To Those Who May Have Missed Me
To Those Who Might Have Missed Me at the Sunday Ride:
I was there. Not in spirit, like someone sitting with coffee and a waffle at the kitchen table thinking cheerful thoughts for a hearty bundled-up peloton. No, I was there in the wind-chapped flesh. Only I was a half mile across the highway, a half hour late, and in an industrial park of misery.
For brevity’s sake, let’s call that Hillsboro.
In retrospect, I can see I was ill-prepared. It wasn’t what I didn’t bring – I brought my earnest intentions, a buttered muffin, and a Max ticket. . . It was what I failed to leave behind that did me in. I deboarded at Orenco Station with the useless assumption that NW 231 st surely mustn’t be too far from NW 235th, where you were all waiting cozily to begin your ride. I set out, at 13 minutes to nine, to find the next block, orient myself, and head your way. After five minutes, it became clear that the street grid was pocked with condos in the way you might imagine a really rough patch of the space time continuum to be pocked with black holes. I sought a native guide, a woman with an eager terrier and a snappy jogging outfit. Her directions were confident, her hand gestures were vigorous, and she shouted over the sounds of wind and traffic “head that way, you’ll see signs!”
Yes I did. I saw signs for HWY 26, a tile warehouse, Ocean Beaches, any number of likely contractors for the US Defense Department and the garage door opening industry. I squinted into the sun, and like a dog circling three times before settling down for a nap, I circled around and around before settling down into a serious funk.
I wanted an urban planner. I wanted an explanation. I could have been dropped into the middle of Paris and gotten directions from a mime troupe with better results. Or at least found my way to a cafe au lait, a pain au chocolate, a bon jour!
I pulled the phone from my jacket and called home. Austin consulted the internet, and I was once again on my way. But by the time I arrived at the Longbottom Coffee and Tea, it was 9:47 and you were gone. The Portland Velo ten o’clock ride and a group of triathletes were milling about speaking breezily of recovery zones and electrolytes, so I pointed myself into the wind, and headed toward the hills.
It was too late in the game to trade up my patch kit for a suitcase of courage. I would like to report a certain pluckiness or determination to make the best of the situation, but over the course of the next three hours, there were down trees and wrong turns. And, as long as we are being honest here, there may have been a roadside tantrum of sorts, either the cause or the result of a pair of day-glo polar fleece mittens blown down the road like a pair of addled tumbleweeds. But we don’t talk about that anymore.
At long last, Austin met my arrival with embraces, declarations of love, and a grilled cheese sandwich. We took a trip to Stumptown Coffee just to be sure that both body and spirits were restored. (Mocha, lots of whip.)
So this is just to say that I tried, and that I would still love to go for a ride.
Next Sunday? Maybe someplace closer in perhaps?
we surely missed you! Next Sunday (2/15) is going to be the Three Prairies 200km Permanent, starting out of Newberg (me and Cecil, but not Beth). We’d love to have you ride along. If you wanted to be official, you’d have to join RUSA and get your app into Susan F. right quick. But you can ride along – we just can’t let you help us fix anything that breaks or flats :-)
Damn! I knew there had to be a good explanation – I am so sorry. We sure did miss you. Like Lynne said, if you are up for a 200K, it would great of you joined us this Sunday (just so you know, I will probably be riding it very, very slowly because in Saturday I plan to do an all-out, wind-sucking ride with PV . . . assuming it doesn’t snow)
Oh dear… I DO understand.
For the uninitiated East-sider (like me, for instance), Hillsboro is a series of little cluster**ks, laid out in completely random order. I’ve heard rumors that buildings in Hillsboro actually DO move around at night, rendering your latest map and any sense of direction useless the next morning.
Really sorry to have missed you. I KNOW we’ll do this again eventually.
I am **contemplating** the 100km Snoozeville on March 14 (gotta check in and make sure Liz hasn’t planned something first), and if I do you’re invited to come along and join me. If you do it at my snail’s pace it’ll be a “recovery” ride for you. And it’s a 100k, so you don’t have to join RUSA or anything. Just pre-register at the OrRando web site and show up.
Otherwise, I’m planning a Gresham loop out Marine Drive way for sometime in March, complete with a stop at Jazzy Bagel before looping back along the Springwater. Another mellow ride, brought to you by the queen of mellow riding. Probably AFTER Snoozeville, lemme know if you’re up for it.
Thanks, guys! I am a really great candidate for slow, not very long rides these days. Especially ones which feature pastries and coffee prominently :)
My marathon training and hauling the 60lb dog to and from work everyday has given my cycling legs the ol’ one-two punch. The Eugene Marathon is the first weekend of May, and after that, rando has my heart, lungs, and legs!
i’m always up for a slow, not very long ride including coffee and pastries. and i don’t have the “marathon training” excuse.
Sounds like we’ve got the makings of a ride, here! I have a particular fondness for the Grand Central Bakery Jammer… just sayin’…
Success!
Please share your experiences soon.
Meanwhile, your new Topeak pump awaits at my desk.