Hey, I'm Baaaack!

Heart Rate: 174!
Originally uploaded by cecilanne

This past Saturday, I enjoyed the Oregon Randonneurs annual Wine Country Populaire. 70 miles of Washington and Yamhill wine country riding.

Rode with Cecil, Diane, and Susan O. They were very patient, as they'd often be riding faster, and then wait for me to pedal on by.

I cannot climb worth a darn yet, as soon as the grade gets more than 0%, I notice it. Greater than 3% and I'm working pretty hard.

The first 2.5 hours were light, refreshing drizzle. Really, I liked it. It felt good on my face. Then, heading back from the Cherry Grove out and back, it stopped raining. The sun even came out from time to time.

The headwind was perhaps another story. 45 miles of free-range headwinds, south on Spring Hill/Laughlin, through Yamhill, Carlton, and the last stretch to Lafayette.

Had a nice vending machine mocha in Lafayette; we all loitered outside the store and enjoyed hot drinks (except Cecil. She had a cold drink.)

Then, we turned north. I do love me a good tailwind, and that's what we had. I also decided that my headlight did not really need to be on (the sensor thought it was too gloomy out), and that also picked up my pace a bit. But I was surely getting tired.

Ten miles before the finish, Susan decided that we wouldn't upset the weather karma and commented on what a fabulous day it was. I agree, really! It was great riding weather.

Cecil headed right on in at the finish, Susan, Diane, and I put our bikes away, took off our cycling shoes, and then headed in to officially finish. Visited with Susan F (our excellent RBA), then went off to take a hot shower before the dinner.

Delightful dinner with the Susans, Diane, Brian L (the Olympia one), Duane, and his tandem partner.

Now, off to work on that hill-climbing stuff.

I didn't get any pictures (stupid camera battery), but Cecil did.

Finished in 6:30, well ahead of the time limit, with a riding pace of just below 12mph.

First, I Had to Remove The Tags

Offered up to lead a social pace group for Portland Velo on November 14. No way am I fast enough yet to lead a 15's group. Located my Ride Leader Kit, which I had picked up, and put in the closet months ago. Cut off the tags. They fit. Stretchy stuff, lycra :-)

Fitz, discovering that I was 1) leading, and 2) modifying the route, decided to ride along. At the start, we picked up Linda, and the three of us set out. I had already decided to skip the Pumpkin Ridge climb, and maybe toss in a little out and back to Dixie Mountain Road.

Had a delightful ride getting to know Linda; she started riding late last spring, and has worked up as far as the 45 mile Harvest Century route. We took it easy. When we were to turn north on Gordon Rd, we instead elected to do an out and back to St Francis in Roy, for a brief stop.

Then back to Gordon Rd, through North Plains... and Fitz's knees started hurting, so he elected to head straight back. We did the Shadybrook/Jackson School stretch. Linda's legs were hurting, so we skipped the Mason Hill stretch, and continued back along Jackson School, Meek, Sewell, and Evergreen. Linda's leg cramped up right at Brookwood, so we worked the cramp out and walked back the last 1/2 mile.

Lovely second breakfast at Longbottom's. Shane and David were interested that I could get to the Sunset Transit Center without ever riding on Walker Rd, so I figured I had 10 more miles in me, if they didn't mind a very slow guide.

On the down and up on Evergreen, all of a sudden I was flying up the rise - Shane decided I needed a push. The first time someone did that to me, it scared the spit out of me. This was better; Shane is really good at it. However, I do need to work on my climbing, and declined further assistance after enjoying the first one.

We all parted ways at the top of my hill. Way fun. 39 miles for the day.

Clearly I'm Feeling Better

This posting covers all my fun hobbies in one :-)

One of the issues during treatment was that I had a horrible phobia about riding my bicycle alone. Anywhere. I mean, suppose I fell over? I sure felt like losing my balance or conking out from time to time.

The treatment came to a quiet end on Nov 6. Took the last medication. I've been feeling bits and bits more like myself every day.

Today I hopped on my bike, and rode to
1) the bank,
2) the appliance store, where I bought a washing machine (it exceeded my rack capacity. They'll deliver)
3) the NEW yarn store, where I bought yarn for Fitz's promised Filey socks (a nice brown tweed) and yarn for KarenDipity's Marvelous Mitts and then, finally,
4) Freddie's, our grocery store, where I bought heavy things like milk, eggs, cheese, onions...

And back up the hill to home. Didn't feel panicky even once.

Whereupon I cooked up a great batch of Veggie Borscht, making the stock from various veggie ends and peelings (bonus points for this), and using up (from our CSA), the cabbage, beets, carrots, tomatoes, and some celeriac. Mmmm, tasty!

And now I'm cooking up a batch of Fig-Lemon preserve :-)

Zero to Sixty (Five...)

My monthly cycling mileage has been dismal of late...

May 216 (just before starting treatment)
June 44
July 4
August 15
September 73
October 111

Less than 2 weeks, and I'm finished. Yahoo!

So you can see, it has been quite awhile (April?), since I got Rando Bike all ready to go, prepared Rando Snacks, and collected clothing and gear. Amazingly enough, I didn't forget anything.

I am co-organizing the Verboort Sausage Populaire with Susan F, and we needed to get a worker's ride in there somewhere. I'm pretty open on times, but feel much better at the end of the week and during the weekends. Susan has been really busy at work. The weather is changing. We lucked out yesterday, for sure!

This is a great ride, with excellent fall scenery. Actually the route has outstanding winter, spring and summer scenery as well :-), but the fall colors were out in force yesterday. I hope they stick around for all of you.

Met Susan at the Grand Lodge, went through the pre-ride faffing, and we were off to Longbottoms' Coffee and Tea, the first control. There is a slight route change - at the second roundabout you'll head north on Cornelius Schefflin towards Portland, rather than south, due to road construction. But, if you haven't been riding in the area, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the improved stretch of C-S. Caveat - due to the construction, the detour route is Martin-Verboort-C-S, so the traffic is a bit higher. But nice shoulders on the road; no worries.

The berry bushes on Leisy Rd are very colorful this fall.

You'll likely be hitting Longbottoms right about the time Portland Velo is departing for its Saturday Ride. We hope to have a volunteer there to sign your card; otherwise you'll be waiting awhile for a timed receipt.

Back onto Evergreen, then north and west on Sewell and Meek, north on Jackson School, heading to the first info control.

Then south on Shadybrook into North Plains, where there is the park with a water spigot and nice picnic benches, plus the market on the main road. You'll ride by both of them. Full stop at all the stop signs in North Plains - they ticket.

Then out to Mountaindale and the defunct store at the corner of Dairy Creek Rd for the out and back to the control at Fern Flat. We were chased by a large, but friendly dog right after turning onto Fern Flat. It kept trying to cross in front of us. Followed us all the way to the control, then followed me quite a ways down Dairy Creek.



Enjoy the generally downhill run back to Mountaindale (yes, you were going uphill), then west, working your way over to the Hwy 26 crossing (fondly known as "Frogger Junction"). Cross carefully, but know that you will get a break in traffic. There is a refuge in the middle, which helps.



Then west and eventually north into Banks. Just after crossing under Hwy 6 you'll see a grocery, and a Subway and other businesses. By this point (50 miles) I was completely hurting, and the grocery sold me some Ibuprofen. Ahhhhhhhhhhh. Susan bought a sandwich, and I continued consumption of my Rando Snacks (PBJ on homemade Irish Oatmeal bread, homemade Fig Newtons, orange slices).

Through Banks, west on Cedar Canyon, passing by the Killin Wetlands, and your next info control.

Cross Hwy 6 and head back east to Stafford Rd, the only annoying sustained climb (.4 miles, 5-7%) of the ride. Didn't have to walk any hills today.



Obligatory "count the antlers" at Love's Barn, plus admiration of all the implements on display.





Then it is easy and scenic riding to the finish at Verboort. Bring money for the Famous Sausage Dinner. Mmmmmmmmmm. Sausage.

Finished at about 6:13 total time, well within the time allowed.

After a brief rest, Susan and I rode the last 3 FLAT miles back to the Grand Lodge, where we indulged in the hot tub and dinner.



My bike computer says 2599 vertical feet, highest elevation 604 feet at the Fern Flat control.

65 miles, 11.31 avg mph for the overall ride.



and because I couldn't resist, being geeky and all...

Gleaning

Vayikra 19: 9-10 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not pick your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I the Lord am your God." Also Vayikra 23:22 and Devarim 14:28-29.



I belong to the local chapter of Tuv Ha'Aretz, which is partnered with a local CSA. I belong to a different CSA; been a member for a very long time, and see no reason to change. But they've got food hanging out in their fields, too!

So after conversations between my SIL, our CSA, Tuv, etc, I volunteered to organize gleaning parties, as I am a member of all the constituent organizations.

This is a short notice kind of activity. We agreed that Wednesday would be the best day - they aren't going crazy. So just me, myself, and I (and some boxes and buckets, clippers, gloves and mud shoes) went on out.

I was pointed at the rows they had finished harvesting. As a sometime home gardener, I would have been delighted to see all that produce still there, but I can see where as a small scale farming operation it would be too much labor for the return. But that is why they call it "gleaning". :-)

James told me there might be some green beans on a fallen down trellis, plus the squash and tomatoes and cucumbers. Never did find the cucumbers. Oh well.

I picked 52 lbs of squash, 11 lbs of bean from that one trellis, and 6 lbs of tomatoes. There was more to be gotten, but it was just me, and I was getting tired.

Sharon at the pantry met me there, and I dropped everything off and met her very cute dog and had a short visit.



Hope to get a somewhat bigger crew out there next time!

Something for you, dear readers, to consider... Got a fruit tree in your yard going crazy? Does your neighbor have a fruit tree they can't keep up with? Too many things in your garden for you to eat or put by? Your local food bank would be EVER SO HAPPY for that fresh produce!

Aside: I was talking with James when he delivered our veggies this week - I now have a new appreciation for the fact that they harvest a boatload of veggies, part it all out into baskets, fill special orders (eggs, bunches of flowers, sometimes bread) and run 2 deliveries a week, year 'round. That is a LOT of work.

What I've been doing the past few months...

Other than the occasional bike ride (soon to increase, yay!)...

Looking for a job, of course.

Lots of domestic stuff. This does not mean the house is necessarily any cleaner or better organized :-)

I've been canning







Spinning



Knitting













reading

and probably watching a bit more TV...

The knitting and spinning is just fascinating for the staff at the medical office. They always have to check in on what I'm working on. Since I'm there a minimum of every other week, they get lots of updates.

An even longer ride

Or, where Lynne's brain writes checks her body can't cash :-)



Perfect weekend. The Harvest Century. A 45 mile route that promised only 750 vertical feet I think they miscalculated, but I knew the route and wasn't too stressed. Lemond hadn't been out since May. The tires were completely devoid of air (!)

A supported ride. If I couldn't finish, someone would haul me in.

Rather than leave you all in deep suspense, I did finish.

Started riding at about 9:45 or so, after signing up, saying hi to David and his son Evan. Lots of wandering around Hillsboro (not really, but it seemed like it), and then we were Out In The Country.

Lots of wonderful fall color, both native and nursery stock. The rollers on Greenville weren't so bad.





First rest stop (16.5 mi) at the Hillside Bible Church. I ran into David and Evan again; they invited me to ride with them. After a longish stop, we swooped down Hillside (wheeeeeeee!), went up and down the rollers, and eventually got to Forest Grove. At this point, anything that resembles an uphill is really done.





South and west out of Forest Grove (Ritchey/Stringtown/Dilley) to the second rest stop (26.9 mi), Montinore Winery (or Domain Ath for the SM Stirling fans). I confess that I did have to walk the last bit up the the winery. It got a bit too steep. More water, Heed ("subtle Mandarin Orange". The mixing proportions were such that it was very, very subtle.), snacks, and we headed off again.

Spring Hill-Fern Hill-Geiger-LaFollette-Golf Course-Tongue-Johnson School... back to Hillsboro. More amazing fall color and sunshine.

About mile 35, I was pretty much done. Fortunately, it isn't a democracy, and I finished, with lots of pedal, coast, pedal, coast... David and Evan pulled ahead the last 5 miles, but we met up at the finish, over hamburgers, corn, and salad.

I'm glad I did it. I'll have to keep up riding, so I'll be able to do the populaires next month. But right now, I need a nap.

46.11 miles, 12.32 mph avg

Other pics here