Errandonnee 12, Haircut

Look ma, much less hair!



Rode over to see our haircut person (she's been cutting my hair for 35 years) on the Sweetpea, because I am trying to get the new saddle to like me, and wanted to check out another adjustment.  Mostly, I have been adjusting it, riding up and down the driveway in jeans, calling it good, and then going off and riding a 200k.  Four times.  It hasn't always been for the best.  So, in riding pants this time...

Yes.  So, Suyapa told me she wanted to try something NEW and was I up for it.  After detailed questioning, I agreed.  It would grow out in 5 or 6 weeks if I didn't like it.

Criteria:
wash, comb, and that's it.
symmetric (makes me crazy if it isn't)

She poured me a glass of wine and got started.  Then Fitz showed up (this was planned), and she poured HIM a glass of wine.  The pile of hair on the floor got bigger.  Just to mention, it wasn't really that long in the first place.  Now it is considerably less long.  That is ok for the warmer weather.  In the winter, my head gets cold.

Fitz got his haircut, we visited, she admired Sweetpea.

5.6 miles.  New haircut, which I think I like.

Errandonnee 10 and 11, Portland Timbers Game and Coffee (again)

The Portland Timbers soccer match was a midday one today.  Thought I'd ride over the hill, enjoy the game, and ride back, pausing at the Starbucks at the summit.

Stuffed my Timbers jersey, cap and scarf in a bag, pulled on somewhat warmer riding gear than I would normally wear, because I'd be standing for a couple of hours.  Sit?  What is this SIT during a Timbers match?

Arrived at the stadium in time to hear the Timbers Army chanting and then the National Anthem.  As I was locking up the bike, a security guy came over, did I have a Season Pass or parking sticker?  Well, I did have a Season Pass, so was allowed to lock up in the secure parking (actually the only parking, because events overwhelm the standard street parking).

The game ended in a tie.  Well, better than not losing.

Chatting with a couple of the other cyclists after, it appears I got very lucky.  Season ticket holders can get a transit pass, a car parking pass, or a bike parking pass.  We have the transit pass. Oops.

So, now climbing back UP Park Ave (reallyreallyreallysteep), through Washington Park, up to Sylvan and the Sylvan Starbucks.  Brief relaxing pause for an Iced Caramel Coffee.

All downhill to home from there.

14.6 miles.  All the miles, one more errand to go.

Errandonnee 9 Coffee before Dawn

Crista Permanista reviewed the updated Perm 1513 cue sheet, and found a couple omissions, plus a few places where RideWithGPS "helped" which I did not catch on my proofread.  I expect riders WOULD want to know to turn R to get on the Broadway Bridge.  Details.



As three riders were going out THIS MORNING, I updated the cue sheet and printed out three new copies somewhere around midnight, set my alarm and got a few hours of sleep.  Up at 6:30, down the hill to find them.  Didn't see any bikes at Jim and Patty's, but there were some customers at Starbucks.

Observation:  I think I finally have the headlight adjusted to my liking.  Observation by others: bright tail light!
(dark downhill, dawn uphill.  Luxos U headlight, Secula Plus seatstay mount tail light)

Bought myself a cup of coffee, and shared some route notes ("there is a mudslide just past the fish hatchery").

Underway, rode with them back to my house (on the route), and loaned out a reflective item to a rider who had forgotten theirs.  I'll get it back this evening when they finish.

3 miles.

Errandonnee 8, The Bank

Quick trip, because the mobile banking app is leading us all through the deposit process and then dying.  Repeatedly.



3.25 miles
Wild Card
It was past statutory sunset, so it might qualify as "dark".  Well, "dusk".  The lights were on, and I was one reflective ankle band short of being Randonneurs USA compliant.

Lighting - SonDelux generator hub, Luxos U headlight, Secula Plus wired taillight.  Bright little thing.

Errandonnee 5, 6, and 7

Today, Community Meeting (Knitting Group), the Library, and Trader Joe's (grocery)

Total mileage 10.2

Home to Community Meeting



There are ALPACAS on a lot on SW 106th across from the Elks Lodge.  Maybe two blocks from my house, and I didn't know!  In the Beaverton city limits, even.



At knitting group today we knitted (natch), except for the needlepoint lady and the quilt lady (we don't judge).  Also talked about retirement and how to do it right, and what to do about retired spouses.  That was funny.  I got about an inch knitted on my socks.



Community Meeting to Library
Returned my book.  Nothing exciting about the library today.



Library to Trader Joe's
Mt Hood was out today, and quite visible from SW 2nd Ave in Beaverton.



Trader Joe's had everything I needed.  The sample area (lunch?  did I forget to have lunch?) was fingerling potatoes and Irish Bangers with sweet hot mustard.  Oh my goodness.  Also had a sample taste of their Green Drink (maybe there is something to this hiding veg in your fruit drink) and some coffee.  Another customer profusely admired the bike (Rivendell).



And home.

Errandonnee, Errand 4, the grocery store

Cleaned out all the returnable bottles and cans.  Panniers full of bottles, cans on the front rack.  Fortunately, all downhill to the Fred Meyer!



Learning: don't get too close to bottle machine with a bike; lots of broken glass on the pavement.  No flats.  Lucky.

Long line at the can and bottle return, so I gave them to someone else, and went into the store to pick up some milk and cheese.



3.2 miles round trip.

Errandonnee, Errands 1-3

The list today included recycle batteries, go by the library, and, oh, maybe I want a T20 bit to carry in my on-bike toolkit...

Total distance 5.6 miles.

The route

Sweetpea has a new seatpost and the saddle has been rearranged yet again, so that was the logical bike for the errands.  All the luggage was off, so I put my two library books and the bucket of batteries in a small pack and headed out.  Weather was perfect.  Other than my helmet, gloves and cycling shoes, I was wearing street clothes - jeans and a hoodie commemorating the Sunset High School 15th Annual Marching Band Classic.  As an aside, my band member is going to his 10th HS reunion this year. :-O

Home to Batteries Plus Bulbs
Ended up riding three blocks westbound on SW Canyon.  Not recommended, but I managed the stretch between traffic lights.
Bicycle goes in the store.
Up to 5 lbs of batteries are recycled for free.  I had 4.5 lbs.





Batteries Plus Bulbs to Beaverton Library
East on Millikan, cross-country to Lombard, then the standard route.
No bicycles allowed in the library; had to lock it up outside.
Picked up The Sons of Heaven, the final Company novel from Kage Baker.  I am sad it is the last one.
The Beaverton Library was designed by Thomas Hacker Architects, and has wonderful wood beams.





Beaverton Library to Home Depot
There just isn't a low-stress direct route.  I could have gone back up to Beaverton Hillsdale, but that would have been a left turn across a very high traffic 4 lane highway at 5pm.  I elected to go east on SW 5th, then turn left into the office park across from SW 107th, turn left onto Beaverton Hillsdale at the light, and then right onto SW 110th to Home Depot.
The bike goes in with me there as well.
I knew the Torx T20 bits were on Aisle 8 Bay 102 and in stock (the interwebs are great).  Took a bit of hunting among all the various bits, but found them.  The T20 bit will fit in my Rachet Rocket, and in the Rachet Rocket case, displacing the unneeded T25 bit.  The T20 bit adjusts the Luxos U light angle.
The cashier wanted to know all about Sweetpea; we had a wonderful visit.





Home Depot to Home
EZ.  Except that I am still feeling Sunday's ride, and the uphills were definitely noticed.