Oregonian trails

Did the last spin classes at David Lloyd, Chorley. I have to say these have been fantastic base training through the winter. There were 2 of us in the classes preparing for the Etape, Eugene being the other. Regards to Ann and Ann and the instructors Kay and Paul in particular. Kay amused us with stories during the classes, quite how she learned to talk and ride I don't know, I couldn't speak most of the time. On the last Monday we were treated to the 'dead dog' story. It goes something like this, if you are squeamish, look away....

A work colleague of Kay's (let's call her Ms. X)reported this on the Monday morning. Separated from her previous partner who had buried their dog in the garden some 4 months previous. A neighbour gets a new dog, seemingly with a keen sense of smell, well keener than usual I would say. You can see where this is going..... The new dog decides to dig-up the dead dog, which ex partner had buried seemingly in a shallow grave (about 9 inches). Well new dog, pleased with its achievement and unaffected by the putrid stench couldn't have began to imagine what followed. Ms X tried to move the dead dog with a view to re-burying but the stench was too much (you can imagine, vomiting etc.....well maybe not !) Then in a flash of inspiration 'why don't we burn it' ( I think Ms X had a helper). So off to the local convenience store / garage for a couple of tins of lighter fluid, no questions from the counter staff. The lighter fluid was applied, ignited, a bit of smoke and out. Someone suggested the carcass was still frozen from the winter !! hey this is Wigan not Yellowknife British Columbia - permafrost. Did I forget to say this all took place in Wigan ? maybe it was still frozen in some kind of freak geological ice age recurrence. We cycled through Wigan during winter training and come to think of it, it was colder than anywhere else ?

Anyway, back to the garage / store for a couple of gallons of unleaded. These were applied, singed eyebrows, lots of smoke and stench and out it went. Apparently the fire brigade were in contact at this point, someone having reported the smoke plume. Fire brigade's concerns addressed, Ms X was now faced with a part decomposed, part burned carcass of a dead dog. The neighbour inquired as to the colour of the dog having noticed a brown paw poking out from the funeral pyre ! The situation was put on hold with an upside-down dustbin placed over the carcass pending development of a further action plan. The following Thursday we were treated to an update, some kind people offered to assist Ms X in digging a 18" deep grave for the dead brown dog. That's what friends are for. Thank you Kay for this pleasant story !

Back to my world.... Departure day eventually came, arrived Portland, OR on 5th May 2009 for 2.5 weeks of induction and introduction to my new employer. I had pre-arranged a bike hire from Sellwood Cycle Repair (http://www.sellwoodcycle.com/). The owner Erik Tonkin dropped the bike at my hotel at 07:00am on Thursday, a brand new Kona alloy frame with carbon front and rear forks. Brand new, great ride, very comfortable, no back or neck pain so it's sized just right. Fantastic service from these guys if you are ever in Portland, OR, well you never know !

Portland is a fantastic city, really picturesque, set on a river with many old and new bridges, nice pace of life, so much space and really cycle friendly. The first ride I did was Friday after work, about 38m on the NW Skyline route. Fantastic views of Mount Hood (above) and Mount St Helens. See http://connect.garmin.com/activity/5054085 for details if you are at all interested !

Saturday, I went down the Sellwood Cycles to pay my bill and get some ride suggestions from them. I wanted to do about 50m but ended-up doing 72m, I had little else to do so no problem. This ride was actually quite remote, I got a feeling of being in the middle of nowhere, just the odd ranch / house / farmstead. I'd ride for an hour without seeing a car. It was warm too and I underestimated how dry it was. The terrain was similarly dry, I think this is typical, they get dry and wet areas. Fortunately, the terrain was forested, so about 50% of the time under some shelter from the hot sun. I don't know the temperature but in the early 20's I would say. See the route on http://connect.garmin.com/activity/5135188. There is some issue here with the elevation profile on the Garmin, seemingly I spent some of the time 154 feet below sea level ! Maybe NASA's satellites needs calibrating ?

So Sunday it's the Bald Peak Challenge, 75m with nearly 6,000 ft of ascent, I guess 1,800m. The biggest problem is getting out of the city, it can be complicated. This should see 185m in the bag this week which all things considered I'm quite pleased with. On a final note, still no taker for my Etape du Dales entry, shame this is a fantastic event, c'mon you cyclistes.....