My most favorite mountain bike ride, check that, bicycle ride of all time, ever, no contest. The mountain biking on Marys Peak. I have ridden on Marys' needle strewn trails and gravel roads through whatever weather you can dream up. Inches of fresh pow, pouring rain - east ridge trail maybe should have been classified as some level of rapid, maybe a stream quality assessment would have been necessary. Some DO levels, invertebrate index, LWD, you get the picture. whoops, got off track a bit. My first night ride ever was heading up to the top from my home on hwy 34 using all fire roads and trails. Alone. Not a vehicle ever crossed paths with me. It was pretty scary coming down North ridge trail, thinking about cougars, singing some Bob, no woman no cry, as loud as I could, it was more like shouting, thinking back, I'm sure anything living that had the ability was quite far away from me. In fact, I'm quite confident that any cougar would have lost it's appetite. Although, I was a bit more scared when the little indicator light came on that says there's only 20-30 minutes of energy left to light my way, 12 miles of fireroad still to rally. I pedalled really fast. Just one of the countless times I've been up there in spandex on two wheels.
Yesterdays ride was a bit less memorable, possibly, but it put a big smile on my face.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Not a cloud in the sky
Well, I'll start off by saying that I completely forgot about sunscreen until well in to the ride. ah, what can you do sometimes? I was planning on a long ride today, 5-6 hours or so. I wasn't planning on heading up Marys Peak road again.
I don't know so much what happened, I just came up to the turn off and took a right. It was completely beautiful again, but in a completely different way from yesterday. Not a cloud in the sky. I guess I wanted to see the ocean blue while I was down here and this is a great place to do it if you can't make it out to the water.
Butterflies were everywhere up there! Hundreds of thousands of them.
The Alsea Falls part of the ride is fantastic. A narrow single lane road cruising through coast range hills. Most of the time the trees are so tall and thick that the road is completely shaded, nice feature considering my lack of sun protection. I found an injured butterfly on the road. I was bummed, he seemed fine but was missing some key equipment needed to fly around.
I got caught by an old timer on a tractor sneaking of photo of him after we waved happily at each other. The next guy on a tractor I saw was focused, and he hadn't forgotten his sun-pro.
Two things that I love about where I grew up, and that Bellingham doesn't have, are grand old oak trees, and turkey vultures. Do you ever feel like those guys are following you? They think I'm weak and I am about ready to fall over and gasp for water? Is there a cougar tracking me and they are going to be there to pick up the pieces? Yeah me neither.
Regarding the slideshow, you can hit the button with the four arrows on it and enter full screen mode.
I don't know so much what happened, I just came up to the turn off and took a right. It was completely beautiful again, but in a completely different way from yesterday. Not a cloud in the sky. I guess I wanted to see the ocean blue while I was down here and this is a great place to do it if you can't make it out to the water.
Butterflies were everywhere up there! Hundreds of thousands of them.
The Alsea Falls part of the ride is fantastic. A narrow single lane road cruising through coast range hills. Most of the time the trees are so tall and thick that the road is completely shaded, nice feature considering my lack of sun protection. I found an injured butterfly on the road. I was bummed, he seemed fine but was missing some key equipment needed to fly around.
I got caught by an old timer on a tractor sneaking of photo of him after we waved happily at each other. The next guy on a tractor I saw was focused, and he hadn't forgotten his sun-pro.
Two things that I love about where I grew up, and that Bellingham doesn't have, are grand old oak trees, and turkey vultures. Do you ever feel like those guys are following you? They think I'm weak and I am about ready to fall over and gasp for water? Is there a cougar tracking me and they are going to be there to pick up the pieces? Yeah me neither.
Regarding the slideshow, you can hit the button with the four arrows on it and enter full screen mode.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Marys Peak
Today was great. It started with a healthy dose of sleeping in. Followed by some amazing cereal. Chilled out for a couple good hours, then got on the bicycle and headed down the road towards ol' Mary.
The climbing really starts just about 3 miles from home while still on the Alsea highway. It's another two and a half miles until you get to the Mary's Peak road turn off. From there you've got 10 miles all uphill save for a little descent in the middle of the climb.
The day was overcast and I wondered how soon I'd get into clouds and maybe some rain. Would there be a view?
A bit over half way up I got into some clouds. The temperature dropped a bit, and that beautiful mist rolled in and everything was just as it should be. The road had a nice green tinge to it. Noted. It's smart to remember these things when your traction patches are no larger then the nail on your pinky finger.
When I reached the parking lot up top I was greeted by a nice view of the valley floor below. Clouds cruising by pretty quick kept the view always changing. The gravel trail to the top is stunning. The wild flowers are incredible right now, the pictures below don't do any justice at all.
The descent off the peak is amazing. Fast, flow, smooth, fun, grip, carve. These are some words that come to mind when I think of the trip down, but the feeling isn't something for mere words.
The climbing really starts just about 3 miles from home while still on the Alsea highway. It's another two and a half miles until you get to the Mary's Peak road turn off. From there you've got 10 miles all uphill save for a little descent in the middle of the climb.
The day was overcast and I wondered how soon I'd get into clouds and maybe some rain. Would there be a view?
A bit over half way up I got into some clouds. The temperature dropped a bit, and that beautiful mist rolled in and everything was just as it should be. The road had a nice green tinge to it. Noted. It's smart to remember these things when your traction patches are no larger then the nail on your pinky finger.
When I reached the parking lot up top I was greeted by a nice view of the valley floor below. Clouds cruising by pretty quick kept the view always changing. The gravel trail to the top is stunning. The wild flowers are incredible right now, the pictures below don't do any justice at all.
The descent off the peak is amazing. Fast, flow, smooth, fun, grip, carve. These are some words that come to mind when I think of the trip down, but the feeling isn't something for mere words.
Visual journey through the yard
My Mother and Step-father Allen are avid gardeners, and by avid, I mean they are really really excited about gardening, nurturing and being nurtured by these plants. We grow the plants and the plants grow us. Here is a tiny bit of what they have done to the piece of land that in 1997 was completely barren.
** I've found that with most Canon cameras, especially the point'n shoot smaller guys, they are over exposed from the stock setting. You get much deeper colors, more contrast, and less 'white-out' by stopping down the exposure 2/3 to a full stop under-exposed. I didn't bring the big-daddy camera with me, but for how tiny this thing is, I'm impressed with the images it captured.
** I've found that with most Canon cameras, especially the point'n shoot smaller guys, they are over exposed from the stock setting. You get much deeper colors, more contrast, and less 'white-out' by stopping down the exposure 2/3 to a full stop under-exposed. I didn't bring the big-daddy camera with me, but for how tiny this thing is, I'm impressed with the images it captured.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Home Sweet Home
I'm home in Oregon right now for a much needed break from life in Bellingham. I'm done with school for good and there's nothing like Oregon mountain/road bicycling to detoxify the body/mind of all the stress I've put myself through in the last month.
I left Bellingham early this morning so as to get to Philomath with plenty of time to unwind the legs after 6hrs of driving. Of course, I had to make a quick stop off in Portland at a certain world famous bookstore.
Armed with a new camera I got as a graduation present (Thanks Mom and Allen!) I'm now able to bring photos with me home from the ride. I was greeted by the WARMTH! The bone soaking warmth. The valley holds it just a wee-bit tighter then does the water up north. It is here. This is what I've been looking for... The crazy bugs that always seem to be around on hot days and just buzz, seemingly non-stop, the sheep taking shelter in the shadow of a poplar tree. Raspberries fat on the vine. I am happy to be here.
Hello Mary.
I left Bellingham early this morning so as to get to Philomath with plenty of time to unwind the legs after 6hrs of driving. Of course, I had to make a quick stop off in Portland at a certain world famous bookstore.
Armed with a new camera I got as a graduation present (Thanks Mom and Allen!) I'm now able to bring photos with me home from the ride. I was greeted by the WARMTH! The bone soaking warmth. The valley holds it just a wee-bit tighter then does the water up north. It is here. This is what I've been looking for... The crazy bugs that always seem to be around on hot days and just buzz, seemingly non-stop, the sheep taking shelter in the shadow of a poplar tree. Raspberries fat on the vine. I am happy to be here.
Hello Mary.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
gluten-free pizza in Bellingham.... that freaking tastes good!
Everyone who's into the GF lifestyle, whether by choice or not, should check out this place. good good pizza.
www.fairhaven.com/menus/Fairhaven_Pizza_Menu.pdf
www.fairhaven.com/menus/Fairhaven_Pizza_Menu.pdf
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
World Naked Bike Ride in Bellingham!!
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Monday, June 1, 2009
Liberation Radio
Check out this podcast. It's put together by a great fellow human being here in Bellingham. Awesome to listen to while working on bikes all day.
http://liberationradio.blogspot.com/
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