Riding in Paradise

Every so often, those of us that live and ride in the Pacific Northwest have to remind ourselves what a beautiful place we live in. Yesterday was one of those days.

Cecil, Jason, Rickey and I met by the Beaverton Red Robin to do 45 miles of countryside. It was going to be Rickey's longest (and hilliest) ride since his crash 4 weeks ago.

So, through Beaverton, south on Murray Rd, a shortcut on Teal through an apartment complex parking lot onto Scholls Ferry (we are outside the urban growth boundary now), and south on Roy Rogers. Lots of traffic so far, but also a beautiful wide shoulder. Then into Sherwood, right on Lynley, popping out onto Edy Rd, then Elwert (Elks Lodge coming up!), then onto Kruger Rd.

A steep, twisty descent through a heavily forested area, then the climb... Never very hard, but long. Nice views of Mt Hood to the east, over the valley.

Then a descent on Mountain Home (serious brake usage here - in places it looks like the road drops off a cliff). I had climbed this stretch for the Livestrong Ride in 2005. I think I prefer climbing it to descending it. The scenery was fabulous, though - views to the west, to Bald Peak and the valley. Lots of hayfields with bales of hay, and cornfields that smelled wonderful. Llamas, cows, goats, sheep, chickens...

At the bottom, we cut across 219 onto Vandeschuere Rd. This was the site of my crash at the end of February, and I hadn't had an occasion to ride it since. We topped a rise, and Rickey asked how it felt, riding past the crash site. I didn't even recognize it. The house with the no-trespassing sign had been remodeled and had a fabulous garden now. Of course, the fact that it was not pouring rain contributed as well, I'm sure. I turned around just to get a picture:

and we rode on.

We eventually popped out at the Laurel Store, for a stretch and snack break. Everyone inspected my rear wheel (9500 miles), and thought a look by a professional might be in order. The rims are concave, but I don't know if they've hit the danger point yet.

Still bright and sunny, light wind, moderate temperature. We headed north, skirting the southern edges of Forest Grove, Cornelius, and Hillsboro. You know there is major population there, but you can't see it. Once we got to 229th, we were into neighborhoods, working our way east. This all used to be nothing when I moved out here in 1978. Now, house farms, as far as the eye can see.

Back through the Hyland Hills neighborhood of Beaverton (traffic calmed, speed bumps, big shady trees), then north on Hall back to our start.