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Sunday, June 23, 2013

 
7:55 PM: a bike odyssey [#] [0]

my idea of a good time is watching a play featuring bicycles loosely based on "the odyssey" while it is raining.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

 
11:59 PM: tiny brompton conquers crater lake [#] [1]

when i learned crater lake was opening up rim road only for hikers and bikers for the first time ever, i looked at the forecast, rearranged my plans, woke up at 5 a.m., packed a bunch of food and sunscreen, and drove 4.5 hours to try it with my brompton.

i've only visited crater lake twice before, both on the way back from burning man, and only long enough to feel the cool air and take a photo. exploring it via bicycle was a completely different and extraordinary adventure.

i knew it was going to be hard. i've never been good with hills. but this opportunity was too good to pass up, and i'm so glad i did. i would never in a million year ride a bike on that road with cars. but crater lake is ridiculously, over-the-top gorgeous when allowed to explore at a leisurely pace. without feeling rushed by other traffic or enclosed in a car, i could really enjoy all the details: the color of the water and sky, the landscape shaped by volcanic force and flow, the smell of pines warming in the sun, birds and chipmunks and tiny lizards, the snowy fields, the stupendous silence. i even saw a cirrus "fire rainbow" that looked something like this.

though i fantasize about taking a longer bike tour, my experience at crater lake has convinced me i am not nearly ready for mountainous bike travel. i covered 15 miles and a 2-mile walk down to the dock and back up in 7 hours. that's with plenty of stops -- though not for long, because I did not think to bring bug repellant and my legs are now covered with mosquito welts. for the last 3 miles I was playing mileage games with myself as i climbed out of the crater and ultimately resorted to alternating between walking and biking. i think the limited oxygen at over 7000 feet has something to do with it, but at this point i am much more suited to flat exploration. maybe someday!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

 
9:34 PM: a summer picnic on elk rock island [#] [0]

i had planned a labyrinth ride during this year's pedalpalooza, but bailed when i realized it would be about 40 miles. i'm pretty much recovered after the lebanon accident and subsequent ankle sprain, but over 2 months of inactivity made a long hard ride w/ faster riders less appealing, especially as a first attempt at leading a ride. maybe next year, and maybe just one labyrinth at a time.

so instead i invited kristen on a picnic to elk rock island!

[a calm cove]

[kristen samples cheese]

[homemade strawberry shortcake]

[cleaning up]

Saturday, June 15, 2013

 
11:41 PM: wonka's waterfall [#] [0]

this is the chocolate waterfall at the "sweat for sweets" pedalpalooza ride (with a fellow rider for scale). this is at the candy basket in gresham in a completely nondescript building. the sign warns against eating the chocolate in the fountain, so i sampled a chocolate-covered potato chip. it was better than you'd think.

Friday, June 14, 2013

 
11:54 PM: patients in profile [#] [0]

some quick sketches i drew during a recent #sp training:

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

 
11:52 AM: bike shop appreciation day [#] [0]

Happy Bike Shop Appreciation Day!

As my contribution to Pedalpalooza, one batch of gingerbread cookies went to the Woodstock Bike Gallery, the other to Clever Cycles.