A Funny Thing Happened...

A funny thing happened today on our way to Multnomah Falls, not funny Ha Ha, but funny kind of weird. Anyone who rides out the Old Scenic Highway expects to have a mostly solitaire ride mixed in with a few Freds (club riders who don't realize they have no business on a race quality bike while wearing a Livestrong kit) and a couple cars every so often. On a glorious weekend such as this one, one would expect to have a moderate increase in cyclist and a little more than moderate increase in automobile traffic. Typically the imagery would be something along the lines as I have pictured bellow.

(Random person on a bike on the Scenic Highway)

Today, however, my riding companions and I were shocked to find ourselves in the middle of a Cat 1/2 friendly ride. It looked something more along like this...

(Cherry Pie Cat-3 Field, photo from Pat Malach of Oregon Cycling Action)

To say the least it was quite out of the ordinary to run into a couple dozen of the top riders from the Portland metro (including at least one local pro) having a friendly duke out on the highway. While we mixed in for a little while, we were more or less chauffeured to the back of the group and given the impression that we should stay more or less on the back where we wouldn't get in the way. While this may seem a bit strong, it is actually common procedure for visitors of a group ride to hang on the back out of the way. Either way we were thankful for the free draft, high speeds, and quick arrival to our destination. I must say it's refreshing to see how smoothly the top riders move in a tight group in comparison to the clown like carnage inducing hell that is cat-4 racing.

After a brief snack and arm stretch, we turned our bikes back towards Portland and began the slog back up to the top of Crown Point. Again to our pleasant surprise, we found ourselves feasting on another strange sight. A large caravan of Volkswagen Camper Vans and Buses along with some beautiful classics and some stranger less common vehicles. I think I counted around 20 VWs all worth taking a long glance at. Very Cool.

(Not from the group, but representative of what we saw)

Last but not least, I have had another job interview with similar results to the first one, no job offer. This one was with what I would consider to be my largest competitor in my current position.


While there was no job offer at the end of the interview, I was received very positively and I found out a couple weeks later, that shortly after my interview the position was put on hold due to "Business Needs." Typically when a job is put on hold due to business needs at large companies in the middle of interviews, it means there is a temporary hiring freeze. I have emailed with the job recruiter and she has indicated that she will be in touch with me once the freeze has been lifted so I am keeping a positive attitude on the mater and hoping for the best. So hopefully in the near future things will become Jobtastic!

A Day in Heaven and a Day in Hell!

Today I was finally able to get back out to Multnomah Falls via bicycle on the cascade scenic Hwy. If you've never been I highly recommend it, hands down one of the most beautiful and enjoyable bicycle rides in our fair state of Oregon. An added bonus, as being the earliest visit I have made, there were numerous named and unnamed waterfalls that I have never seen before and all of the major waterfalls were in full bloom. Along the beautiful 30+ miles to Multnomah Falls I also encountered the Vista House, although I didn't stop to appreciate the view.

Now it is time for Lunch and then a brisk walk up to Mt Tabor with a well deserving Kona. This day exemplifies why I moved to Oregon and cannot return to the Desert. Don't get me wrong, I love Arizona and it has it's own beauty, but not many places can compete with Western Oregon.

The true reason for my ride out to "The Falls" was to more or less kick off my training for an assault on Mt Dooley a little less than 10 weeks from now. I have scientifically analyzed the stage and have established my plan of attack. That attack requires 1500 training miles and 10 lbs of weight cutting. For those who are numerically challenged 150 miles / 1lb a week. Unfortunately Monday I was shut down by a freak hail and thunder storm so I have another 80 miles to put in this week. Looks like 10 on Tabor tomorrow evening and 70 Saturday morning!

If you think that 1500 miles seems like a lot, take a gander bellow and then think about it.

Yeah, 6000 Ft of Climbing and 100.3 miles!