Test Run: 10 days in southern Oregon

Praise the LORD, O my soul.
O LORD my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
He wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.
He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains. (Psalm 104)

Who would have thought that southern Oregon would be such a great place to bicycle in? Not I, until this last week when we rode from Florence Oregon, to the redwoods, then back in to Grants Pass, and then in Ashland before coming back on the train. Among the RV-Park-Every-4-Miles and gun-loving truck drivers, bikers are more than welcome in this part of the state. In fact, the trip is better by bike! Stunning road-side sights: ocean, mountain, massive trees, caves, hippies, cliffs, swelling eyes, wild-life (dead), and sunsets were all part of this camping, biking vacation. Oh, and a special thanks to Benji, our greatest southern Oregon friend!



kat's knee after she took a tumble.



the signs that guided our path down the coast.



the southern oregon coast lends itself to some of the most stunning scenery.



we pale in comparison to the redwoods.



to see more pictures, click here.

portland to salem. test ride #1.

a few weekends ago, luke and i set out with some dear friends, brandon, victoria and cole, on a bike adventure, in preparation for our trip down the oregon coast in june. we had been invited to the bonfire of a friend, rachel, at her parent's house just outside of salem, oregon. we decided that it was the perfect opportunity to ride down from portland to rachel's front door, practicing the same amount of miles that we will need to ride daily to make it down the coast. we loaded up our bikes with our sleeping bags and bungeed the other necessary goods on top of our scavenged panniers, racks, and buckets. i must say that we were the most RAG TAG bike touring group that many of the cyclists we came across on the road had probably ever seen. all five of us rode 60 miles on day one down 99E, with a stop for delicious, authentic oaxacan food in woodburn. we were greeted by the most hospitable hosts, who fed us and watered us well. cole, luke and i passed out under the stars on the shore of the willamette river. the next day, we were pampered with a filling breakfast and headed out onto the WILLAMETTE VALLEY BIKEWAY that led us 80 miles back to portland, through pastoral fields and newberg, oregon. thank goodness the rain held off the whole trip and the sun even came out, leading to some nice spandex tan lines. and i'd say 140 miles in two days? not too shabby...



the nail that went through luke's tire somewhere around woodburn.


enjoying the scenery on the willamette valley bikeway.


the rag tag bike gang


rachel and her dad, our lovely hosts.


pete and ethel


cole, en route