Sept. 11, 2004 - Cycle Oregon
Yes! I knew it would not be a normal day before I left. Myran wanted to paint his car before he went to Canada for a week on a consulting job. It was 2:00 a.m. and off to bed. Six a.m. came fast but I did get a nap on the way to Canyonville. Ilene was driving. Sleep was not a problem; I just didn’t get much on this ride.
September 11 - We arrived early; Valli and Garry arrived later. Our tent was the first of ten and then there were about a 1,000-give or take a few. The rent-a-tent was kind of neat - all in a row, just like when I was in the Army, 400 strong. 500 sheep cut the grass for us and did a great job. This is looking like another great ride.
Day 1 - 58 miles - Canyonville to Wolf Creek
I talked to a girl who was 11 and had been riding a horse since she was three. I had a lot of fun with my rubber rat that I call Jerard. Why I called him Jerard, I don’t know, but I scared a lot of galls and guys. He just looked real. I stopped at the beer tent and had a black Ale before dinner. Let’s say I didn’t walk well for quite some time.
Day 2 - 64 miles - Wolf Creek to Lake Selmac
There was rain in the morning but no rain on the ride except a little at the rest stop. The views were just something I can’t describe on paper. I was just slow this day. Some days you just can’t get a rhythm. Valli’s bike broke; Garry did great. There were lots of black berries to eat on the way.
The sleep thing: My camp was in the trees and I had a little room. It looked like a great place to camp. Here comes this refrigerator truck with a very loud motor. Let’s not forget about the Blue Rooms (toilets) that moved in across the street with the refrigerator truck. The doors on the blue rooms slam all night long. This is getting good. Now we have the truck that cleans the blue rooms. Oh yes, the generator truck for the kitchen that started at 4 a.m. Sleep is over rated. To bed at ten and Valli banging on my tent at 6 am asking if I want to go eat. Where is the sleep?
We were about 1,000 feet above the river and this guy parked his bike too close to the edge on a curb that was only about a foot tall. Over it went, but only down about 20 feet. He put it on his back and carried it back up and rode off.
Day 3 - Selmac to Jacksonville - 66 miles.
Some of the people thought there were hills on the coast ride down Highway 101 – NOT! Jonathan, one of the co-founders of Cycle Oregon, thought this was the hardest hill ever on Cycle Oregon - 3,000 feet in 17 miles, averaging 10-12% grade. Now this is an average. It went over and under but was never flat. There were no rails and it was a long way to the bottom. The down side was steeper - 11% for 7 miles - no flat spots, all down hill and a little rough in spots. I went about 30. Usually I would go 40 mph. It was a hard down hill. They inspected all the bikes before we could go down the hill. There were a lot of them in the fixit line.
On rides there are things that happen that are bad. This was one of those days. A 60 year-old woman had something go bad. Her bike stayed on the road but she went 30 feet over the edge and hit a tree. They revived her and got her up the hill, and then she went out again. They brought her back three times. She didn’t make it. There were just too many internal injuries. She got a flat tire. It was a sad day but she was doing something she wanted to do.
I was in front of the accident but the people in back had to wait for about two hours.
I made it to camp, put up my tent, blew up my mattress, took a shower, went to eat, and just made the bus to Ashland. In Ashland I bought a beer and drank it with a friend. I then went to the theater to see “The Royal Family.” It was over at 11:00 p.m. Back on the bus and back to camp. Right! There were three people missing. Where were they? Finally one showed up and we were off. There was one more bus waiting for the other people. I am thinking that sleep really is over rated. I heard about the accident and that took more time. There were people all over. When do they sleep? Was anyone sleeping this night? I finally got to my tent and into my sleeping bag. The guys next to me zip-zip their tent and talk like they just met. They discussed what they were going to do tomorrow. Then the other bunch came in and zip-zip talk-talk, like they were the only people on earth. This was really getting to be a long day. I finally fell asleep.
Day 4 – Day off for me, no riding for me, or ride Jacksonville to Ashland to Jacksonville 40 miles
I slept in until 7:00 a.m. The zippers work in the morning too. Let me tell you what I am talking about. When someone gets up, they zip out of their sleeping bag and then zip it closed, they zip open/close their duffel bag, and there is the toiletry bag, open/close, then out of the tent’s bug screen and rain fly, of course then they have to close the bug screen and rain fly, and finally they zip up their coat. Eleven times 2,000 are 22,000 zippers or 44,000 zips per day. I know I left some zips out. Every time I read this over I think of more like the bag on the bike.
I ate and walked through town on a tour. I found Valli and Garry. We went on the trolley; Valli talked about good eats and found some great oysters and free beer.
Day 5 - 78 miles - Jacksonville to Lost Creek
A great day for riding! FIVE wheel weights, the first I had found, a quarter and a dime. The view was OK too.
This was a big camp sight with trees and lot of trails. I had this problem before but Valli and Garry were new at it. Garry took an hour to find their tent after dark. Valli took two and a ride with the police and the camp host trying to help her find their tent. A light would have helped (no street lights, just stars). I took her to the shower truck and back. Yes, then to the blue rooms and back too. So much for sleep.
Day 6 - 78 miles - Lost Creek to Crater Lake to Lost Creek
I was feeling tired so I said to my self, “I will ride until I get tired and come back.” It was 5,000 feet in 44 miles. The next thing I knew I had climbed 4,000 feet, went 37 miles, and they were saying it is too bad to go on. This was a good thing for me. I was cold and probably would have gone on and got really cold. It was raining and didn’t know if it wanted to hail. It was hailing on top and the wind was blowing about 20 mph. Before noon it was clear on top. I bought some food at the Mazama store there. The Cycle Oregon truck was there so I talked them out of a box and put it inside my raincoat to keep the wind off of me. Down the hill I went. It was invigorating. I got up to 30 mph for miles. It was a coast down. Only then did I realize how steep a climb I had done. They took six school buses of people and their bikes off the hill. They really do take care of you.
The best part of the day - one wheel weight!!!!!!!!!!!
Day 7 - 61 miles Lost Creek Lake to Canyonville
I felt the climb from day six and was hurting a little. There was just one hill of 1,500 feet and 10 miles long. It was not a hard one to do. YES, down hill all the way to the finish line, 40 miles. YES, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another great day for scenery. You have to ride the ride to see the views and on the great ones you can stop and spend time. I stop a lot. I start early in the morning and end up coming in late in the day. The bike worked great and only has 13,500 miles on it. The only thing that got sore was my neck; I guess I just have too big of a head. It is always a fun week when I do Cycle Oregon. New friends every day.
I don’t know where my next ride will be. One thing is for sure; there will be one - One that is a way from all news and problems of the world. I hope to see you on the ride. It is good to have a bed with clean sheets, blankets and no zippers to wake me. As Garry said, “I never worked so hard to have so much fun.”
Byran having fun.
Yes! I knew it would not be a normal day before I left. Myran wanted to paint his car before he went to Canada for a week on a consulting job. It was 2:00 a.m. and off to bed. Six a.m. came fast but I did get a nap on the way to Canyonville. Ilene was driving. Sleep was not a problem; I just didn’t get much on this ride.
September 11 - We arrived early; Valli and Garry arrived later. Our tent was the first of ten and then there were about a 1,000-give or take a few. The rent-a-tent was kind of neat - all in a row, just like when I was in the Army, 400 strong. 500 sheep cut the grass for us and did a great job. This is looking like another great ride.
Day 1 - 58 miles - Canyonville to Wolf Creek
I talked to a girl who was 11 and had been riding a horse since she was three. I had a lot of fun with my rubber rat that I call Jerard. Why I called him Jerard, I don’t know, but I scared a lot of galls and guys. He just looked real. I stopped at the beer tent and had a black Ale before dinner. Let’s say I didn’t walk well for quite some time.
Day 2 - 64 miles - Wolf Creek to Lake Selmac
There was rain in the morning but no rain on the ride except a little at the rest stop. The views were just something I can’t describe on paper. I was just slow this day. Some days you just can’t get a rhythm. Valli’s bike broke; Garry did great. There were lots of black berries to eat on the way.
The sleep thing: My camp was in the trees and I had a little room. It looked like a great place to camp. Here comes this refrigerator truck with a very loud motor. Let’s not forget about the Blue Rooms (toilets) that moved in across the street with the refrigerator truck. The doors on the blue rooms slam all night long. This is getting good. Now we have the truck that cleans the blue rooms. Oh yes, the generator truck for the kitchen that started at 4 a.m. Sleep is over rated. To bed at ten and Valli banging on my tent at 6 am asking if I want to go eat. Where is the sleep?
We were about 1,000 feet above the river and this guy parked his bike too close to the edge on a curb that was only about a foot tall. Over it went, but only down about 20 feet. He put it on his back and carried it back up and rode off.
Day 3 - Selmac to Jacksonville - 66 miles.
Some of the people thought there were hills on the coast ride down Highway 101 – NOT! Jonathan, one of the co-founders of Cycle Oregon, thought this was the hardest hill ever on Cycle Oregon - 3,000 feet in 17 miles, averaging 10-12% grade. Now this is an average. It went over and under but was never flat. There were no rails and it was a long way to the bottom. The down side was steeper - 11% for 7 miles - no flat spots, all down hill and a little rough in spots. I went about 30. Usually I would go 40 mph. It was a hard down hill. They inspected all the bikes before we could go down the hill. There were a lot of them in the fixit line.
On rides there are things that happen that are bad. This was one of those days. A 60 year-old woman had something go bad. Her bike stayed on the road but she went 30 feet over the edge and hit a tree. They revived her and got her up the hill, and then she went out again. They brought her back three times. She didn’t make it. There were just too many internal injuries. She got a flat tire. It was a sad day but she was doing something she wanted to do.
I was in front of the accident but the people in back had to wait for about two hours.
I made it to camp, put up my tent, blew up my mattress, took a shower, went to eat, and just made the bus to Ashland. In Ashland I bought a beer and drank it with a friend. I then went to the theater to see “The Royal Family.” It was over at 11:00 p.m. Back on the bus and back to camp. Right! There were three people missing. Where were they? Finally one showed up and we were off. There was one more bus waiting for the other people. I am thinking that sleep really is over rated. I heard about the accident and that took more time. There were people all over. When do they sleep? Was anyone sleeping this night? I finally got to my tent and into my sleeping bag. The guys next to me zip-zip their tent and talk like they just met. They discussed what they were going to do tomorrow. Then the other bunch came in and zip-zip talk-talk, like they were the only people on earth. This was really getting to be a long day. I finally fell asleep.
Day 4 – Day off for me, no riding for me, or ride Jacksonville to Ashland to Jacksonville 40 miles
I slept in until 7:00 a.m. The zippers work in the morning too. Let me tell you what I am talking about. When someone gets up, they zip out of their sleeping bag and then zip it closed, they zip open/close their duffel bag, and there is the toiletry bag, open/close, then out of the tent’s bug screen and rain fly, of course then they have to close the bug screen and rain fly, and finally they zip up their coat. Eleven times 2,000 are 22,000 zippers or 44,000 zips per day. I know I left some zips out. Every time I read this over I think of more like the bag on the bike.
I ate and walked through town on a tour. I found Valli and Garry. We went on the trolley; Valli talked about good eats and found some great oysters and free beer.
Day 5 - 78 miles - Jacksonville to Lost Creek
A great day for riding! FIVE wheel weights, the first I had found, a quarter and a dime. The view was OK too.
This was a big camp sight with trees and lot of trails. I had this problem before but Valli and Garry were new at it. Garry took an hour to find their tent after dark. Valli took two and a ride with the police and the camp host trying to help her find their tent. A light would have helped (no street lights, just stars). I took her to the shower truck and back. Yes, then to the blue rooms and back too. So much for sleep.
Day 6 - 78 miles - Lost Creek to Crater Lake to Lost Creek
I was feeling tired so I said to my self, “I will ride until I get tired and come back.” It was 5,000 feet in 44 miles. The next thing I knew I had climbed 4,000 feet, went 37 miles, and they were saying it is too bad to go on. This was a good thing for me. I was cold and probably would have gone on and got really cold. It was raining and didn’t know if it wanted to hail. It was hailing on top and the wind was blowing about 20 mph. Before noon it was clear on top. I bought some food at the Mazama store there. The Cycle Oregon truck was there so I talked them out of a box and put it inside my raincoat to keep the wind off of me. Down the hill I went. It was invigorating. I got up to 30 mph for miles. It was a coast down. Only then did I realize how steep a climb I had done. They took six school buses of people and their bikes off the hill. They really do take care of you.
The best part of the day - one wheel weight!!!!!!!!!!!
Day 7 - 61 miles Lost Creek Lake to Canyonville
I felt the climb from day six and was hurting a little. There was just one hill of 1,500 feet and 10 miles long. It was not a hard one to do. YES, down hill all the way to the finish line, 40 miles. YES, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another great day for scenery. You have to ride the ride to see the views and on the great ones you can stop and spend time. I stop a lot. I start early in the morning and end up coming in late in the day. The bike worked great and only has 13,500 miles on it. The only thing that got sore was my neck; I guess I just have too big of a head. It is always a fun week when I do Cycle Oregon. New friends every day.
I don’t know where my next ride will be. One thing is for sure; there will be one - One that is a way from all news and problems of the world. I hope to see you on the ride. It is good to have a bed with clean sheets, blankets and no zippers to wake me. As Garry said, “I never worked so hard to have so much fun.”
Byran having fun.
posted by Byran on the side at 12:27 PM
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