Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Day 2

>

> Day 2 complete. We are back in Portland but unfortunately are count
> is down by one rider. The esteemed Don Schubert has headed back to
> Richmond, mainly because the traffic we have seen is far beyond what
> we expected or enjoy.
>
> Today Davis, Jack and Philip rode from St Helens about 30 miles
> toward Portland, then tackled a brutally steep climb of 1000 feet on
> a side road to escape the logging trucks. The ride down the other
> side of the hill into Portland was a blast.
>
> The main logistical task of the day was replacing the split tire on
> Philip's bike, and the kind people at bike gallery fixed the
> problem. Two Kevlar tires will have a much better chance of
> surviving the summer' torture test.
>
> Sadly, tomorrow is the last day the riders will have the luxury of a
> support vehicle because Nancy is flying back to Virginia. This
> means 30 extra pounds for each rider. Oof.
>
> Although 'Bike Gallery' Is a close second, the 'establishment of the
> day' is Gustav's - an authentic German brewpub. Don't miss this
> place if you're ever hungry in Portland

1 comment:

HARBOR PARK HIGHLIGHTS said...

It was nice chatting with you guys at Multnomah Falls along the Columbia River. I'm the guy who spoke to you about my cross country trip in 03. For that trip I raised over $2,000 for the medical needs of our church's mission in Mexico.

From my experiences, I hope I can share with you (from time to time) some suggestions that could make your trip a little less problematic and more enjoyable.

SUGGESTION: Whenever you approach a park, campground, or rest area, and plan to leave the road, get off your bike and walk it. The reason is that the grass and other foliage vertically support those little slivers and thorns. It doesn't take much weight on your bike for one of those tiny little thorns to impale your tire. I have ridden through broken glass and other debris on the road with very little problems. If I were to get a flat it was from riding across the grass.

Happy Pedaling,
Dave