of the landfills and see how the water goes through. Sometimes it is just a lot of logs stacked together.
In Vernonia there is a building that has trees in it that are a foot through. When we asked the locals what it was used for, they didn’t know. It was a cement building 30 ft by 100 ft and about 50 ft. tall and had blocks in it. It had two regular doors and two small openings at the other end and one window. It was a sawdust dryer for the largest saw mill in the world in 1950.
There is so much history on this ride.
Day three – a rest day. We finished packing and waited for Jerry to arrive. Where are you, Jerry?
May 19th
This is a day that will be in my mind for a long time. We were to start at 6:00 a.m. Not true – we started at 5:30 a.m. We were anxious to go. We were showered, dressed, had breakfast, packed, and on the road a little before 7:00.
Our first pit stop was at Starvation Creek in the Columbia River Gorge. OR Jerry and I walked up to the falls, then past the fence, and finally a slick walk up the bank where you had to pull yourself up with whatever you could get a hold of. The view of the falls is something you have to see. There were two of them about 100 feet high, one over the other.
Jerry and I had a great time. Yes, he threw his $700 camera across the creek, then took a leap of faith and only slipped a little.
We arrived at our motel in Ellensburg, WA around noon and then went off to start the John Wayne Trail ride. We drove “down” to the Columbia River, found the trail and signed in to go through the Yakima Training Range. I was wondering if I would have enough water.
The roadbed was loose sand some of the time. Big cuts and large rocks in the road made it hard to ride. This was Jerry’s first time on a mountain bike. What a way to learn. Ray was saying we would be back at the hotel by 6:00 p.m. NOT!
It was a good workout to the top and then there was a creek road to ride. We would smell real good to a dog. Jerry is beginning to wonder, “What am I doing with these guys, the rocks, and the sand?”
Ray and I rode into this tunnel. There were no lights and you could not see a thing. (Jerry!! Jerry!!) Then we started to walk. You still could not see a thing, but soon you could see a glimmer of light. The other end was coming. When you walked where the cars made a groove, you could walk with your eyes closed and do just as well. When your foot went up on the side, you knew you were not going the right way. Jerry was wondering, “What is next?”
The ride got better. We came to a downhill. Yeah! My butt was dragging. It was about 80 degrees. We were averaging in the sand 8.7 MPH. We were finally on a real asphalt road. We were making good time now. Yes, all good things come to an end - back to the trail again. It was better, just little bumps that were on a gravel road. It was kind of like rumble strips. Now you would think this was bad. NOT!
We got to Kittitas railroad station and stopped to rest (one of many stops). We looked out at the lightening. About ¼ mile down the road from the station, it started to rain. I thought it would be a short shower. WRONG! It started to hail – hail about ½ inch in diameter. We took shelter under some trees and dug out the rain gear. We went back to the train station. This hail hurt. It was a real cloudburst. In some areas it was an inch deep. It slowed after a half hour and I was really cold so I said, “Let’s go.” Ray and Jerry thought it was a good idea. Most of it was over. We got another little shower, then we had tracks and dung made by horses that were in the loose, bumpy, gravely road. Where is the water tower? There it is, but it never seemed to get closer. You could see it a long way off and when you are cold that doesn’t help.
The hot bath at the hotel was the greatest. My feet were warm and stopped hurting. What a day - 32.4 miles. We almost killed Jerry on his first day on a mountain bike. No one fell. Jerry is wondering about Ray and yours truly. Is this really fun?
Day two on the trail
We drove up to Hyak, WA and rode back to Ellensburg, 64 miles. They were working on a bridge that goes over a reservoir. We were lucky to get through. They were nice and let us through. I don’t now how we would have gone around.
We ate lunch at Cle Elum, WA and back on the trail. Half of it is dirt and rock that heavy trucks (100,000 lb to 110,000 lbs) put down about 2 to 4 inch deep. Then a 37,000 lb. grader goes over it and then it is rolled. What a great surface to ride.
This was a boring day after the first day, 61 miles. Oh yes, one diamond back rattlesnake was sleeping on the side of the road. It looked like it had eaten about three mice and could care less about us. The ride was mostly down hill and real easy. There was one thing that Ray brought up. When you look down the rail bed, it is straight and down hill and you seem to never get to the turn. It is a strange look. This was one great day!
Day three Hyak, WA to North Bend, WA
This is the day we have been talking about, and yes, Jerry trusts us now. (NOT) We have been talking about this tunnel that is 2.3 miles long that you can see from one end to the other. Ray brought good lights for us. It was an easy ride to the end and out. Lights do make a difference. When you come out, you are on the hillside with a great view and the long trestles. The tunnel was built in 1910. How did they move so much dirt and dig a tunnel in rock 2.3 miles long in only two years. Have you seen a 1910 tractor or car lately? I think they look a lot like horses.
The water was still beating the 21 drums there at the Cedar Falls Recreation Area. From there we rode to North Bend and had the best hamburger in the Northwest. We got in the van and drove home.
We took Jerry for one last ride over to Vernonia, OR and 40 more miles. He knows we are trying to get him by now. Ray thinks it looks like the rain forest. What a great ride.
I am packing for a rally with Ray in California – The Great Western Bike Rally. I’ll be back next week.
* * * * *
Chapter II
The Great Western Bike Rally
Monday, May 24, 2004
Ray and I left Portland and drove about 850 miles to Cambria, California. It was a full day.
Tuesday we put in a dishwasher and a faucet at Ray’s house in Cambria. Then we went to Lompoc, CA. His other house. It was another day without being on a bike. Carolyn bought us dinner. The ribs were good. Jerry is back in Texas.
We will ride tomorrow. Yeah. We don’t know where but it will be fun. The time passes so fast when you are with friends and having fun. I bought a 40-ounce slurpy for lunch. Ray’s new car now has 1,938 miles on it.
Tuesday. We had a great ride today. The fields are in bloom with a lot of flowers and the weeds are doing the same in yellow. We went about 40 miles in the sun. I found my first wheel weight in weeks. That made my day. I am still looking for a graveyard. There were two bull snakes on the road.
Carolyn made a great dinner.
Wednesday. It looks like another day in the sun. We arrived at Paso Robles, CA and went to the county fairgrounds. It was empty. The bike rally really filled up fast. By the end of the day, they had about 3,000 riders.
We went on a bike ride, only 22 miles, through grape vineyards and farmlands. The road had trees on both sides. It looked like it had a canopy over it. It went up for what seemed like forever but was great winding down through the curves. It was a great day – 6 wheel weights and 11 cents. I do like to pick up things.
Next day it was early so we went to get a croissant and some coffee. I will finish giving away Ilene’s embroidered hankies today.
I am making some good friends. Some of them will be on the Coast ride in August (Astoria, OR to Crescent City, CA). The sun was out and we had two great rides today (50 miles) and 13 wheel weights. In the evening we viewed the old cars as they had a drive-by. It was a good car show.
The following day we had a perfect 40-mile day. Star Farm and then swimming. What a great place to have lunch. In the evening we had a Bike toss. It was something you had to see. The Huffy finally broke in half.
Two more days to go. It has been so much fun. I rode from Paso Robles to Cambria on the ocean, about 30 miles. I talked to another rider who rode about my speed on the way back. He took a picture of me at the top of the hill, 1700 feet. Six bottles of water, 12 wheel weights, and a penny and I am back. The shoulder and view were awesome. A delightful Barbeque was planned for this evening.
38 Wheel weights total and counting or should I say looking?
We took a ride. It was cool but didn’t take long to get you warm – 90 degrees plus.
Memorial Day – since the train passes through Paso Robles, I decided to leave from here. Now I am 2 hours early for the train and Ray is on his way home. There was no need for both of us to wait. This place is locked up. The South Bound will be about 4 hours late (WRONG). The bus stopped by to pick up the passengers. The driver said tomorrow is when it “might” be by. It makes me wonder if the North will get through. I hope the North will stay on the tracks.
The train was late by about 20 minutes but gained “lateness” as it went. The reason I think it was late was so you could buy more food and they could make a lot more money.
I met a lot of nice people on the train. I had to change people a lot because they got tired of me talking about the bike ride. They just kept walking off when I talked about biking. I don’t know why - J? Anyway, we were only a little more than 5 hours late getting into Portland, OR.
Summary
This was an awesome two weeks. I met a lot of new people and had a tremendous amount of fun. As Warren Miller says, “If you don’t do it this year, you will be one year older when you do it next year.”
From the memories of the Famous Biker, Byran
posted by Byran on the side at 8:43 AM
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