[OrRando] Forest Grove - Birkenfeld pre-ride

Mon Mar 27 19:27:13 PST 2006

Am I nuts? Start time 5am. It's dark, it's freezing...I have the road to
myself.

Darn... I've been out on the route 2 times in 2 weeks looking for elk and
nota one. A few deer, some mules, lotsa horses, bovine, goats, dogs,
hawks...but no elk and I have been looking.

As you leave Timber there are several herding dogs all behind fences... I
figured I was the most entertainment they'd get all day.

The black lab near 48k is no doubt the one Michael is talking about that
comes out into the road. He's overweight so if you're near the end of the
group I'd be surprised if he's giving you a chase. He is harmless except if
he gets in front of your wheel.

I crashed on the bike trail today. On the "chain across path" I went around
but didn't get enough angle on my front wheel to get up over the edge.  On
the way back to FG I still took the bike path... you think I'd learn? It's
drier in the afternoon but still bridges to cross with significant drops,
posts to weave around, hairpin turns, leaves, small sticks, big stick... I'd
say individuals will be fine but risky for a tight group of riders. If you
want to ride on the trail but not after it becomes unpaved... get off at the
Beaver Ck Trailhead. After that you've got a couple miles of pave before the
fun begins...a little deep gravel, some mud, some big rocks near an unstable
slide area. The trail comes down to hwy 47 near Tophill.

Maybe 26 was busy for Michael because of return Sunday traffic. Shoulder's
wide and you only have to be on this less than 2 miles before getting back
onto the bike path. You will be required to take this bike path. They are
doing construction on Hwy 26 and the shoulder eventually narrows to nothing.
The bike path is in fair shape I was doing almost 18mph last week. Clearly
it's either downhill or I had a good tailwind!

If you have early spring tree pollen allergies... bring meds. Both times I
suffered up in the Nehalem Valley.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: orrando-bounces at tire.patch.com
> [mailto:orrando-bounces at tire.patch.com]On Behalf Of Michael Rasmussen
> Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 8:45 AM
> To: orrando at patch.com
> Subject: [OrRando] Forest Grove - Birkenfeld pre-ride
>
>
> Y'all
>
> I pre-rode the Forest Grove - Birkenfeld 200K route yesterday.
>
> You are in for a treat!  Susan took the best parts of the classic Portland
> 200K and added more scenic country roads.  It's really beautiful.
>  Better yet
> the road surface from Vernonia to Birkenfeld is, for the most part, smooth
> good condition asphalt.  A joy to ride.
>
> Miscellaneous notes from my ride.
>
> Am I nuts?  Starting at 10:00 am?  After riding only 134 miles in
> the previous
> two months?
>
> Mile 8  - first temptation.  A winery open for tastings.
>
> Mile 15 - just before leaving Hwy 6 for Timber Road there is a
> store on the
> right.  It stocks Rando essentials like corn dogs, chocolate milk, Hostess
> fruit pies.  There's a porta potty in the parking lot to the west.
>
> Timber road - who cares that it's narrow and curvey? There's little to no
> traffic and what there is you can hear coming.
>
> Mile 20 - Perhaps you'll also see a herd of 16 elk.  Don't bother
> stopping to
> try and photograph them.  They're skittish.
>
> Mile 21 - Check your brakes, especially if it is raining.  The
> descent into
> Timber is short, steep and ends with a hard left across railroad tracks.
>
> Mile 35.5 - The bike path is all right.  Paved all the way into Vernonia,
> covered with spruce needles.  Caveats:  if you meet horseback
> riders remember
> they have the right of way and you are strongly encouraged to
> slow way down
> and possibly dismount.  A spooked horse is dangerous.  The
> bridges are wooden
> and have very abrupt, almost curb like ends.  There are a couple
> of instances
> where tree roots have deformed the asphalt into a very bumpy
> section.  Very
> brief too.  Watch out for the one road crossing were a cable is
> strung across
> the path to keep motorized vehicles out.  The dirt shoulder is below the
> asphalt lip.
>
> Vernonia - the coffee place on Bridge street makes a good mocha - not some
> cloying sweet dreck. A no-whip order results in a very full cup.
>
> Hwy 47 - After three miles from Vernonia the road follows the
> Nehelam River.
> What a delight!  Lots of timber and frequent pastures line the
> route. Just a
> really beautiful section of road to ride.
>
> Mile 53.4 (or is it 54.3?) - At the Y where Hwy 47 that you've
> been riding for
> almost 20 miles goes right Bear Left to get onto SR 202.
>
> Fishhawk Lake - Yawn.  Private development.
>
> Birkenfeld - Happy to report they're open on Sunday. People staffing
> the store were really sweet. Hopefully you'll meet the same ones.
> There is a warm, clean toilet.
>
> Hwy 47 south of Vernonia - Can be busy.  If you have a good chunk
> of time in
> the bank the bikepath could be a very good time.  Just be sure to
> get off at
> the crest.  The descent down to Hwy 26 is a very good time - even
> if you're
> cooked, nauseous, and otherwise in no condition to ride.
>
> Hwy 26 - Very busy, be very careful.
>
> That's all I have, as my ride ended at that point.
>
> A word on dogs.
>
> I encountered four:
>
> 1 black one near a house with other fenced in dogs.  He's a
> barker and chaser
> only.  If he were a biter my right leg would have holes in it.
> Didn't know he
> was there until he spoke up.
>
> 2 in a house at the end of a long driveway.  I saw (and heard)
> them barreling
> down the driveway to chase me.  For better or worse it was too
> late for them
> and I was gone by the time they reached the road.  With more riders on the
> brevet, they may be on or close to the road when you go by.
>
> 1 poor uncoordinated mutt.  He runs down the driveway, he turns
> onto the road
> shoulder, he loses traction slides out and rolls over.
>
> I have mile post entries for the first two if you're interested.
>
> See you on Saturday.
>
>
>
> --
>    Michael Rasmussen, Portland, Ore, USA
>   Be Appropriate && Follow Your Curiosity
>         http://www.patch.com/words/
>
>
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