The Monkey at GoLiNiel

We will be riding to the train station, taking Amtrak to Eugene.
Then riding to visit the folks, riding to a BBQ, riding back to the station,
and riding home.

Taking the folding bikes and we are ready to use the racks or fold and bag them.
Should be fun.

Happy 4th!

“Let’s have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck
in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle.”
– U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)

Popularity: 2% [?]

  Pearls Before Swine ~ by Stephan Pastis

Popularity: 3% [?]

We were out at Stoller Vineyard to do a race/walk up and down the hillside vineyard outside of Dayton, and I saw this bike rack. A simple design, but the bike on top adds some artistic design while at the same time, helping label what the structure is to be used for.

While riding into the Pearl district for some errands, I found this at 13th and Lovejoy.
Portlanders should recognize what it is in an instant.
But others may not really know all that it really is.
Its even got little cars on it!

Popularity: 12% [?]

We love riding our bikes along the Springwater trail as it follows the Willamette, between Portland and Oaks park, below the heavy traffic of McLoughlin Blvd. I took this picture in December of 2006, shortly after this power pole was put up. It was pretty cool, since it was some simple bike graphics. It made a small statement about Portland and what this trail was about.

Now, in June of 2009 it is just ugly.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Our most regular bike route to and from Portland takes us by “Sherrett Square” at 9th and Sherrett, in Sellwood.  They have repainted the pavement in the intersection since the last time we have been through. It looks great.   At this intersection there was the most amazing park bench made of earthen materials.  After a few years it deteriorated and was replaced. The replacement is very impressive, but I dont think it is as good as the original. Plus a covered gazebo has been added to help preserve the work. We do love to ride through the area. It has a warm community feel to it.

Sherrett square is sponsored by Community Rejuvenation Project. The northeast corner houses a community bulletin board and a structure for dropping off/picking up free items. The southeast has a bookshelf sharing shelf; the southwest corner has a tea stand complete with mugs and tea, though we arent interested in taking part in that. And finally, the northwest houses a child’s playhouse constructed of cob and recycled windows.

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Our bike commute to work goes along Old River Road, then taking a paved path along the river, that opens up to the lower end of George Rogers Park, where the old iron furnace sits, still and forgotten. Until now.  Looks like there is a restoration effort underway.

An early industry of the Oswego area was iron foundaries. The hill known as “Iron Mountain” is (or at least was) reasonably rich in iron ore, and the furnace and foundry complex was constructed south of what is now Lake Oswego. Today, in a corner of George Rogers Park, other than the stone furnace walls, little remains of this early Oregon industrial effort. This city has always seemed to to have the funds to do things like this.

Popularity: 23% [?]

Last week, I rode in the Pioneer Century, put on by the Portland Wheelmen.
This is always one of the top bike rides in the area. The route, support, and food are all top notch.
Just did the 45 mile loop as I didnt want to spend a lot of time out on the bike, as there was lots to do for the day. This route heads west out of Canby, crossing I-5 and out past Champoeg park, south down Riverside/River road, and in through St. Paul.

From there its back east on French Praire and through Donald.

Then taking Lower Boonesferry, and Arndt road back into Canby.
Where we pass this abandoned Lumber Carrier on the side of the road. It has sat seemingly undisturbed, here at the side of the road for many years. My Dad operated a machine just like this in a sawmill, back in the day when the lumber mills worked long and hard hours.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Marie Aasted

JUNCTION CITY — A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, June 8, at Faith Lutheran Church in Junction City for Marie Kristine Aasted of Junction City, who died June 3 of age-related causes. She was 95.

She was born Aug. 20, 1913, in Askov, Minn., to Jorgen and Anna Lund Nielsen. She married Fred Aasted on March 20, 1932, in Junction City.

She worked as the head cook at Crow-Applegate School for 23 years. She was educated through the eighth grade.

Survivors include a son, Rudolph of Springfield; two daughters, Helena Holeman and Marlene Mueller, both of Eugene; two sisters, Karen Louvering of Springfield and Evelyn Mishler of Albany; a brother, Carl Nielsen of Eugene; nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Her husband died April 28, 1993.

A private family graveside service will be in Danish Cemetery in Junction City. Arrangements by Murphy-Musgrove Funeral Home in Junction City. Remembrances to the church or to Hospice of Sacred Heart.

Popularity: 24% [?]

A walk through the Japanese Gardens in the west hills of Washington Park can be a tranquil experience. Its a chance to center yourself and to let go of the stress of everyday life……..Provided you can avoid the irritating and obnoxious tourists.

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Honey wants to hike. And for this day, the hike is to be up Dog Mountain, since the wild flowers are in bloom. Dog Mountain lies about 14 miles east of The Bridge of the Gods, on the Washington side of the gorge.  There is a pretty good parking area, directly off highway 14.  Its Sunday, and there’s a forest service guy directing people to park.  We got there pretty early in the morning and it seemed a little odd to have a someone telling all 12 of us where to park. But ok, he was pretty cool and had a lot of good information for us.  From the lot the trail head, with bathrooms are only about 300 feet away.  So up we go. And it doesn’t take long for the trail to start to get steep.  From there on, in alternated between steep and substantially uphill.

It wasn’t long before we came to a fork in the trail and had to make a decision about which way to go. Hmmm, didn’t seem like a tough choice to us.

So, after hiking for a bit and getting to a point where, it seemed to me, that we were probably getting close, the trail opens up from the cover of the trees and you can see up the mountain.  Uh, is that where we are going? Kinda. Honey says.  Ok, great.

We had a great view from the top. We brought a lunch and sat quietly on the slopes at the top, along with 30 or so other hikers, ate our lunch,  and enjoyed the view.

From the top, you can look down at Windy Mountain and Skamania.

Off to the North you can catch a view of Mt. St. Helens.

And, just the tip of the peak of Mt. Hood.

The trail up to the top, on the exposed side, on this day was very windy.  On the way down, we hike down this trail to the point it dissappears the then switchback to the right.  The views on this portion are great, but the wind and loose rock made for a bit of a challenge.  On the way up, at the point the trail disappears, we headed off around the lee side of the mountain.  No view, but no wind either.

Various sources clock the round trip  from 6.5 to 7.1 miles, with about 1850 feet in elevation gain, taking about 4-5 hours. The trail is nice, though much of it isnt wide, requiring someone to pull to the side with others are coming from the other way. But, making the hike rewards you with a collection of wildflowers, views of Mt. Hood, Mt. St Helens, and the knowledge you just made it atop the 2,984 ft. Dog Mountain. Watch for poison oak along the trail. Oh, and when we returned I saw the need for the parking instructions, the lot was packed and there was a string of cars 1/2 down the road.

Popularity: 28% [?]

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My son first showed me this proposal for a cycle-track in downtown Portland.
He is a daily bike commuter, riding a respectable distance to PSU, and these sorts of transportation improvements are especially important to those that are riding on a regular basis, through all types of weather and lighting conditions.   It would be great if this could be accomplished.  Portland has been making remarkable progress to promote bicycling and to make it safe for everyone.  And Sam Adams has been a big part of that.

The following post is from OregonLive.com
Posted by Joseph Rose. The Oregonian April 30, 2009 13:30PM

The other night, hometown indie rockers The Decemberists gave a national-TV shout out to Portland as a “big biking town” on the Colbert Report (watch the video above).

This morning, Portland Mayor Sam Adams went a step further, promising to remove one of three automobile lanes on a stretch of Southwest Broadway for a high-capacity “cycletrack” near Portland State University.

PBOTA schematic of the proposed Broadway cycleway being pushed by Mayor Same Adams.

Popularity: 56% [?]