Roger`s Ramblings COME TO THE OCTOBER BIKE CLUB

COME TO THE OCTOBER BIKE CLUB MEETING
Newsletter of Santiam Spokes, Inc. • Volume 14, No. 1 • October 2005
Roger's Ramblings
Roger Gaither, President 2005-06
We're Fortunate
We're going to have a good year. I'm
proud to serve with such a great board. Al
will lead in scheduling programs and
assume the reins in my absence. Dennis
will continue keeping us in balance as
treasurer. May will chronicle our meetings
and attend to correspondence and other
secretarial essentials. Kari will inform us
beautifully every month as editor of
"Outspoken." She will also provide
glowing designs for the Century and more.
Larry will manage and update our web
site, and he will also manage our
membership roster. Charles will be our
publicist. Bill will accumulate artifacts and
news from today to chronicle our history.
Tim will manage our great Strawberry
Century. And our most important board
members, Mary Ellen and Ron, will
organize and orchestrate our rides.
We owe many words of thanks and
praise to those who were stewards of the
club this past year. I say loudly here,
"Thanks to each of you for your hard
work and dedicated leadership." But we
can't let them slip so quietly as that into
the wallpaper, so be sure to come for the
surprises and excitement of the awards
meeting that Mary Ellen is planning for
October 6. I don't know what is planned
(on purpose), but I do know that it will
be fun!
The Year Ahead
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6 AT 7 P.M.
Our bike club year begins in October. Newly elected officers
have ideas and energy to help our club launch a successful year.
This first meeting of the year is devoted to closing the past year
with a fun time of laughter and serious thought as we reminisce
together. You will hear many thank yous to club members as they
are recognized for their contributions to the Santiam Spokes and
for leading and supporting biking events. It is the hope of our
incoming and outgoing officers that all club members will come to
share this special meeting with us. Park in the lot at the back of
Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. As you come in the
The Rides: We're going to schedule a
variety of rides selected to appeal to all
riding levels. Many of our rides focus on
events or have become tradition: for
instance the Cemetery Ride at Halloween,
Lamb & Wool Fair, DaVinci Days,
Summit Festival, our potluck/progressive
rides, the Covered Bridge event, etc.
These will be scheduled first. Then we'll
schedule other Saturday rides starting
from several locations of moderate length
and difficulty usually with a lunch
destination. These will reflect the season
with more difficult rides chosen for the
peak of summer when we are usually most
fit. We'll also schedule some shorter, easier
rides perhaps on Sunday afternoon or at
1
continued on page 2
back entrance, the meeting room is off the back foyer. Come
and share in a time of celebrating and rewarding our many
members who helped us experience a terrific year of biking over
the Willamette Valley and far beyond.
Club Information
Santiam Spokes is a recreational bicycling club for cyclists of all ages & abilities. The
Willamette Valley offers wonderful roads through beautiful farmland with plenty of hills
nearby. We ride weekly Saturday year-around plus other times during the dryer
months. Club meetings are normally each month the first Thursday at 7:00 PM at the
conference center of Lebanon Community Hospital. See Outspoken for specifics. The
public is invited to the rides & meetings. 2005/6 Club officers are: Membership >
Larry Fratkin, 503-526-3977; President > Roger Gaither, 503-394-3696; VicePresident > Allen Randall, 541-258-8186; Ride Captains > Mary Ellen Lind, 541-7388600 & Ron Kropf, 541-451-4446; Secretary > May Garland, 503-394-3696;
Treasurer > Dennis Murphy, 541-738-8600; Historian > Bill Pintard, 541-967-3295;
Newsletter > Kari Kropf, 541-451-4446; Publicity > Charles Taylor, 541-258-1850;
Web Master > Larry Fratkin, 503-526-3977. Membership information and form are
posted on our web site (santiamspokes.org), or call any of the officers.
Continued from page 1
other times during the week when you are
interested in participating. We'll be asking your
opinion. And above all, we are interested in your
inventiveness in coming up with variations on
existing rides or totally new ones. The door is
wide open for you to reinvent our rides.
job. If we can have 12-16 leaders on this team,
each of us will be responsible on average for one
ride every three or four months. This is very
doable and riding is what the club is about
anyway. Please consider joining the ride leader
team when you are asked.
We'll make a gallant effort to describe the rides
fully in "Outspoken", on the web site, and new
this year through an e-mail update each week to
everyone for whom we have an e-mail address.
This will reflect the latest information about the
ride(s) scheduled for the weekend.
Meetings & Programs: A major purpose of our
meetings is to visit so I'm going to build in more
time in a slightly different format to facilitate our
catching up with each other each meeting. The
Board will meet every month before the general
meeting to consider the routine business of the
club: we'll report out those items we all need to
discuss. But I'll manage the business portion of
our meetings as efficiently and succinctly as is in
keeping with the topics we need to cover.
Key to effectiveness of this e-mail update
approach is that we need to have everyone's
current address. Please check yours on the roster
via the club web site, or just to be sure, send me a
simple or blank e-mail. My e-mail is
[email protected]. Thanks very much.
Moreover, after reading the ride descriptions, we
want you to come to all rides you feel capable of
doing. Once a ride begins, we pledge that no one
will be left behind. Some faster riders may wish to
move ahead with their maps and cue sheets, but
the ride leader and core group of riders will stay
together to ensure that everyone is having fun and
is as safe as possible. This is our primary essence
as a bicycling club.
Ride Leaders: We have a special group of
members who lead our rides; they assume the
responsibility to be there with the map/cue sheets,
the liability sign-off, and to be on top of the ride
conditions. Ride leaders also assume the
responsibility to see that everyone is having fun
and staying safe. This is a really big job and we
owe our leaders a tip of the hat.
I want to recognize our leaders by forming a
special Ride Leader Team who assumes this big
Frankly, we've had too many accidents over the
history of the club and I think we should spend
more time in our meetings and on rides on the
subjects of safety and riding technique. In most
accidents, we are our own nemesis or we have
temporary lapses of judgment. Sometimes I may
ask Al to schedule a full program, but usually I'll
just include a brief item to refocus our attention
on safety and technique.
It's absolutely no fun to suffer along with
someone who has taken a tumble, skinned an
elbow, or worse. Most of these we can
prevent, and I think we should renew our
efforts to ride safely.
Strawberry Century: Our century ride is a big
job, but it's actually a lot of fun to stage. It feels
good to plan the event and then see lots and lots
of bicyclists having fun because of what we did.
Tim will lead us in this year's century and I'm
sure we'll all pitch in to make this the best ever.
We're going to hit the ground running. Kari has
designed a fun logo; the date is Saturday, June 10,
2
2006; and we're going to start our publicity in
October with listings in all the yearly calendars
and other stuff. We'll take a fresh look at how we
can facilitate riders via our web site and all the
other aspects of conducting a full and satisfying
Strawberry Century. Tim says we're going to have
upwards of 700 riders next June! We can do it!
Tour: A summer week tour is enjoyable for lots
of members and we're fortunate to live in such a
great state for bicycle touring. I'm going to form a
small committee immediately to nail down a
calendar week next summer and to explore
options for a club tour. We'll consider past tours
for repeat or totally new routes. We'll look at
different formats such as having a home base for a
week of day rides in a new area of the state. We'll
ensure that the tour is as convenient as possible
and available to everyone with minimal cost. The
door is open, if you want to be involved in the
planning, let me know.
Advocacy: No I'm not talking about lobbying
the state legislature. I just want to see us expand
our membership and to encourage bicycling.
There are lots of reasons to bicycle, but perhaps
most important is that it's fun (feels good,
whatever). We'll focus on getting the word out
about our neat club and about bicycling in
general. Bicycling is what binds us together, but
who we are is what makes the club enjoyable. We
do a good job (could always be better) tolerating
our individual idiosyncrasies and respecting each
other for who we are. This allows us to have fun
with each other; that’s why we're a club anyway.
Thanks for letting me lead a little this year.
vrg
What’s happening in October?
Spokes Agenda
~Preliminary~
October 6, 2005
LCH Conference Center
6:30 PM • Board Meeting
This is a very compact meeting: please
be on time or let me know.
7:00 PM • Snacks & Visiting
This is a time to let folks arrive, catch
up, snack, and get settled.
7:20 PM • Convene General Meeting
Minutes • Kari
Treasury • Dennis
Announcements • Roger, et. al.
Correspondence • Roger
Business From the Board
05 Strawberry Wrapup
06 Strawberry parameters
Ride Leader Team
Snack Crew
7:40 PM • Recognition & Awards
8:40 PM • Reconvene Gen. Meeting
Membership • Larry
Safety Moment
Running Up • Roger
Rides Planning • Mary Ellen & Ron
November
December
Business from the floor
9:00 PM • Thanks For Coming
M
arlene and I are looking forward to leading the Aufderheide
ride on October 15th and 16th.
We will plan on departing from the Blue River grocery store at
9:00 AM on Saturday October 15th. Transfer of your gear,
Camping equip. Clothes ect... Will be provided by Marlene.
Lunch will be at a campground about midway on the ride.
Watermelon, drinks and some snack food will be available. If you
want to prepare sandwiches we will have a cooler for your
storage.
Scio Covered Bridge
Tour & Potluck
It’s time for the annual Scio Covered
Bridge Ride. Route options will be 8, 18,
There is an RV campground in West Fir for those interested in
camping also a Best Western is located in Oakridge. Which ever
you chose camping or Motel please make your own
accommodations for Saturday night. We will be staying at the
campground in our Trailer both Friday and Saturday night.
32, and 48 miles. The ride will start at
We are considering Bar-B-Queuing a group meal depending on
the number of riders participating.
and return to Roger and May’s home at
Sunday will be a repeat of Saturday only more Downhill.
38795 N. Main, downtown Scio. Roger
This is a most scenic ride as the fall colors should be radiant.
There are some hills, but the downhill is always enjoyable. The
ride is Approximately 70 miles each day.
and May will provide drinks and sundries
and everyone should bring a potluck dish
for all to share. All of the main roads
have been improved with shoulders and
new surfaces, so the riding will be safer
and enjoyable. This should be fun as in
the past.
3
We will need a head count by October 7th. Please email
Questions and Commitment to: [email protected]
Stutzman’s Bicycle Shop
Service • Parts
New Bikes • Accessories
Show this ad to Bobby or Gene for 10% off any shop repair job.
(Limit one per customer)
Phone: (451) 259-6301 • Fax: (541) 259-6302
1524 South Main • Lebanon, OR 97355
Minutes September 05
by Kari Kropf
C
harles Taylor called the meeting to
order at 7:05 pm. The August
minutes were presented and approved.
Dennis Murphy gave the treasurer's
report. Our name has officially been
changed with the bank, though the
checks still need to be changed. Dennis
also mentioned that the registered agent
for the club is responsible for legal
documents sent to the club. The person
who would hold this position needs to be
aware of this and have a good
understanding of the law.
M
ary Ellen Lind reported on
membership. No changes up to
this point but there was a new
member at this meeting. Bill Pintard
gave the ride report. The ride
calendar is finished through October.
Roger presented information on the
Aufderheide Ride. It can be a 1 or 2
day ride. It will be sagged. Riders
wanting to ride just one day can get
a ride back provided by the
Mangans. It is approximately 70
miles each day. Next our guest
speaker, Charles Daellenbach, gave
a wonderful presentation of his
summer adventure on the Juneau
Ice field.
N
ominations for the
2005-6 club officers were approved.
Roger Gaither, President; Al Randall, Vice
President; May Garland, Secretary;
Dennis Murphy, Treasurer; Newsletter,
Kari Kropf; web and membership, Larry
Fratkin; Strawberry century, Tim Mangan;
Historian, Bill Pintard; Publicist, Charles
Taylor; Ride Captains, Mary Ellen Lind
and Ron Kropf.
M
ay Garland had a thank-you from all
the tourers, for the club's support of
the summer tour. Roger said that they
would have a slide show of the tour at the
Scio Covered Bridge ride.
C
harles Taylor had a thank-you for
everyone who helped out this year.
Mary Ellen reminded everyone of the
annual October tribute meeting. Bev
Henderson mentioned a memorial bench
that Eugene Gears set up as a tribute
past members. This might be something
we could do.Dian Gerstner brought up
that our mapmaker, Shirley, would like to
do a presentation at one of our meetings
and perhaps we could invite MVBC.
Charles Taylor brought up that the
conference room is reserved for us for
the next year.
For Sale
Rans Screamer recumbent tandem
Independant pedaling, Front shocks, Rear disk brakes, 63-speeds (21/3sp).
GREAT SHAPE! $6,000/new. Asking $3500.
Call: 541-258-2000
4
RIDE LEADER CAPTAINS ARE
COMMITTED TO A FUN BIKE YEAR
WILL YOU COMMIT TO LEADING SOME RIDES?
Our RIDE LEADER captains this year are Ron Kropf and
Mary Ellen Lind. They need club members to share their ideas
for bike routes. With your suggestions, and by using past routes,
Ron and Mary Ellen will compile the rides for each month.
Their plan is to use Lebanon Hospital as the center of the hub.
The spokes are the different directions out from the hub that
rides will regularly occur. Each month, rides will be offered to
or from Albany, Brownsville/Sweet Home,
Jefferson/Scio/Lacomb and Corvallis. The rides will start either
from LCH or from other familiar sites.
The captains ask you to volunteer to join a select group of 10
to 15 regular riders that will lead rides. This won't be an
exclusive list, but a core group that Ron and Mary Ellen can
count on to lead a ride about once every other month.
If you offer to be one of the ride leaders you will receive
guidance so you become comfortable with the role of leading
rides. A map and route cue sheet will be provided to you ahead
of the ride. You will have opportunity at the October club
meeting to let the captains know that you will be one of the ride
leaders for the coming year.
Saturday rides will include at least one stage ride per month.
The goal of this ride is to bring together two groups, when
possible. Those who want to ride at a slower pace and a shorter
distance will have opportunity to do so and still meet up with
other riders along the way, hopefully for lunch.
Daylight savings time begins Sunday, October 30th . So
beginning on November 5th, the usual Saturday rides will begin
at 10 a.m.
Lets have a happy, safe biking year!
pounds of gear in preparation for the second
segment of the tour, which he planned to travel
alone. During the first camping evening, while
eating and recalling our day, we agreed that each
day of the ride would be described by one of us.
We hoped our riding friends will use their
imagination to ride along with us as they read this
issue of the Outspoken.
Day 1 - West Glacier to Saint Mary,
Montana, 50 miles
Mary Ellen, Dennis, Tim, Marlene, Mark, Larry, May and
Chuck at Chief Mountain
ROCKIE MOUNTAIN
MONTANA - CANADA BIKE TOUR
Information organized by Mary Ellen Lind
O
ur entourage was Tim and Marlene Mangan
in their pickup truck that was loaded high
with bikes, food and camping supplies for the sixday tour. The truck pulled Roger Gaither and
May Garland's trailer that carried a tandem bike
tucked snuggly amongst baggage. Following the
truck Dennis Murphy drove his Camry that carried
two recumbent bikes on the roof and passengers
Mary Ellen Lind, Chuck Young (who was
designated to drive the truck), and Mark Wagner,
(an acquaintance of Roger and May, who drove
the sedan as a sag vehicle). We left Scio at 7:30
a.m. on Sunday, August 21 and arrived in White
Fish, Montana, about 16 hours later. Thankfully
most of us (Larry Fratkin is the exception) spent
our first short night at a Super 8 to prevent need to
set up camp late at night and "break camp" the
next morning prior to a challenging first day of
pedaling. Larry arrived two days earlier. He
toured locally on his bike, which carried 60
By Tim Mangan
M
arlene and I were approximately 5 miles and
one hour from the summit when Roger and
May's tandem blew a rear tire. Duct tape, new
tube and 30 minutes later we were on our way.
We knew bicycles must be off the highway by
11:00 AM. It was 11:30 and 2 miles to the
summit! A park ranger flashed lights and greeted
us with instructions to find a wide spot and wait
for the ranger. The courteous park ranger didn't
give us tickets, but left no option but to wait for
Chuck to haul the bicycles and us to the top.
A
fter the long drive to White fish, Montana,
we got to bed about midnight then up at 5:00
to start towards Apgar Village in West Glacier.
The morning weather was cool with the sun
peeking over mountains as we headed out for the
Continental Divide at Logan Pass, Going-to-theSun road. The scenic beauty led to many stops for
pictures and regrouping. A black bear was spotted
by Dennis only a hundred feet away. I thought
the bear would stay near the riverbank, but was
out guessed when it crossed the road 10 feet from
my front wheel. Where is Roger with the camera
when you need him?
Road construction
A
t the summit we learned that the park ranger
was looking for the driver of the pickup
pulling a trailer. We learned that nothing over 21
feet is allowed on the road. Ours measured 31
feet. Chuck was busted. Chuck smiled broadly,
and believe it or not, didn't say much as the park
ranger delivered his stern warning.
Mary Ellen, “We climbed the mountain in the
background”.
5
I
t was 15 miles down hill to the campground at
St. Mary's. Mark and Chuck located a campsite
among the trees and had cold beverages waiting
for our arrival.
Day 2 - St. Mary, Montana to Waterton,
Alberta, 48 miles
By Marlene Mangan
W
e awoke to a great day that smelled of
coffee. We readily ate super good wheat
pancakes with fresh berries. We packed up for the
first time of the trip and found it interesting to see
how everything fits back in. With full stomachs
and warm clothes on we headed out of St. Mary's
knowing we had several long climbs to get to the
Canadian border. We met up with Chuck and
Mark on the US side and crossed as a group. We
had previously checked with the border rules to
make sure we didn't try to cross with restricted
foods. We didn't have potatoes and only the
allowable amount of wine (9 bottles). The
customs lady asked several questions we all said
"no, no, no" until she asked if we had any pepper
spray. Dennis said, "Well, I guess I have some
dog repellant". He was sternly asked to go into
the office and came back without his small
canister of mace.
A
fter lunch we saw a storm approaching. We
climbed to a vista where the prairie meets the
mountains. What a view! That afternoon, as we
arrived at the campground, it started to sprinkle.
Mark did an excellent job of picking a campsite.
We discussed the idea of a motel, but decided to
stay at the camp and chance the weather. The
camp provided two open shelters so we used one
for cooking and dining and the other for two tents.
With no guilt we broke the rules that were posted
to vacate the shelters by 10:00 PM.
A
s we unpacked and set up the kitchen in the
shelter, it began to rain harder and continued
through the evening. We bought wood and
enjoying good food and good company then
retired at dusk since the wood was gone. May and
Roger, Tim and I went to our two tents in the
shelter and were nice and toasty all night. Not so
for the rest of the group! The next morning I felt
bad for them with wet tents, wet sleeping bags
and stories of not sleeping all night.
making breakfast I packed the damp sleeping bags
and wet tent. The rain that continued to fall was
one of those really cold, damp rains that seem to
want to sneak right into your body and chill your
bones. I glanced at the surrounding mountains
and saw that the snow line was getting close to the
valley floor. Tim, Marlene and May with the help
of others made a delicious breakfast of oatmeal
and bagels. We talked and laughed and did a
good job of keeping our spirits high. We did
contemplate the ride ahead of us and wondered
about our sanity to attempt to ride on this cold
miserable day. We had been told that the weather
should clear, but when?
W
Day 3 - Ride to Bear Mountain Motel
By Dennis Murphy
T
he rain that began on Tuesday evening
continued through the night. While some of
us managed to stay dry and sleep rather well,
others were continually awakened by the sound of
the steady rain pelting their tents. My sleep was
fitful and seemed to last only minutes before I had
to turn again on the hard ground. I wished
morning would arrive so I could get up, stretch,
eat and drink something warm.
A
s soon as I was aware of daylight, I escaped
the confines of our night home to find in the
kitchen shelter a small warming fire and coffee.
Mary Ellen soon joined me. While some were
6
e had on our wet weather riding clothes and
prepared for a ride on the cold wet roads. It
took only a couple minutes for the ice-cold wind
to numb my unprotected face. I was eager for
heat to be generated by my pedaling leg exercise.
On days like this one doesn't pay much attention
to the beautiful scenery -- if you can see it
between the clouds and fog. One's focus is on the
road and bikers ahead, and trying to find a place
of peace within.
M
ercifully, time passed quickly, as we rode
one mile then turned into the parking lot of
the Bear Mountain Motel. Our super sag guy had
scouted out the motel that morning, and all of us
most willingly agreed to spend the day with
shelter and warmth. The motel was most adequate
to meet our needs and allowed us early entry. I
hung out the sleeping bags in our room along with
the wet gloves and other misc. items, and soon
found myself under the covers of a warm
comfortable bed. Sleep came quickly.
enjoying teas and pastries. I sat on a comfortable
couch where I could look out of windows and feel
gratitude to be in such a wonderful place.
Day 4 - Waterton to Coleman, Alberta 56
miles
W
W
hen we returned to Bear Mountain Hotel,
May brought out a card game called Rook.
Tim, Larry, Mary Ellen and May worked through
multiple versions and interpretations of the rules.
The game brought everyone together, both players
and observers. We laughed, joked, and discussed
the rules over and over. Larry ended up as the
winner! Interesting, since he never placed a bid.
Waterton
L
ater in the day, after all of us had gotten some
rest and taken care of various cleanup chores,
we decided to visit the Prince of Wales Hotel that
sits on a bluff above Waterton Lake. This is a
most majestic hotel! Its view of the lake and the
surrounding snow capped mountains is one that
pictures can never do justice to. We walked
around the hotel on the lakeside and looked in
awe at the beauty that surrounded us. At this
moment I became so very, very thankful that our
ride for the day had been only one mile. If we
had continued the ride as planned we would have
missed all of the beautiful sites that we now
enjoyed. Truly, we were riding not just for
exercise, but for the enjoyment and pleasure of the
sites and experiences that we could have along the
way. We would continue biking the next day, and
enjoy Waterton today!
A
gentleman in a colorful kilt held the door
open for us as we entered the Prince of Wales
Hotel. The beautiful floor to ceiling windows
framed a magnificent view of the lake and the
Rocky Mountains. We were awed by the beautiful
structure of this hotel. It was afternoon time for
high tea. People sat quietly at small tables while
By May Garland
hen we opened the motel door we looked
out on a clear sunny day. Finally,
gratefully, the rain was over. We looked for our
cold weather clothing because the clear, sunny day
was many degrees cooler.
W
hile Marlene got the coffee going in the
apartment shared by the guys, Tim
cooked nourishing oatmeal with choice of
toppings - raisins, nuts, blueberries,
strawberries, blackberries, and brown sugar.
Mary Ellen's cherry walnut bread from Great
Harvest was delicious.
W
e again loaded the truck, trailer and car with
all the gear. We were getting better at
packing, but the stuff seemed to be expanding!
By 8:30 we were on our bicycles leaving beautiful
Waterton Lakes. The five-mile stretch out to the
highway took us past the Prince of Wales Hotel
and we paused for one last look.
“In the distance the hotel was lit up with colorful lights on
the high bluff overlooking the lake.”
T
hat evening we enjoyed togetherness over
dinner; talked of the experiences we had
during the day and previous days, and wondered
what adventures lay ahead for us. We were in
agreement that spending the day in Waterton had
been a wise decision. After dinner, many of us
enjoyed a quiet walk through the township and
along the waterfront. In the distance the hotel was
lit up with colorful lights on the high bluff
overlooking the lake. We were so very thankful to
be alive to enjoy this day together.
7
W
e turned onto Highway 6 and picked up a
super good tail wind. The riding
conditions were almost perfect - a clear day,
good highway with shoulder, and a wind in the
right direction. We were blown along to Twin
Buttes, a town composed of a little store, where
we ate peanuts and made the first of several
apparel adjustments. All those cold weather
clothes were now too warm.
T
he views along this stretch were outstanding.
We looked to the west and south to see purple,
snow-capped mountains. We crested a hill and
saw golden fields and green pastures. Near the
city of Pincher Creek we saw high snow fences
and windmill farms. These elegant three-bladed
wind catchers made us reflect, "They must have
wind here a lot." Little did we know!
They were efficient, helpful, and kind. After
Mary Ellen and Dennis left for the hospital, we
got on our bicycles, shaken and worried, to pedal
the last grueling 3 miles UP a steep road to
Hiawatha campground.
T
he campground left a little to be desired.
Upon arrival we noticed a sign that said the
water was not potable and should be boiled for 3
to 5 minutes before use. The showers cost one
looney (one US dollar) for 5 minutes for men and
7 minutes for women. Go figure! (Actually, Tim
paid three loonies and never got the shower to
work!) Otherwise, the site was acceptable - shady
and flat.
Marlene searching
A
fter a lunch stop in Pincher Creek, Highway
6 turned. That super good wind was now in
our faces! It was grueling as we pedaled up and
down hills. The traffic picked up, with its
accompanying distracting noises. As we
continued into the wind our cheery dispositions
began to flag. When we passed through
Lundgren, Larry said he thought we had just a few
more miles. Though no one said much, we all felt
it was time to be done biking.
A
t last we saw a sign for Hiawatha
campground. It requires a left turn across
busy Highway 3. Tim, Marlene, Roger, Larry,
and I made the turn and stopped to wait, then
heard a "never to be forgotten," sound - a thud and
cars slowing dramatically. A bicycle and a pickup
truck collided. We look back to see Mary Ellen on
the pavement. Dennis ran over to her. We all ran
to stop traffic, get the bicycle off the road, and
offer help. Like the trooper that she is, Mary Ellen
was already trying to sit up by the time Dennis got
to her. Canadian police officials arrived quickly.
challenge (it must be a Zen thing), but the week
certainly gave me insight into the positive aspects
of taking on a group challenge, supporting and
looking out for one another, sharing both fun and
adversity, not to mention great food. I also
appreciated traveling at a slower pace and having
time to examine the countryside in detail.
O
ur stomachs didn't seem to know of the
recent trauma, because we ate well - steak,
baked potatoes, carrots, wine, etc. But it was a
sad meal without Dennis and Mary Ellen with
us. When Dennis called at about 7:30 PM to
give us an update, we had already agreed that
the trip was over. Before nightfall, the bikes
were packed in the truck and trailer. Most of the
food and cooking gear was also packed. We
stacked Larry and Mary Ellen's bicycles on top
of the load in the trailer making us look like
"Okies fleeing the dust bowl of the Midwest." It
was still early but we showered and headed for
tents, knowing that tomorrow would be a long
day of driving home to Oregon.
Above: Chuck Young
(who was designated
to drive the truck)
Left: Mark Wagner,
(an acquaintance of
Roger and May, who
drove the sedan as a
sag vehicle).
Outsider's Perspective
By Mark Wagner
I
don't even own a bicycle. I agreed to be a SAG
driver because Roger & May are special friends,
and we help one another out. I hadn't previously
known any of the other people making the trip.
I
still don't comprehend why anyone would
choose to go solo in taking on a physical
8
T
he bottom line for me, however, is that I still
would not feel comfortable getting a bike and
traveling with the group. There are too many
variables related to road conditions and whacko
drivers that cannot be controlled. I will, however,
consider being a SAG driver again. I did have a
good time.
Day 5 to 11, Coleman to Jasper, Alberta -405 miles, "On My Own"
By Larry Fratkin
A
fter a somber breakfast I loaded my bike, said
my good-byes, and headed for Fernie. The
ride was bittersweet with haunting memories of
the accident contrasted against beautiful scenery
and an easy wind-at-your-back ride. I enjoyed the
feeling of being on my own. I stopped for lunch in
Sparwood where I ate at a picnic bench beside the
'world's largest truck'. Then I rode into Fernie, a
fairly large town, where I stayed at Raging Elk
Hostel, my first-ever stay at a hostel. There were
few people there so I had a dorm to myself. The
kitchen was well equipped and making dinner was
fun. The dining area was a good place to meet and
chat with fellow travelers. After dinner I ventured
into town to access the Internet at the local library.
and camp at Radium Hot Springs. It was a tough
climb with 60 lbs. of cargo after an 80-mile day.
After I went through my usual ritual - tea, tent,
and dinner - I walked to the hot springs. There I
soaked for a very long time. Ahhh! The walk back
was through pitch-black forest with a small LED
light. It was beautiful under the bright stars.
I
T
he next day the hostel manager prepared
pancake batter with syrup. After a nice
breakfast I was headed for Fort Steele, the next
layover. This was another easy day though the
road surface was very rough. The campground
was on a meadow and was very quiet. My routine
is making tea, pitching my tent, and then making
dinner. After dinner a couple on a motorcycle
pulled into the site beside mine. They were very
friendly and we ended up chatting the evening
away - their beer, my wasabi peas.
he next day I packed and left very early. I
knew was going to be a very long day for I
wanted to gain a day that was lost due to rain at
the beginning of the trip. Instead of going to Fort
Steele, I rode to Invermere. There was a hostel
there that would be good after a long day's ride.
The hard ride was rewarded with a long fast
descent down into the town of Invermere. I found
the hostel closed. The only option was to ride
back up that steep hill that I had just flown down
T
campground it looked deserted. There were signs
all over about a bear in the campground. I knew
there was yet another long steep climb ahead if I
wanted to go to Castle Junction where there was a
hostel. It was 5:00 PM., so I decided I'd just be
cautious with anything smelly and the bear
wouldn't likely bother me. When I was riding
around looking for a site, I met a family walking
who was camping next to the hiker/biker area.
Now I felt a little better! It started raining and
became a thunderstorm. There was a storage shed
for food and a shelter for cooking. I cooked my
dinner and put my bike and stuff in the shelter. I
slept on the picnic table. It rained all night. By
morning the weather looked much better.
Larry Fratkin continues on with the tour on his own.
T
he next morning I started early in hopes of
making it to Marble Canyon campground. I
entered Kootney National Park and started more
climbing into the Rockies. It was perhaps the
steepest climb of the trip so far, and many miles.
The scenery is absolutely gorgeous with mountain
peaks on either side. I stopped for lunch at
McCleod campground and contemplated calling it
a day, then got my second wind and continued on
to Marble Canyon. When I arrived at the
9
started for Castle Junction and found a steep
hill with a nice long descent into town. I
decided to skip going to Banff and head for
Lake Louise. By the time I got to Lake Louise
the sun shone and it was another gorgeous day.
I took a shuttle bus from there to Rampart
Hostel. This, I thought, would be a welldeserved break. Rampart is a wilderness hostel
without hot water. The hostel was full at 6:00
PM. I told the manager that I was willing to
sleep on the couch. She agreed and told me a
hitchhiker went to town for food and if he didn't
return by 8:00 I could have his bunk. OK!
There were people from Switzerland, Germany,
Singapore - you name it! I met a Canadian
couple at the sauna who introduced me to a new
ritual - warm up in the sauna, then splash around
in the creek, then dash back to the sauna. It was
very refreshing.
T
he next day I rode up Sunwapta Pass. This
was the most challenging climb I have ever
done. The icefields are 7000 feet high. After
several miles of hard climbing I came around a
curve to what looked like an impossible climb.
Well it wasn't impossible but I pedaled
slowly in my lowest gear. Even autos were
lumbering up this mountain. Several cars
honked as they passed me. They were
occupied by people that I had met at the
hostel. Finally, I got to the icefield centre
and stopped for a tour that went to a triple
divide - the water flows into three
different oceans from there. Wow! At the
icefield centre I ran into a lot of the hostel
people who were in disbelief that I made
the climb and had already arrived. After
the icefield I enjoyed a nice long descent,
at over 40 MPH, to the next hostel Beauty Creek. This one didn't have
running water or electricity. I met some
very interesting people that sat around a
campfire that evening trading stories and
discussing politics. What a great time!
T
he last day I rode to Jasper. I went to
the Greyhound station to see if I could
leave a day early with my tickets. No
problem. They don't care what day you
use the tickets. Then came the bombshell.
They wanted $355.00 to ship my bike. I
couldn't believe it! I went over to the
local bike shop and they recommended a
boutique called 'More Than Mail'. There I
got an estimate of $90.00 to ship
Purolator. The bus was due to leave early
the next morning at 1:20 AM - talk about a
red eye! So I got a box from the bike
store, and with their help, packed my bike.
It weighed 50 lbs and cost $52.00! What
a deal! The bike store fellow gave me
advice about where to hang out that
evening. He told me about a local brewery
that had really good food. They had
vegetarian entrees and great beer. Then I
headed to another local pub. It was rowdy!
A large group next to me ordered strange
drinks in what looked like shot glasses.
Then they'd chant as each person, one at a
time, would down the drink. They caught
me looking and started talking to me. It
was a fun conversation and to my relief
they didn't ask me to join in their
ceremony. The waiter noticed that I wasn't
having any more beers so he asked if I'd
like a cinnamon coffee he'd just brewed. It
was delicious and helped get me get ready
for the homebound bus ride. This is where
the trip ended.
T
his was a great adventure full of
challenging hills. The roads, once I
got to Kootney Park and the Icefield
Parkway, were wonderfully wide and not
heavily traveled. The scenery was
breathtaking. Would I do it again?
Probably not. I think I enjoy this kind
of scenery more by automobile when I
can spend several days at each point of
interest. It was my once-in-a-lifetime
trip though and I'm sure I'll fondly
remember it.
Castle Mountain
Mary Ellen and a few hills.
Rocky Mountain Tour Riders: Roger Gaither, May Garland, Dennis
Murphy, Mary Ellen Lind, Tim & Marlene Mangan and Larry Fratkin. A
big thank you to Sag Drivers: Mark Wagner and Chuck Young.
Photographs courtesy of various riders on the tour.
10
OCT OBER/NOVEMBER 2005 RIDES
Membership Application
October 1, 2005, Saturday, 9:00 am
In Santiam Spokes, Inc.
Scio Covered Bridge Ride
Route options will be 8, 18, 32, and 48 miles. Start at Roger and
May’s home at 38795 N. Main, downtown Scio. Everyone should
bring a potluck dish for all to share after the ride.
October 8, 2005, Saturday, 9:00 am
Apple Daze Detering Orchards
45 miles. Leave from Brownsville and head South toward
Harrisburg. Mostly flat but includes one hilly stretch on Gap
Road. Ride Leader: Beverly Henderson.
October 15-16, 2005, Saturday/Sunday, 9:00 am
Aufderheide 2-Day Tour
Approximately 70 miles each day. Depart from the Blue River
Grocery Store at 9:00 am. Lunch midway. Spend Saturday night
in Oakridge. Very hilly. Ride Leaders: Tim & Marlene Mangan.
October 22, 2005, Saturday, 9:00 am
Albany to Dallas
57 miles. Dian Gerstner will lead this ride from her home on
Pulver Ln. First left after N. Albany fire station on Gibson Hill Rd.
October 29, 2005, Saturday, 9:00 am
Halloween Cemetary Ride
Release Waiver
I waive any and all claims against the Santiam
Spokes, inc. and its sponsor Lebanon
Community Hospital and any other group
associated with them in their programs. I
agree not to hold them responsible for any
accidents or injuries that I may experience as
a participant in any of their activities. Further, I
agree not to hold them responsible for
damage to any property or equipment while
participating in any of their activities. I agree to
release them from any and all liability of any
kind or nature, and by so doing I am allowed
to participate in Santiam Spokes, inc. activities
and programs. I agree to wear an A.N.S.I. or
Snell approved helmet while participating in
any and all Santiam Spokes rides. I agree to
practice safe and courteous riding procedures
and techniques and will obey all traffic
regulations while participating in any and all
Santiam Spokes rides.
•Please Print Clearly•
________________________________________________
name of first member
________________________________________________
name of second member, if family application
________________________________________________
name of third member, if family application
________________________________________________
name of fourth member, if family application
________________________________________________
mailing address
_______________________
city
______
state
____________
zip
(____)_________________
home phone (important)
(____)_________________
work phone (if avail)
_______________________________________________
e-mail address (important)
Sign Liability Release To The Left
41 miles. Visit several cemeteries in Albany and the
surrounding communities. Ride Leader will be Laura Engel.
(____) Individual-$10/yr.
November 5, 2005, Saturday, 10:00 am
________________________________
Signature of 1st member
____________
date
________________________________
Signature of 2nd member (if family app)
____________
date
________________________________
Signature of 3rd member (if family app)
____________
date
_______________________________________________
Occupation of any applicant
________________________________
Signature of 4th member (if family app)
____________
date
(____) I am a member of the League of American Bicyclists.
Lebanon to Brownsville
Start at Lebanon Hospital. Ride to Brownsville for lunch. 34
miles total. Tim and Marlene Mangan will lead this ride.
November 12, 2005, Saturday, 10:00 am
Albany to Corvallis Stage Ride
Start at S. Albany pool. Choice of 30 or 40 mile ride. Bill
Pintard will be Ride Leader.
November 19, 2005, Saturday, 10:00 am
Thanksgiving Progressive Meal Ride
Start from Jefferson Middle School. Ride to Lambert’s in
Jefferson for appetizers, then to Lebanon (Santiam Place) for
dinner. On to Scio for dessert. Back to Jefferson 40 miles.
Ron & Kari Kropf leading.
November 26, 2005, Saturday, 10:00 am
Jefferson to Independence Ride
48 Miles. Ride starts at Jefferson Middle School. Ride to
Independence for lunch. This ride needs a Ride Leader!
(____) Family-$15/yr.
Complete both sections of this form and
mail it with your check to:
Santiam Spokes, Inc.
c/o Lebanon Community Hospital
P.O.Box 739, Lebanon, OR 97355
You’re now a member. We’ll send you
membership materials & Outspoken. Come to
the next meeting and take part in the rides.
Get involved in all club activities. The Club is
what we make it.
11
• • • • • • Optional Information Below • • • • • •
(____) age 1st member
(____) age 3rd member
(____) age 2nd member
(____) age 4th member
(____) I am a member of Adventure Cycling.
(____) I belong to other bicycling clubs as listed below:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Ride Preferences (i.e. enjoy most, do most)
(____) Easy (3 - 15 mi.)
(____)Tour (30 - 80 mi.)
(____) Sport (20 - 50 mi.)
(____) Competitive (40 - 100 mi. fast)
(____)Off-road (i.e. mountain biking)
October 2005 Cycling • Santiam Spokes
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
8
15
22
29
Sat
Saturday October 1, 2005 9:00 am
Scio Covered Bridge Ride
Wed. Wanderers
Start at Linn County Fair
Grounds, Albany. Meet at
the flagpole. For info or to
start a ride call: Bill Pintard
@541-967-3295 or Ken
Fullen @ 541-327-2084
Please submit material for
September Outspoken by
today to Kari Kropf:
[email protected]
PO Box 1183
Lebanon, OR 97355
541.451.4446
Wed. Wanderers
Start at Linn County Fair
Grounds, Albany. Meet at
the flagpole. For info or to
start a ride call: Bill Pintard
@541-967-3295 or Ken
Fullen @ 541-327-2084
Wed. Wanderers
Start at Linn County Fair
Grounds, Albany. Meet at
the flagpole. For info or to
start a ride call: Bill Pintard
@541-967-3295 or Ken
Fullen @ 541-327-2084
12
Saturday October 8, 2005
Apple Daze Detering Orchard
Starting Location: Pioneer Park upper parking lot, Brownsville
Distance: 45 Miles
Ride Level: Mostly flat with one hilly stretch on Gap Rd.
Ride Leaders: Beverly Henderson, 541.461.3884
Saturday Oct. 15 & 16, 2005 9:00 am
Aufderheide 2-Day Tour
Starting Location: Blue River Grocery Store, Hwy 126
Distance: 68 miles each day
Ride Level: Very Hilly
Ride Leader: Tim & Marlene Mangan,
Spend the night in Oakridge. Motel or Camp out.
Saturday October 22, 2005 9:00 am
Albany to Dallas
Starting Location: Dian Gerstner’s Home:
1020 Pulver Lane, Albany, OR
Distance: aprox .57 miles
Ride Level: Hilly
Ride Leader: Dian Gerstner, 541.926.1188
Saturday October 28, 2005 9:00 am
Halloween Cemetary Ride
Starting Location: S. Albany High School
3705 Columbus St. Albany
Distance: aprox. 41 miles
Ride Level: Some Hills
Ride Leader: Laura Engel, 541.928.5748
c/o Lebanon Community Hospital
P.O.Box 739, 525 North Santiam Hwy.
Lebanon, Oregon 97355
www.santiamspokes.org
CLUB MEETING
Lebanon Community
Hospital
7:00 pm
525 N. Santiam Hwy
Lebanon
Start at Linn County Fair
Grounds, Albany. Meet at
the flagpole. For info or to
start a ride call: Bill Pintard
@541-967-3295 or Ken
Fullen @ 541-327-2084
Santiam Spokes, inc.
2 3 4 5 6
9 10 11 12 13
16 17 18 19 20
23 24 25 26 27
Wed. Wanderers
Starting Location: 38795 Main Street, Scio OR
Distance: 8, 18, 32, 48 miles
Ride Level: Easy to Hilly depending on route
Ride Leaders: Roger Gaither & May Garland, 503.394.3696
Bring a Potluck dish for all to share!