Early morning hike up Spencer Butte

So, this morning my cohort and I set out very early, around 6am, to hike the biggest thing in these parts: Spencer Butte. I lived near it for over a year and never got the nerve to try it. She's done it, but from a different trailhead which she said seemed easier. With all the hiking and cycling we've been doing, we figured we could make it.  Elevation: 2054. Elevation gain from the trailhead: 1094. Distance (per the map) 2.1 miles.  My Fitbit says it was longer, but I'm not going to argue. It's steep and felt like forever. Our legs were shaky by the time we reached the top and it's been a long time since I've been so happy to see my car in the parking lot! My Fitbit says it was over 14,000 steps and it took us 2.7 hours. Her device said it was over 3 hours. I expect hers was more accurate, as it's a better device.

However, as promised the 360 views are superb, and it was a sunny morning with mild temps. Don't think I'll be doing it again any time soon, but I'm glad to have done it once. Heavily traveled -- lots of people by the time we headed back down the hillside.

Not the best composition, but with the glare on the screen of the iPad it's hard to see what I'm actually getting. Nice view, regardless.

Love the hovering clouds as we got closer to the top. Still a long hike from here, unfortunately. But beautiful.

Looking down to the north, with the UO campus beyond some residential areas in the 'foreground' and the Coburg Mountains in the distance, not far from where I live. If you look under the highpoint of that distant peak, then straight down, you'll see a couple of shiny objects just above the tops of the trees. The one to the left is the newly completed Hayward Field, now one of the finest T&F facilities in the world. The T&F Olympic trials were due to christen it this summer, but of course, won't. Next summer it's scheduled for some major International T&F event, which hopefully will happen. Along with the rescheduled Olympic Trials and lots of other events.  Just to the right of Hayward Field is the shiny dome of Matthew Knight Arena, where the BB teams play in a mini-NBA style arena.

One of many flights of stone steps that I mostly walked up monkey-style, on all fours. My legs were too tired to merely walk up them. These were just installed in 2015, and while I'm sure they make things easier for most people, compared to whatever was there before, they made it harder for me. Still, a lovely morning and, whining notwithstanding, a good hike.

Long bike rides and the world's best cheese

So -- after a week of relative inactivity [wet weather, and general laziness], went off with my neighbor on a really nice, long bike ride this morning. My favorite bike path [same one I took a few weeks back that really kicked my butt and took me up the dreaded Roosevelt Hill], but this time my body had more energy, was stronger overall, plus she knows the way home that takes us around that damned hill.  Longest ride yet -- a little over 20 miles, 2 hours and 33 minutes. And I feel great afterwards. Plus, all those calories burned lets me eat a bit more than usual, while still keeping my diet app happy.  Speaking of diet.... there's this:

My local market keeps a little basket in their cheese shop where they put small 'leftover' bits of cheeses at tiny prices, for tiny pieces. I scour it every time I'm there, because often there are bits of favorite cheeses, or cheeses I've never tried, from around the world. All of them are cheeses I could never afford in even the smallest wedge they have pre-wrapped in the counter -- $40-50/lb. kinds of cheeses.

There's one in particular I always look for in that basket, but until Friday have never found. But there, like two radiant jewels, were two bits of Rogue Creameries Rogue River Blue, from Southern Oregon! I grabbed them fast, checking with the counter attendant first to be sure they were what I thought they were. Some months ago this cheese was named the best cheese in the world at some prestigious event, and of course at $50/lb. it's way beyond my budget. Plus they were sold out of it for awhile, but they told me a couple of months ago that they'd gotten some more, same batch. And this, my friends, is it. I have to say, it lives up to its reputation.

I've had other of the Rogue Creamery blues [from the basket] in recent months, all utterly delicious, and without tasting side-by-side can't say that this one is that much better, but at least now I've tasted it, two wee pieces with my evening wine, two nights in a row. Creamy, a bit salty, tons of flavor I don't have words to describe, all of them good. I'm a happy camper.

The day after.....

After two 20-mile rides within the span of six days, I think that overall I'm going to be better off not pushing that distance on my next ride. I feel fine, but was jazzed from the ride, didn't sleep well, and have been very tired and lazy all day today. Wiped out! Same thing happened after the previous ride. I should have turned around in Coburg, not gone for the extra 4 miles. That would have been sensible, and age-appropriate. But when have I been either?

Of course, this ride was much easier than the first, big hill notwithstanding. I'm just building my conditioning and strength and it may be that after these first two, I could easily do more. But I think I'm going to try an easier/shorter ride next time. Even two hours would probably be easier, as the first two were about 2 hrs 20 minutes each.

Whatever. I hate the term and need to be 'age appropriate'. It galls me, but reality bites, and needs to be faced. The good news is that aside from being tired, my body is strong, joints don't hurt, muscles feel fine. I've always had the need to push myself this way. Not just to push myself, but more a matter of impatience, wanting to get to the good part and skip the boring part.

This is all moot, in a way, since we're not forecast for another clear day until next Friday. I can get some good morning walks in here and there, probably, but no likely bike rides.

Be well, everybody. Stay safe. Personally, I'm walking around everywhere with a mask on and have some hand sanitizer in my car for use after being inside any kind of retail store. And I stay well away from people I encounter on the sidewalks when I walk.

Biking between rainy days

Another clear and sunny day today, so off I went on the bike again. New helmet and all. Really wanted the open road, so I headed north to the little town of Coburg, where I lived for a couple of months before moving in here.

Google said it was 8 miles, and they [and my bike computer] were spot on. I felt fine, so opted to ride on through town to a nice loop I used to ride that goes through farmlands, orchards, some modest rural residential and a couple of newer, modern 'spreads' with fancy iron gates. Just under a 3 mile stretch that added about 4 miles total to my ride.

Hardest part of the ride was the part getting to/from Coburg Road from here. Too many city streets and stop lights. But then I was free and clear and able to move the bike fast [fast for me, which is not fast for most folks]. But I love those sprints, those times where I just pedal as fast as I can until I slow down naturally. Always have.

I was a bit pooped when I got home, 20 miles, 2 hours 23 minutes later, but ----- NO JELLY LEGS! Of course, no Roosevelt Hills, either, but a couple of highway overpasses and some other grades along the way.  Plus a headwind that was a bit unfriendly here and there, especially coming home. And a lot better average speed.  8.4 compared to 7.7 on Sunday.

Of course, I've done nothing substantial since I got home -- eating and chilling. Oh, and I ordered a thick sheepskin cover for the bike seat, because after those 2 hours my behind was sore, and I need to put an end to that problem. Not sure it'll fit the bike, but if it doesn't I can return it. And order a custom cover for about 4 times the cost of this one. Photo from 1983 in Colorado, but note the sheepskin seat cover. The trip up Loveland Pass that day was a day trip, so most of my gear was back at the campground and not nearly as impressive as say, this one. Fully loaded, but can't see the seat.

Cheers, all. Stay healthy.

Jelly-legs

Whew! I'm still alive and -- other than my legs feeling like jelly at the moment -- well.

Decided to take the bike out for a long ride today, one I've done many times but not since maybe 2006.  I wasted about 20 minutes trying to find the right trail off the main riverfront bike path, and then on through the western edge of town to another bike path that goes west. By this time, I was already feeling a bit tired, but I knew I could do it so I kept on and finally arrived at the best part of the trail which goes through meadows and wetlands and is generally quite peaceful. These photos are from a walk along part of the trial that Adam and I took a couple of years ago.

The trail also goes alongside this creek for a good part of the way. This is Amazon Creek, which has its start in the south hills near where I used to live. It's more of a slough, really, as it goes through town. But out here along the path (Fern Ridge Path) it's more wild. Usually lots of herons and other wildlife along here. And often, wildflowers.

I'd intended to return the way I came, as I've done in the past, but by the time I reached an optional trail that takes a right turn and heads back toward home, I decided that might be the best way to go because yes, my legs were still tired and would not put a lot of effort into the whole adventure. I'd never taken this route before, but my neighbor that I hike -- and sometimes bike -- with takes it all the time. I didn't remember just how she gets home once that trail ends and then it's necessary to ride on rather busy roads. But I knew I was going the right direction and could find my way home.

She was talking about this path the other day, mentioning some turns that she took that avoided the 'Roosevelt hill', but of course I didn't remember all those details so I ended up having to ride up that dreaded hill, which is rather a doozy. I've avoided hills of any kind since I've had this bike, because I wasn't sure of 1) my legs, and 2) just how low the lowest gear of this bike is. I made it up, slowly and a bit wobbly. Then had to take a left turn and ride another busy road that I prefer to avoid (actually, it wasn't all that bad) while looking for the road that would take me back to the river trail. I saw signs to a couple of them, but wanted a specific one. And then I saw a sign for the last bike bridge that crosses the river and knew I'd gone too far. I live near that bridge, so it was fine, but it's another place I've avoided because of the grade on both sides to get to the top of it. Made that one, too, even with jelly-legs. Turns out, the road I was looking for doesn't connect with this specific stretch of the busy road I was on. Now, I know.

Legs are still jelly, but at least I'm no longer fearful of some of these moderate hills around here that I've been avoiding.  My sweet new bike computer says that total time was 2 hours, 33 minutes, 19.69 miles. Average speed was only 7.7 mph, which is embarrassing, but that includes plenty of city streets and a few stops to turn around, etc. Really, I need to get that up!

All in all -- jelly-legs not withstanding -- it was a good morning. And knowing that I can do some hills has opened up all kinds of new places to go that I've been avoiding.