Bell's Mountain Trail

Team WRECK made it to Bell's Mountain for the first time on Sunday. This was Dabby's legendary "swimming hole trail" and it proved difficult, painful and rewarding. We completed a 7.2 mile out and back with a short spur to Clear Creek Campground. So ~15 miles took us 4 hours 3 minutes. Either we're getting slow or this was a hard trail. We spent a lot of time walking on the ups but the downhills more than made up for it.







It's too bad this photo is all misty or foggy, it was a good capture of Drew endoing into a puddle. Hey Mary Lou, can you do anything with this in photoshop? Maybe add an outline to Drew's figure and increase the contrast or something? It might make an ideal Team WRECK logo.

Drew dropping in.



Dabby looks scared here, and he should be. Like most of the trail this section was steep and had lots of rocks and slippery roots.


These are not bicycle tracks. Violation!

While waiting for Dabby at the top (he rode up saying "mechanical, mechanical" which I think is code for "out of shape") Drew noticed this huge pile of logs which he theorized might be the work of Giant Land Beavers.

schedule changes

The Rickreall Open has been moved up one week to July 13-15. Mostly to avoid a conflict with Messman's polo tournament the following weekend and also so Beefa (champion of the inaugural Open) can attend. Beefa and Disco are leading a crew that is riding down around noon on Friday. I'll post the meeting place when I find out. Knowing Disco the pace will be relaxed and the route will include stops at a few wineries.

Also please note the Mckenzie River trip scheduled for June 22 has been postponed. In a moment of weakness I let C. Murder talk me into being his team mate for some stupid 24 hour alleycat. Don't even bother registering because Team WRECK/Murder has the grand prize pretty much locked down. You would just be wasting your time.

photographic evidence

Inspired by Dabby, here are some recent photos :


This is what Team WRECK is all about.

Dabby almost made it but the dog was in the way.




Still life featuring Dabby's heat rash, victorian ankle brace and some beef jerky I gave him out of pity.



Natty cooling off her feet in Stebbins Creek.






Lucky taking a picture of a butterfly.



I made it up this switchback for the first time ever, with a little sideways bunny hop move in the middle. Personal Record!




The garden is growing rapidly. I'm very happy with the seeds I got from Baker Creek




My nascent vineyard. The posts are cherry trees that were knocked down by the latest oak to fall in the woods. At nine feet long they were too heavy to carry and too big to fit on the cart so I tied a slip knot into one of Jaden's ropes and drug them out, digging a furrow across the lawn.




Interlaklen table grapes, courtesy of B&K. I helped them plant about 70 over at their place.



One of my posts is trying to become a tree again. I hope it succeeds.



I'm not sure what these plants are but they look good together, my mom had a real flair for garden design.

MTB fever

Team WRECK's next excursion is Sunday June 17. Mary Lou is guaranteed a seat as he was left out last time. The other 3 reservations go to the first 3 teammates to cough up $5 for gas.
If it's sunny we'll go to Bell's Mountain Trail and swim at Moulton falls. If it's cold or rainy we'll go to the Wilson River East.
Meet at the Polo Haus by 9am for a 9:30 departure. Seriously. I'm going to be on time and ready to go (unlike last week) and you should be too.

Summer

Mountain bike ride
This Sunday, June 3rd, Team WRECK returns to the trails. Meet at Belmont Stumptown/Cowboy's Haus by 8:30 for a 9:00 (sharp) departure. As always the destination is decided by gas money contribution. $1 =1 vote. Possibilities include Brown's Camp, Scappoose, Bingen, Mary's Peak, 3 Corner Rock, Lewis River, Surveyor's Ridge, Fifteen Mile Creek, etc. If it's still hot we could work in a post ride swimming trip.

The Hood Rat Classic

Team WRECK continued it's road biking ways this weekend with an epic ride over Lolo Pass.



My Vanilla had to spend the night alone in one of the unfinished condos that Mace and Junko are working on in Hood River.

Our first stop was just down the hill to 10 Speed Coffee where we had some weird, microwaved pita wrap things. A liberal application of Tapatio made them palatable. The 10 speed did offer comfy chairs and knowledgable staff. They had all ridden up the pass before and let us know their favorite routes.



It was a little breezy in the lower valley but the ride through the endless orchards was beautiful.

I'm looking forward to seeing Mace's photo of this old barn. He walked over to a better viewpoint and was probably shooting in black and white. (and holding the camera straight.)


Checking out the barn.

We did most of our miles on FR 1810, a one lane road that seemed more like a footpath at times.




I guess they were serious about that "road closed" sign. We clambered over but Dabby's support car had to turn around.


Taking a break on the washout.





Near the top the road turned to gravel and there was some snow.

After waiting for Mace at the pass we enjoyed an awesome 10 mile descent to Zigzag. We all had big smiles on our faces at the bottom but by this point my stupid camera batteries were dead. So no photos of the hilarity that ensued later that evening, and no proof that we witnessed that rarest of sights, a hornet decapitating a manatee.

Grass Flat Track

Chevil's Grass Flat Track series continues tonight and every other Wednesday. May 30, June 13, June 27 etc. Meet at Amnesia on Mississippi by 7pm.



Video by Dabby. Not the most dynamic footage but I like it because it shows me in front. Though I'm sure that's exactly where Chevil wanted me to be at that moment.

The Rickreall Closed

Drew in Newberg.



Building Brady's bike. We got a late start (surprise!) in part because Brady showed up with a new bike in pieces, and they didn't all fit together. Eventually Brian had the bright idea that we should put the new bike on the car and assemble it at our leisure and Brady could ride his track bike down.


I suggested a Lemans start but no one was into it.


Following Peaches over the Hawthorne



Fixing another flat.



Brett and Mason in a heated discussion.



The Ringer and a field of clover.


This was a familiar view, Drew was at the front a lot. Note the pint of whisky in the jersey pocket.



That's me!


The wind made it a much harder ride than it should have been. Here we see Team World Courier utilizing the echelon formation.



Poor Natty was stuck in the car with Dabby all day.




Mason on the Wheatland Ferry.



Backward circles on the ferry.


A magical strech of road through Spring Valley.


Mason goes back to look for Tommy.



A pioneer graveyard on Oak Grove Rd.





Spooky.



"Where am I and how did they make this road?!?"



Mmmmm, corned beef.



Brady in repose.



Building Brady's bike, part 2.



Sensei and Grasshopper.

The Hood Rat Classic

My boy Mace, a long time Team WRECK member, is throwing an event in Hood River May18-20. We're driving out Friday night for a party in HR then riding Saturday morning up the old Lolo Pass Road (which Mace is pretty sure is mostly paved) over Mt. Hood to a cabin near Welches. It's only about 45 miles but there may be some climbing involved. Everyone is welcome, let me know if you want to reserve a seat on the team bus.

UPDATE : It looks like Beefa might get the green light to accompany us this weekend so this could qualify as a Deathmarch...we'll see.