WHAT WORD HAS 5 LETTERS AND RHYMES WITH CHOKE

No link to my routes since I did not plan either course.

Yes, you guessed it.  The word is SPOKE.  Allow me to catch up from the first post.  On Day 1 I lost 3 spokes making my way from Florence-to-Eugene.  My back wheel behaved like a dice and not a wheel.  So...

A bike shop in Eugene does a great job replacing the broken spokes and making the wheel true.  I picked up the bike and started a new Day 2.  I made it 8 miles and broke 2 more spokes.  A younger Joe may have blown a gasket.  Not now, I'm running out of gaskets.  I simply rode back to Eugene. You must know you can/t swing a broken spoke without hitting a bike shop!!! The folks at Collins Bike Shop in Eugene are great.  We decided that the rims I have must have a factory defect and I replaced both rims.  Problem solved.  Jason from Collins will always be a fond memory. I was able to take in some of the sights of Eugene while my second round of repairs took place.

One flew East.  One flew West.  I didn't know that Eugene is home of a great American writer.

Ken Kesey Tribute Statue in Eugene

I did notice that Eugene is well stocked in the type of humans who prefer to live close to the land and keep their stuff handy.  They have awesome street light planter.

Every pole gets a wreath of flowers

So where am I.  After the new rims I left Eugene.  The goal was to make it to Belkan Springs Lodge at the foothills of the Willamette National Forest and the challenge of the McKenzie Pass.  The Pass climbs from approximately 1000 feet up to 5300 feet.  The ride from Eugene was hot.  Oh, and it had one big ass American Flag. I logged the 66 miles I planned.  Bang.

Big Ass Scary Stars & Stripes

Day 3 was a battle against me and the McKenzie Pass.  I'd be lying if I said it was easy.  It was a 5 hour slow slog up to the crest of the pass.  Yes, 5 hours of going about 3-4 miles an hour dragging about 70lbs of gear.  WHY AM I DOING THIS.  Here goes.

The Sisters (Patty on the LEFT and Kathy on the RIGHT)

I made the summit.  What a treat.  I met people all the way along.  A couple I met were living in Eugene but were originally from Center City Philly.  They invited me to dinner but I opted to not interfere on their evening.  A guy I met is planning to do a C-to-C (Coast-to-Coast) race.  Last year he made the transit in 30 days.  He was from South Bend Oregon and offered a place to stay when I get to Indiana.  On Thursday I met up with Janice from Quebec and we rode along for 10 miles before dropping her at a camp store.  She plans to do the McKenzie Pass tomorrow.  I owe her some helpful hints.

Your all caught up.  I just had an awesome dinner in a great little town. If you know me I am good at spotting neat towns.  You can add Sisters, Oregon to the list.  A slice of Oregon that is worth the effort.

I have a good video of the descent.   One hand was on the handle-bar and the other was taking a video.  It is too large for this blog.  I'll post it somewhere so you can get the full effect.

Finally, tomorrow, and I really mean this I plan to leave Sisters and get to Brothers OR.  The two places could not be more different.  All you need is a quck WIKI on Brothers to understand.

GOOD NIGHT AND
HAVE FUN!!!

Day 1 Florence to Eugene

If you click on the line below and select the link you can view the route I took and see some photos captured along the way

Day 1 Florence to Eugene


What is the best word to describe the first day of my trip.  Mixed.  I'll explain.

The day started like every day Ive been here on the coast of Oregon.  It was grey and colder than the thermometer was reading. I packed and got ready for the road.  People keep asking what does the bike look like. You learn new words when you dip your toe into something different.  The bike, when outfitted is called a "rig".

The RIG (aka: KERT)

I set out early. I stopped at an ATM machine.  I realized I left my ATM card and "stuff" in my hotel room.  Now it is back from whence I started.   In a frenzy I trash my room looking for my ATM.  Oops!  I forgot that I put my ATM card and "stuff" in a different place on my bike. I had my ATM the entire time right on the bike.  Time penalty 00:30 minutes.

After that it was smooth sailing, well pedaling.  I clicked off the first 18 miles.  As I approached Mapleton, OR I needed to make a route decision. Route 126 from Eugene to Florence is a twisty  busy road.  I did an eyeball analysis on the number of cars that turned up Route 126. 19 out of the first 20 cars (yes, I was eating on the side f the road so counting was easy) went towards Eugene on 126.  I went inside for  good chat with a barista in the coffee shop.  He said 36 is the road to take.  He said you trade imiles for very little traffic.  That was the best advise I got all day.

Why are the results of day "mixed"??  I'm writing this in my hotel room in Eugene.  During the 77 miles yesterday I broke 3 spokes on  my rear wheel.  The first spoke went at approximately the 22 mile mark.  The second went somewhere in the middle of the Coastal Mountains.  If you haven't experienced what happens when you lose a spoke, much less 2, your bike becomes a wobbly mess.  I kept pushing forward minus the 2 spokes.  I actually mastered a place called Low Pass (A MISNOMER OR NAMING IRONY).  I pushed up to the crest and did a 40 MPH wobbly descent into Low Pass, Oregon.  The Coastal Mountains of Oregon are now behind me.

When I say "a spoke was lost" that really means I hear this "clinking" and know something ain't right.  I have to stop, dismount, unpack, get a tool, work the broken spoke out and then repack and head off (more wobbly than before the stop).

So today KERT is in the shop getting spokes and a true wheel.  I'm already getting a time penalty of at least one day.  There are still 2 heavy climbing days ahead of me to conquer the Cascade Mountains.  No worries.  I just have faith that the bike will get healthy and I can start marking miles.

Day 1 was a good day.  I am alive.  I feel preety good.  I met some good members of the species.  The little things.  Here s a view of a piece of beauty known as Triangle Lake in the upper Coastal Mountains of Oregon.  I stopped, chatted with some folks as the sun finally broke out from behind the clouds.

Triangle Lake Oregon

A BLOG BECAUSE YOU ASKED

People keep saying I want to follow you as you make your way from Florence, OR to Ocean City, NJ.  OK, be careful of what you ask because...DAAA DAAA DAAAAHHH here it is.

Since this is a trial I'll post a picture of something to see if this works.

We talking about PRACTICE.