Rickreal Open, Day 1. Thursday...

This was not planned as the first day of the Rickreal Open. The main plan was to get over to Disco's house by late afternoon evening, barbecue with the families and relax. The get up around 9a.m. and ride down there.

Instead, I get a call from Disco around 1p.m. He tells me he is in a hotel room in Hermiston, drinking a bottle of wine and watching the Tour. I immediately realize that this changes the whole plan. Spence and Shelly are riding down with us, but are conveniently out of phone reach on the Rogue River. or at least on the way back.

What to do, what to do? I pretty much know instantly what I have to do, and call El Dupe to let him know I am on my way to Rickreal.



By 3p.m. I am leaving the compound by dirt trail, a nice downhill, then onto the country roads.
I needed to meet Mason downtown around 5, which is quite a ways from where I started. I crossed Vancouver fairly uneventfully, and fast. I was already growing concerned about ending my ride in the dark, but decided to press on regardless.

I got to Downtown Portland by 5:15, met him quickly, and then head off down the road again.
I didn't stop much after downtown.

I had a cup of coffee in Sherwood. I have been carrying around these little foil packs of organic espresso called "Black Gold", and finally decided to try one out. I hobbled into a Starbucks and pilfered (or asked for) some hot water, and made a nice Americano. This combined with a safety meeting made for smooth rolling.

I didn't stop again until I got to Newberg. This was only for cigarettes. The guy working there suggested maybe I get some water or something, but he obviously didn't understand the grasp of the situation at hand.

The sun is going down. I have no time for water, or anything else for that matter. It was Rickreal or Bust.

I drafted a truck all the way through and past Lafayette, as it was a full size but empty flat bed semi tractor trailer rig. He knew I was there, and this was a welcome pull at this stage of the game.

I flew through Mc Minnville, and hit a strong head wind North of Amity. This picture was taken while rolling out just South of Amity.


Sunset Self Portrait

I arrived at the farmer family Farm at around 10 p.m. Thursday night. There was great surprise when I walked into the house, as no one believed I would make it that night. Especially so far out.

The last 2 1/2 miles were the gravel of Farmer Rd. I can tell you this much, gravel, pitch (as in country oh my god it is dark!) dark, and front bags do not mix, and if it weren't for the still German made Continental Grand Prix's I am running, I never would have made it.

I woke up the next morning to find my rear tire flat. It held out that whole time.
I love Continentals!

More on The Rickreal Open to follow.....

Lilly rides her bike for the first time.

And a mere two hours after removing the training wheels....




You can see by the shakiness of my one handed video shooting that the ground she is riding on is not very smooth at all. And my off kiester breathing technique is quite too apparent.

Random Pictures......Random Captions.

Damage to R. Kelly, and to his front wheel from a recent midnight "Ditch Style" misson.
I believe it was a combination of two different wrecks

More Water Racing...
4th of July Water race


This is Sydney, my sister's dog. She was found on the streets of Battleground. I heard my sister picked her up, put her in the car. She said she stayed with her all day, and even went to a rehearsal for a play that night. Sydney has been around ever since. You could not ask for a better dog .
Jaxon runs around the bases, even though there is no game going on.
Lilly playing guitar hero.


This little deer was hanging out on the compound.


Beefa, Sophia, Sandy, and part of Spence's head.


Pulling another one out of the cage.


Beefa and "The Littlest Beefa" enjoy some Frisbee golf in Pier Park.

Captain Spence caught "Going Coconuts"

Monday afternoon ride

Killer Combine in Rickreall. Is it safe even at Mud branch Farm?

I am planning on riding my bike on down to Rickreall today sometime. I don't know if I will take this routing for sure, but here is the general idea.


So after checking out possible routing, I did what any normal person does before doing something and I googled it.

Not such a good idea, for I am now scared to death of going.

It appears a combine with a taste for flesh is running rampant in Rickreall. This machine is blamed for a fatality 5 years ago, and had not been moved since that day.

Until yesterday, when a boy and his father were moving it to be scrapped. It sounds like the boy was riding standing up in the cab, leaning against the windshield, when the window let loose, sending the boy into the churning blades below.


Can you say possessed combine? I knew you could.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/07/rickreall_boy_dies_in_farm_acc.html