Blog of GoLiNiel

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Jackstraw
1994 ~ 2008

A Dog for Jesus
(Where dogs go when they die)
Rudyard Kipling

I wish someone had given Jesus a dog.
As loyal and loving as mine.
To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
And adore Him for being divine.

As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog,
Would have followed Him all through the day.
While He preached to the crowds and made the sick well
And knelt in the garden to pray.
It is sad to remember that Christ went away.
To face death alone and apart.
With no tender dog following close behind,
To comfort its Master’s Heart.
And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn,
How happy He would have been,
As His dog kissed His hand and barked it’s delight,
For The One who died for all men.

Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent Him mine,
The old pal so dear to me.
And I smile through my tears on this first day alone,
Knowing they’re in eternity.
Day after day, the whole day through,
Wherever my road inclined,
Four feet said, “Wait, I’m coming with you!”
And trotted along behind.

 (click for:)  Jack the Dog Memorial Page on GoLiNiel.com

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Popularity: 13% [?]

We stopped by the Environmental Learning Center on a cold and sunny Saturday to take a look around the natural area.   It was early in the morning, and the pond had a thin layer of ice.  The path around the pond feels much like a natural forested area as you duck and weave around all the naturalized vegetation.  I seem to remember that the pathway was made and the native plants were transplanted in the 80s. It included a recycling center and other experiemental projects.  A very forward thinking environmental reclamation/education project for its time.  At that time, many bridges, benches and board walks were built, using both wood lumber and recycled plastics lumber, as an experiment to determine its longevity.  It is now apparent that many wooden lumber pieces are in need of replacement whereas the plastic lumber is much like I remember them when they were installed. 

The Haggart astronomical observatory is also there.  The gates were closed so we couldn’t climb up, but then again it was daytime, so there wasn’t much need to be up there.  They do have opportunities to go up and see the stars.  That could be fun.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Coming in from the cold, Thomas has again agreed to be a guest writer, and to share his interpretation of an annual family Christmas tradition.
A Visit From Christmas Past December 6, 2008

The first weekend in December has typically marked an important Holiday occasion in my family; it is the weekend of the Tannenbaum. This particularly chilly morning, just shy of 40° Fahrenheit, yet sunny enough to warrant the use of sunglasses, we set out to claim our dendrologic sample. It is my first logging expedition in some time, and in my absence a newer “Ma & Pa” style plot had replaced our standard grove as the destination. The layout is unfamiliar but the smell sparks my memories, replaying them in a nostalgic, sepia-grained film reel. I can’t help but smile as the visions pass by me; reminding me of the times I’ve made similar treks before.

We are not alone in this sanctuary of trees. Other lumberjack families have ventured out into this urban forest to claim their perfect tree, many seemingly their first time; young mothers in chic Ugg boots, small children fantasizing the saws they clutch are real bows, and new fathers in their compensating trucks.

Our first find was a full-bodied grand fir, almost perfect, but not quite. A few more specimens catch our eyes, but they are not the right one; their branches are turned upwards, the needles limp, or they have holes in their structure. Our search is not arduous, the brisk autumn air isn’t biting and the trees are standing in attention for our inspection.

At last a glimmer appears before us. The morning dew sparkles like diamonds on the deep green needles of a conifer like no other. It stands upright, reaching toward the heavens, easily a foot above my hat. This Abies Grandis is the one for us, our perfect centerpiece. We pay homage to its beauty by capturing a copy for our records, keeping it alive in our family’s history.

Knowing what must come next, I sigh softly, but am not saddened. We do not mourn those that die fulfilling their destiny, and no one contested our actions. I gingerly touch the teeth of my saw, one that has cut down many of our past trees, and prepare to sacrifice a sapling for our Holiday enjoyment. Though it is not my hand that guides the blade, I play my part in its forced martyrdom. The needles grace my sleeves, but do not puncture, and the boughs reluctantly spread to allow me to grasp the trunk of the truly grand fir.

My father kneels to its base and lays the forged steel to the frost laded earth and begins to cut; slowly and methodically the blade slides through the wood, gnawing through the sinew with ease and grace. Before making the final cuts my father sits back on his heels, drawing in deep breaths, resting momentarily. I feel at ease as I’m comforting the tree in its last movements at its only known home; there is no anger or malice in the spirits here, nor fear or grief. All is calm in this new-found grove, and now it does not seem so alien to me.

Between my father and I, we are able to escort our find to its carriage for transport. Satisfied with our selection we embark on the return journey to our family’s house, eager to make a spot to display our treasure. Arriving home, we swiftly bring our tree into the safety of our backyard cloister. After a deft trimming the tree is ready to bridge the annual gap between the domains of nature and man. Spreading its branches wide, like open arms, the tree touches the fixtures of this new environment, gathering its bearings. A trail of glossy needles and a lingering aroma remain in its path, announcing its presence to the household.

A drape of fine crimson velvet and a solid iron stand full of pure spring water await the coming of our find. The water parts to allow the trunk to settle, quickly wrapping around it in a blissful embrace. A quick alignment and pivoting provides the most visually appealing display; the bold emerald tree back-lit by the azure sky showing through the window alone is enough to steal one’s breath. However, our work, our praise, is not finished; a garland of platinum lights is draped through its stoic boughs, a shining star marks its summit, and our collection of ancestral ornaments twinkle colorfully throughout its body.

At last, our Tannenbaum, our perfect tree, is home, its spirit blending with the others dwelling under the roof, filling them with holiday cheer. The season has started.

Popularity: 19% [?]

OK, I think this could be my final post about this bridge. On Thanksgiving, The Oregonian reported that the 82nd drive bridge is now open, after being closed since August of 2006.  We quickly confirmed it here, and got on the bikes for an early morning ride.  We did so for two reasons. One, we wanted to be one of the first across it after it opened, and two, well it is was Thanksgiving and we were planning to overeat just a little. It was nice to be able to ride across it and, coupled with the newly paved path from the bridge along the river, its a quiet ride all the way to the Oregon City Shopping Center.

I wonder if they would have fixed the bridge if it wasn’t needed for the sewer line?

Popularity: 25% [?]

Still patiently waiting for the Park Place, bike/pedestrian bridge over the Clackamas river to re-open.
I wrote here, why and when the bridge closed.
And, here, about its progress after seeing they have put a nice banner pointing to their website.
Though from up top, it has never appeared that anything has happened.

From below, looks like the old burnt wooden pillars are gone. Replaced with two nice simple concrete ones, at least on the south side.

Still not open……..

Popularity: 28% [?]

We are in a unique time where we can decide upon the design of two new bridges in Portland. Not new really, as they are replacements, but we have the opportunity to make them new, and interesting, and useful for many years to come.  It has been 30 years since a our last  significant bridge project (Sauvie Island bridge doesnt count as significant) and I hope we don’t let it slip by and build some nondescript flat deck concrete structure.  Dylan Rivera wrote a great article in the Oregonian, titled “Can we afford pretty?”  It is my hope that our new bridges add to the beauty of our area, like the St. Johns, not add to the web of concrete like the Marquam,  and George Abernathy. And of course, I want the bridges to be traversable by bikes.  Dylan’s article also included nice drawings of all the bridges that connect Oregon and Washington, and, as I looked at them, I began to think about which bridges can be crossed with a bike.
I dont have the graphics, but I can list them.

1. Interstate Bridge - The bicycle access  is not great, but stay on the sidewalk and you can make it across. A little narrow, and not what most would call safe or fun.  Perhaps a newer bridge will use some of the knowledge we have gained over the years, to make this trip a little safer and more appealing to bike riders for years to come.
2. Glenn Jackson - Easy access from the bike paths in Oregon, there is a path separated by concrete walls, between the North/South lanes.  Noisy, and can be very windy, but a safe ride. this is the newest bridge, and I think, the safest one to ride.
3. Lewis and Clark Bridge - I first rode this bridge with a buddy nearly 30 years ago. Since then, we have crossed it during the Seattle to Portland ride put on by the Cascasde Bicycle Club.  For the ride they had pace cars to accompany groups of riders. If I rode it solo again, I would stay on the sidewalk.
4. Astoria-Megler Bridge.  One very long bridge.  Again, I first rode this bridge on the return route from Canada, with my buddy so very long ago.  I don’t remember much about that ride over the bridge, but seems to me we might have walked on the sidewalk for part of that ride.  It was in the 70’s, and the term bike-friendly had not yet been invented.  Our last ride across this bridge was summer of 2008, with Cycle Oregon. We did ride on the roadway, in a white laned shoulder that has been slightly widened recently.  We were not escorted across, as I thought we might have been, but with so many riders on the road, the presence of a bike didn’t appear to surprise the drivers, so it at least felt safe. I dont know if I would want to ride that entire bridge if I were not in a group.
5. Bridge of the Gods - there is a nice 80 mile loop that includes the Glenn Jackson and the Bridge of the Gods.  There used to be a 50 cent toll, but I have heard that has since been rescinded.  Honey hates riding this bridge, as it is pretty high up, and the decking is steel grating, and at bike speed the grate seems to disappear when you look down, so all you see is the river far below. You do ride on the deck, in the lane, but the traffic is slower, you are pretty visible, the bridge seems short and the drivers are usually patient.
6. Hood River Bridge, The Dalles Bridge, Sam Hill Bridge and Umatilla Bridge. - I lump all these together, since I have not ridden my bike across them, nor am I sure you can even ride over them, safely or not.

I guess we will have to find out if riding a bike over these remaining bridge are at all possible.

Bike traffic is going to continue to increase in the years to come.  It would seem such a mistake if they are not adequately planned for with our new bridges.

Popularity: 37% [?]

Some time ago I wrote a post about these cool danish bike lights. Honey saw the post and took the bait.  That Christmas, Santa left me one set of the lights, thinking that if they were worthwhile, a set would appear for Honey as well. They have been on my commuter/rain bike since then.  Each time I get on the bike, they are there, consistently blinking.  They passed our test, proving to be bright, sturdy, dependable, and  maintenance free. We ordered some for Honey, choosing to get them installed by the daylight savings time darkness instead of waiting til Christmas.

Heres the box……..

The kit contains a front (red) and rear (white) light, brackets to hold the lights to the axles, and two magnets for each wheel that are installed just like installing the magnet for the cyclometer.

The bracket for Honeys bike required some additional reshaping since her touring style forks are a little wider.  The light had to be shifted farther inward, since there must be less than a quarter inch clearance between the magnet and the light.

My cyclometer is installed on the rear wheel as well and I found that it was in the same alignment as the light, and the addition of two more magnetic sensors to the odometer caused some really fast and false readings, so I had to rework the cyclometer a bit.

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It is much better to have the cyclometer on the front, so that they can be on opposite sides of the wheel such as on Honeys front.

It really only takes about 15 minutes to install, it is pretty simple and only requires one phillips screwdriver.

These lights are really an addition to the lights arsenal you need.  They are flashers, meant to make you visible, not to help you see the road. Plus, because they are mounted on the axles, they are a little low for maximum visibility. And, they will take a little adjustment when the tire is removed since they are held in place with the quick release levers.  But they are pretty bright, and once installed, you will never leave home without them.

Popularity: 41% [?]

On our recent ride in Gladstone and out Springwater corridor we found three bridges you cant yet use.

The first one is the still closed Park Place bridge in Gladstone, over the Clackamas River. My last post on this bridge was back in February, other than this festive looking banner, I cant see any  sign of activity related to fixing this bridge since that time. But, according to the site, www.riverhealth.org, ” Repair work on the 82nd Drive Bridge over the Clackamas River near High Rocks is expected to start in late July or early August. The bridge will reopen for public use by the end of 2008.” Hmmm, ok I gues I will have to go ride by again.

Then, we were out the Springwater, it was a clear and calm day, perfect for a ride. And we came across a construction project that has closed this bridge. Apparently the work is to repair the bridge, although it seems odd that the bridge would need maintenance repairs so soon.  Anyway there is a good detour that is well signed and really kind of a nice ride, and not an area you would normally ever see, so that was a good detour.

Also on the Springwater corridor, you can ride under the new light rail overpass just west of where you also ride under I-105.  Ok, this bridge isn’t closed as much as it is not yet finished and open. And, you can only ride over it if you are using the light rail, but still…..

Popularity: 42% [?]

Pearls before Swine may be one of the best comic strips published in “The Oregonian”. In this one, he again shows an odd penchant for Kentucky. I don’t know why that is.

Popularity: 44% [?]

When choosing fruit trees to plant, we wanted something other than the usual apple, or pear trees.  One of the trees we chose was a fig tree. Honey loves eating fresh  figs straight off the tree, but this tree produces too much fruit for that.  It started bearing the first year we planted it, and in fact produces two crops a year.  We figured this fall would be a good time to try to make jam from the surplus.  The trick for picking figs is to wait until they are very ripe and soft, and kind of droopy.  We haven’t had good luck in ripening them off the tree.  So, for now, we picked less than half the crop which gives us 2 dozen very ripe figs.

There are plenty of recipes on the Internet. In fact we got ours here, so I am not going to repeat it.  But is uses the usual stuff, pectin, lemon juice, and sugar.

Those 2 dozen figs, made 4 jars, and its pretty good stuff.

Popularity: 48% [?]

A late summer Oregon day, with no clouds, and no wind, seemed like the perfect day to go out to the Columbia Gorge to do one of the best bike rides in Oregon. That is the Columbia River Historic Highway trail, a smooth as glass, wide asphalt trail snaking under trees, hugging the rock guard rails and white beam fences that separate you from the cliffs overlooking the river.  It is our preference to go into Hood River, taking the Highway 35 exit from I-84 and head up to the Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead.  There is a small fee to park at the trail-head.  Alternatively you can park at the base of the hill and ride up.  Its a little steep and make sure you don’t park on private property. But hey, pay a couple of bucks to support the parks system or don’t use the rest rooms.  After visiting the visitors center you can immediately hit the paved trail and begin the ride.  The trail does have a few rolling ups and downs. Its not entirely flat like the railroad bed Springwater Trail, but it is not particularly challenging, since this ride is all about the riding, not the finishing.  After a few miles under the shade of the maples, the Mosier Twin tunnels emerge.

The first thing you see is the rock retaining system built to catch and stop boulders the size of SUVs, preventing them from falling off the cliffs and inflicting much damage to things on the trail.  If you look carefully, you will indeed see evidence along the trail of rocks falling and making large dents in the asphalt.  The rock retainer is not an original structure, but it does seem like a pretty good idea.

The tunnel is unique in that is has portals in it that provide unique views of the Columbia River.

At the end of the paved bike trail, you emerge onto the section of the Historic Highway that is open to cars as well.
At the stop sign, turn right and ride up the hill to the other Hatfield trail head.

At the end of the paved road, you will find the trail-head on the left, where there is also another parking lot and restroom.

The design of the highway is significant for many reasons. One of which was the desire to restrict the incline in order to make the drive more passable for cars of the era. As the sign shows, a ride through  the gorge that is limited to 5% is pretty nice. Although, I dont know what to do with the knowledge that the cross slope is only 2%.

After a downhill plunge into Mosier, the road and the views open up to wide vistas filled with orchards,  mountain sides, and the river. This road really isn’t used much for fast transportation. That kind of traffic prefers the interstate.  The traffic on this section of the road are either locals, or those people that are out on their motorcycles and convertibles, just so they can enjoy the ride.  These people are rarely a hazard for bike riders.

Continuing out the highway, about 11 miles from the end of the trail, you finish your climb up to Rowena Crest. Here is a great spot to soak in the sun and the views.

The other side of Rowena Crest, you can enjoy a fantastic descent through the switchbacks down to the river elevations.  This road will then take you out to The Dalles.  The Columbia River Interpretive Center is a great destination, to stop, look around, ride the trails down to the river, eat, use the restroom and then turn around to make the trip back.  I usually have my doubts about those guys that boast about how great their climbs are, but this climb is a very good one. From the base, you look up to Rowena Crest, and it appears intimidating. But you have to remember that 5-6% incline limitation and take solace in all those switchbacks, then just settle in and enjoy the climb.

Here we are heading back on to the trail, where the cars are not allowed.  Its nice to see the availability of the handicapped parking right at the end of the trail. And riders need to keep in mind that this trail is not only for bikes.

The trail really is one of the best rides in the state of Oregon, and we think fall is the best time to ride it.
A ride from Hood River to Rowena Crest and back is about 24  miles, continuing out to The Dalles will add about 22 to that total.  We finish the day with a meal in downtown Hood River, and that makes for a great weekend.

Popularity: 74% [?]

On  a recent weekend bike ride running errands, towing our wonderful burly cargo trailer we cruising up Belmont street.  At about 33rd and Belmont, we came upon this bike parking area on the street. Completely cordoned off from traffic, here is  a spot that once allowed for two parked cars, and at that time was accommodating 12 bicycles.  What an increased space efficiency that is! And, I am sure that it has held more bikes that  that at some time.  Still, it never held more than 2 cars.  More info on the bike parking from bikeportland.org

Popularity: 80% [?]