1st August
I spent the morning doing various chores around the house, and I was in the back garden when the doorbell rang...
...it's Jeff (Photogbiker) and his mate, whose name* has disappeared into the fog of age that I stumble through on Sunday mornings (nice bloke, though
), asking if I can come out to play.
I consult Cricket, who says OK, since I've finished my chores, and we're soon heading west out of Portland towards the hills of Tillamook State Forest (though we are destined never to get that far).
We head out towards Gaston, riding through mile after mile of orchards...
...the gates to some of the estates are heavily guarded...
As we climb up into the hills, the views are great - it's a pleasant 75º F or so, and the heat haze, which so often obscures the view in the afternoons, is minimal...
Ignoring the tempting offers we see on the way...
...we stop and get a sandwich and a cold drink, put them in the pannier - then spend nearly an hour, having encountered a few of these...
...looking for somewhere to stop and have lunch. We eventually decide on this bridge on a gravel road...
...and eat our lunch whilst trying (for the third time) to find Roaring Creek Road. With 2 GPSes and a detailed topo map, this shouldn't have been difficult. I set off, leading the way with (completely misplaced) confidence. Only to find...
Bugger! It's like being on Vancouver Island all over again... After a further discussion...
...we decide to head on back. A good day out (despite the gates)
Oh, and, the bike? Still surging like a git - the search for a cure continues...
*EDIT - Gary! - thanks Jeff Sorry Gary
I spent the morning doing various chores around the house, and I was in the back garden when the doorbell rang...
...it's Jeff (Photogbiker) and his mate, whose name* has disappeared into the fog of age that I stumble through on Sunday mornings (nice bloke, though
), asking if I can come out to play. I consult Cricket, who says OK, since I've finished my chores, and we're soon heading west out of Portland towards the hills of Tillamook State Forest (though we are destined never to get that far).
We head out towards Gaston, riding through mile after mile of orchards...
...the gates to some of the estates are heavily guarded...
As we climb up into the hills, the views are great - it's a pleasant 75º F or so, and the heat haze, which so often obscures the view in the afternoons, is minimal...
Ignoring the tempting offers we see on the way...
...we stop and get a sandwich and a cold drink, put them in the pannier - then spend nearly an hour, having encountered a few of these...
...looking for somewhere to stop and have lunch. We eventually decide on this bridge on a gravel road...
...and eat our lunch whilst trying (for the third time) to find Roaring Creek Road. With 2 GPSes and a detailed topo map, this shouldn't have been difficult. I set off, leading the way with (completely misplaced) confidence. Only to find...
Bugger! It's like being on Vancouver Island all over again... After a further discussion...
...we decide to head on back. A good day out (despite the gates)
Oh, and, the bike? Still surging like a git - the search for a cure continues...
*EDIT - Gary! - thanks Jeff Sorry Gary
