With the threat of an incoming storm, I packed up and prepared to strike out for McMinnville, 48 miles to the southwest. But first I got a picture of Sarah as she was leaving for work (She's a school teacher.) with the girls:
Initially, the weather was okay; a few drops but mainly just cloudy.
Just before the town of Sherwood, I stopped at Willamette Valley Cyclery to see about getting a bit of oil on my chain, which was starting to get squeaky. Earl was very friendly and helpful and we chatted a bit about bike touring. Thanks Earl!
Leaving WVC Bicycles, the rain started. And gusts of headwind. It was nasty.
But, soaking wet, 5 hours later I was in McMinnville at a nice old hotel called Hotel Oregon. The main floor of the hotel is a McMenamins pub and after that ride and changing into dry clothes, settling into a booth there with food, coffee and wine was almost bordering on ecstasy.
What's making these cold, miserable, wet rides almost worth it is what has become the nearly transcendent pleasure of changing into dry clothes and consuming (warm!) food and drink.
Tomorrow I'll leave for Lincoln City.
I'm jealous of the extreme ride followed by warmth/food/drink. Much better than the 9-5 grind.
ReplyDeleteI miss Irie Sarah and Ruah.
ReplyDeletefrom;Izzy