[ORRando] close encounters of the bird kind

[Graham Ross]

Hi all, 

I'm a new rusa member hoping to see some of you on orrando rides this year. 
Just to get a feel for the timetable of a brevet I thought I'd ride Susan France's "Chehalem Ridge Runner" last Monday. 
I took Trimet to Tigard, rode to Sherwood, and started the route a little after 10am. 
I missed a turn early in the ride and it was three uphill miles before I realized it, so I backtracked to the route and beat cheeks up Bald Peak 
trying to make sure I had a cushion against the time limit in Forest Grove in case of a flat or whatever. 

So I'm pedaling along Hwy 47 about 22mph in a light tail wind from Gaston toward Forest Grove. I'm feeling pretty serene, with 4 miles to the control and 40 minutes to do it in. 

There is a lull in traffic. No noise. No cars in either direction for half a mile, at least. 

Out of the corner of my eye I see something . 

It is a huge bird. This bird (I've decided it was a Northern Harrier) was about 12 feet to my right, just pacing me. 

We cruised along like that, human and raptor, for about 400 yards before the bird sped up a little and veered left, looking for something smaller to eat. Perhaps something with no helmet. 

Graham Ross 


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