May 2009
Monthly Archive
May
29
From Farm to Sea
by Maxim in Rogue Brewery, Willamette Valley
The morning of Monday the 25th we packed our mules, took one last look at the Benton County Fairgrounds and headed back into Corvallis. The departure was more sweet than bitter.
We had spent the previous day riding from Salem to Corvallis. Luckily the Boohers live on top of a “mountain”, so it was not hard to ride with a belly full of sausage and french toast. We made our way from Salem through Derry, a town full of a dairy cows, along highway 99, south to Corvallis, home of the OSU Beavers. We spent our first couple hours eating and asking for directions to the coast. The locals engaged in a dialogue arguing between the two highways heading west, 20 and 34. After an hour or so the unanimous decision was reached. Both roads were suicide missions. So we took the advice from a man who appeared to have taken many a blow from years of traveling to “take the bus.” We found the bus station. It was closed but through the windows scuffed from neglect we could see on the chalk board Westbound bus – 2:45 pm. We now had to find a place to camp, get dinner and figure out how to fit our bikes on a bus in a box. There were two campgrounds, one “full of vagrants and transients” and the other was out at the fairgrounds. The guy who told us to take the bus also advised us to stay away from the fairgrounds, but we went against his word. We arrived at the fairgrounds and did not see a soul for a couple of hours, though there were campers and cars scattered throughout the sites. We slept well but with dreams soaked in carnivals and circuses.
As we headed in town we knew we had until 2:45 to catch our bus. We grabbed breakfast and posted up at the coffee shop. Emily edited some footage and I figured out how to get our bicycles on the bus. At 1 when it opened I went to the bus station to talk to someone about traveling with our loads. He said it depended on the type of bus and the drivers discretion, but that most likely we would have to box our bikes. Unfortunately the station sold none. I went to the bicycle shop in town and they gave us two huge bike boxes.
Knowing that this could be quite a process for us to figure out how to dismantle our bikes to fit in a box the width of 8 inches and it was already half passed 1, I rounded up Emily and our things and headed back to the shop to get our boxes. The station was across town from the shop so we attempted to load the boxes on top of our rigs. After 20 feet they fell off and a man with a trailer met us at the station.
Untitled from Spoke Your Mind on Vimeo.
Under pressure we were able to fit our bikes in the box just in time to see the semi-dilapidated bus roll into the lot and the driver hop out to catch a quick smoke.
Untitled from Spoke Your Mind on Vimeo.
He drove us over the hills on highway 20 and it was a good thing we took the advice because the road had no shoulder and the drivers drove with no compassion. We arrived in Newport safe and sound.
A half a mile away we rode to the Rogue Brewery to meet the people who were putting us up for the night. Ryan Klitz, aforementioned above, used to work for Rogue Nation and hooked us up with a free place to stay at the Rogue Bed and Beer. They treated us like family.We were given sweatshirts and our dinner and most of our beer was on the house. Thanks Rogue!
The next morning, tuesday the 26th, we woke and rode 56 miles to Florence on highway 101.
The salt air refreshed us and the contrast between it and the farmland breeze was delightful. Some people really felt it…
29
May
25
The Willamette Valley.
by Emily in Hosts, Willamette Valley
Our route took a shift as we waited outside Portland’s REI last Thursday, and a local biker spawned some convo and encouraged us to head through the “Valley” vs. straight to the coast. On top of that advice were my mother’s concerns for Memorial Day traffic, then Pinot Noir tasting popped into my thoughts and so it was- the Willamette. The ride was peaceful, full of agriculture including hop vines and clover fields. Despite the initial day taking us up an unforgiving “hill” called Pete’s Mountain- where I nearly called it quits as I cursed myself up after toppling over because of the incline- it was worth the breathtaking countryside.
The third day we finally ran into some vineyards and decided to stroll into Witness Tree. There was a holiday special going on with cheese and music, so we got pretty cozy after tasting all the selections. A couple approached us to ask about our bikes, and then they offered a place to crash in Salem. We took them up on it. Turns out Amy is a musician, both her and Clifton love wine, and they had a lab named Bella. We hit it off. Here is a family pic below:
May
24
May
19
We heart Portland.
by Emily in Add new tag, COYOD, Hosts, Portland
We arrived early in Portland, and are forcing ourselves to press south tomorrow. In two weeks we’ve stayed with 6 different hosts and really got around the town. The Oregon Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association’s staff is like our family now- Judy, Tracy, Melissa, Kate, etc. We got to attend both the HBO screening and Food for Thought, where we gave a little speech about our project, which naturally opened up more conversation with the people there. The connections are endless.
Speaking of connections- Rock Against Alzheimer’s crew is fabulous and we’re stoked we got to hang with them. Then there’s all the COYOD and people we’ve interviewed! We shot 4 stories, and yesterday interviewed specialists at the OHSU Alzheimer’s Center. While we were there, some guy approached us to ask about our bikes. Turns out he’s a COYOD. WTF? We’re going to hopefully connect with him today. We met a documentary filmmaker through a COYOD, and now she’s possibly down to join us for part of the trip…
Max and I are so grateful for all the people who let us bring our big loads into their homes. Our hosts deserve a very big shout out for enhancing our stay far beyond any expectations. Amy Dials- you brought us to pizza and the coolest McMenamin’s Kennedy elementary-school turned multi-pub and movie theater spot; Monica and Jeremy Sarant- thanks for connecting us with your friend at OHSU and taking us on a “little” joy ride of 40 miles; The Klitz’s- thank you for picking us up and making us instantly feel part of your amazing clan (see below for pic, Steve not pictured); The Dyer-Seeley’s- Kate, Gordy and Luke (and Dot and Sophie)- we love you!! As promised to Luke we will stop by 5-15 more times; Cassie and Omar- Stella, Petite Provencale and fun!; and our newest Portland friends Sam and Don- so happy we met Sam on the street, now we are in your home and we really dig you two.
We will miss Portland, but are getting excited for San Fran. And camping. A little time to digest it all and edit footage…
Max, Cyndi, Ryan and Sofi KlitzC
May
14
The Alzheimer’s Project – Oregon Chapter
by Maxim in COYOD
On Monday the 11th, we were invited to a showing of the first part of The Alzheimer’s Project on HBO. It was held at the Bridgeport Brewery, one of the many microbreweries in the city. With no where to go before it started we arrived 2 hours early. They were very nice and allowed us to store our bikes, trailers and panniers in the bike store room. The upstairs was reserved and people were pouring in. We met Kate Dyer-Seely, who enthusiastically introduced us to many COYOD, including Felicia Heaton and Rebecca Channer. We exchanged information and set dates to meet this weekend. We were also introduced to Kenny and Shakur, who are with the Rock Against Alzheimer’s. We met Mark, the president of the board, and he called his step son, Jake, whose mother has Young Onset Alzheimer’s, to come to the brewery. It was a huge success.
The feature was “The Memory Loss Tapes”, which Em and I had seen the previous night. Delighted not to have to go through the tough experience of watching this documentary two nights in a row, when Jake arrived we joined him in the bar to chat. We exchanged stories and he told his well. We were the first COYOD he had met and his mother was diagnosed many years ago. We talked through the end of the showing and went back in the room to finish up.
Cindy and Steve Klitz, who we planned to stay with for two days, came to the showing and afterwards took us to their humble abode. We will share the joys of that stay shortly…
May
10
Meet Moejoe Rider and Jeremy
by Maxim in Hosts
The man on the left wearing tie dye is named Steve aka Moe Joe Rider. He rode from Bainbridge Island (Seattle) to Portland. His route south was very similar to ours.
The man in the red is named Jeremy. He has opened up his house to us and we have been staying with him and his wife Monica.
Today Jeremy took us on a “short, maybe 30 mile ride” that lasted 40 miles. Along the route we came across Moe Joe. He seemed to be lost. So Jeremy went to help Moe Joe. Jeremy asked Moe Joe where he was coming from and the following conversation took place…
Jeremy: Where are you coming from?
Moe Joe: Seattle, specifically Bainbridge Island.
Jeremy: These guys (pointing to us) just rode down from Seattle too?
Moe Joe: Did they have BOB trailers?
Jeremy: Yeah!
Moe Joe: Whoa…I know them…I would stop in small towns on my way down from Seattle and the town folk would say that this couple was just here riding through town from Seattle pulling some trailers…
Jeremy: Well…come over and meet who you’ve been following.
May
9
9
Crossing the Columbia
by Maxim in
Friday May 8th, Emily and I woke up on the north bank of the Columbia River with ambitions to forge. We took to our bicycles and began to climb the Lewis and Clark bridge. The bridge carried us over the river, a much easier task than done previously by the pioneers for which the bridge is named. Nonetheless, the shoulder of the bridge was small and pieces of wood and bark blown from the passing logging trucks scattered our path. The wind blew with might, as did the trucks that roared passed us only feet away. The bridge not only brought us over the water but into the state of Oregon where we pedaled later that day into Portland.