Wandering Oregon

Summer is always filled with wandering and adventuring :'-)

A mere week after returning home from our three week stay in Nice, France (the beautiful Riviera), we took off for another trip. We drove down to Eugene, Oregon with our Bike Fridays for some minor (and pricey) repairs at the factory where they are made (Green Gear).

During our two day stay, Susan (of course) found and scoured a book store. The (somewhat outdated) Road Biking Oregon told us of the Vernonia-Banks bike trail that was paved for the first seven miles where we would turn around and return, making it a fourteen mile outing. We carried through with our plan to drive most of the way up the beautiful Oregon coast, then headed inland for a bike ride on the trail. The previously unpaved part of the trail is now paved, and the whole thing was finished this past October. We felt that we could not not do the entire trail, so our planned fourteen miles became (with a few detours) forty five miles.

Yes, a rail trail, but no, not totally flat! We crept slowly up the gentle (and long) incline to steep switchbacks midway in the trail. The sign said steep switchbacks - walk bikes down!. We found no real need to walk our bikes, but I swore there were at least six switch backs -- with very tight turns -- and so perseverated on the climb back UP.

A beautiful trail through forest, fields, pastures and farm houses - and very few people. Susan assured me (the skeptic of wild food) that the cherries she picked from the trailside trees were not poisonous. And indeed the small red fruit were juicy and sweet. A brief stop at the Slub Stewart Visitor Center for our snack lunch, and we were ready for the second half of the trail -- downhill from here ;'-) -- until our return for the slog up the "gentle" incline that lasted forever while I continued to dread and fear those ten (the number had grown) steep switchbacks. As usual (Susan points out) I worried more than needed! Turns out there are two (2) switchbacks and the turns are not nearly as tight as my brain had imaged! Making it up that hill was not too difficult. How the mind can trick and trap you! I suppose the saying should be matter over mind -- at least mine ...