Summer stuff!

Okay, I know I really should be putting up pics from our bad assed wedding, but since our shots haven't made it back to us yet in digital form, you are going to be stuck looking at this other crap in the interm. :)


Okay, I'd be as stoked as Mark is if I were riding a Pugsley...


Yep, pretty much everyone has fun on the Pugsley...


...except for viking warriors trying to duck under an obstacle.


Here's Kaz on the approach to Diamond Peak.


Aaron rolling tuff with curly locks.


Ugly view from the shoulder towards Crater Lake


G-nar-nar looking Mt. Thielsen.


The man with the plan Dennis Feeney rolling strong on the ridge!


(is he winking at me??)


Summit ridge of Diamond


My good buddy OX made it all the way out from NH for this trip and the associated wedding.


Okay, here are some shots from a quick beach trip with the family, pre-hitching day.


Pat and Rachel just getting warmed up to the view they'd have for another week.


Hmmm...


...it appears that Mom found a baby to entertain herself with.


Brian and Dad tossing the frisbee around.


Okay, here are a few shots from a quick trail run we did on Cooks Ridge/Gwynn Creek (notice the new ring)


Found this little gem on the ridge


Some of the lovely sights along the trail.


Drink up bella, we've still got a few miles. :)


Seriously, what an awesome place. Wildflowers and moss covered trees. We didn't see another soul, not a bad day for 4th of July.


Okay, here are just a few shots from the N. Ridge Trail. We've been having a spectacularly cool and rainy summer, awesome for hiking and just about everything else.


A carpet of Oxalis, my favorite understory.


Too pretty here.


A rare shot of yours truely with the dogz.


Wonderful midsummer mist further up the hill. Not particularly common this time of year.


Laying down some fierce licks with one of my groupies.


Mel messing around with a new lens.


Okay, here are some shots from a different trip up to Gordon Meadow/Lakes.


So, ummm... Where did this place come from, and why have I never been here!?!?!?


Bella seems pretty stoked too. :)


Okay, seriously, I think I might have fallen just a little bit more in love with this state.


Whoever came up with the idea of rain in the middle of summer is a genious. Wish they were all like this!!


Further along the trail...


Another rare shot of the author :p


One of the Gordon Lakes


Same lake, different angle.


Another goofy looking fella we came across.


Group shot back in da meadow. Too bad there was about an inch of water on the surface and skeeterz.


Island in Paradise.


Okay, seriously, you'd have been doing this too if you had stumbled upon a place like this. :) Okay, okay, next time I hope to have wedding pics up.

5/22/11 Amazing Moto Ride

Took off this past Sunday on what rather unexpectedly ended up being one of the more enjoyable days I've had on two wheels. Yard work kept me around the house until around noon, and the highway 20 closure had me trying to find another way over to the coast. What I ended up finding was near solitude on miles of classic OR coast range "forest tunnel" roads... The fun started on the high road off of 20 at Blogett through Summit and then over to Siletz... I had driven this before but it had an entirely different feel on a bike. Very tight and fast corners mixed with open sweepers and that ended way too fast (even the couple miles of loose gravel weren't too bad). Once in Siletz I figured I'd check out the "Siletz Highway" which was about 25 miles of incredibly tight turns on perfect pavement through the coast range. Total bliss... Then I popped out on the coast just north of Depot Bay and rode the coastal route south (enjoying an occasional overlook!) to Rogue for a quick stop. Then back inland to Toledo, where I accidentally took the "back" route into Harlan... Yeah, I kinda got lost and ended up on a freshly graveled forest road 1000 (eek) but completly redeemed myself when I found the paved single lane "Hill Top" road, which plastered a shit eating grin on my face for the rest of the trip. From Harlan I rode the dirt up the back side of Mary's peak, popped over to the summit for a few minutes, blasted through the Alsea curves and into corvallis. Funny thing is that these pictures are of the "boring" places... The really good stuff was too good to justify slowing down for pictures. Awesome day to remember, right in the ol' back yard. I love this state!!!


Didn't even pull the camera out until the end of the Siletz highway, now I regret that...


Oops, missed the bike in that first shot...


Boiler Bay, now heading south.


Awesome little bridge near the start of the Otter Crest one way loop.


...Taken from the Otter Crest loop road.


Yeah, sometimes I forget how awesome it is here...


One lane awesomeness, right above the water


Looking down from Cape Foulweather. See the rock ring? Think lava outflow!


Seriously, OMG...


More absurdly awesome road. I wanted to kiss whoever built this work of art.


Almost drove right by this sneaky little coastal arch


Devils punchbowl, a popular spot to stop, tide must have been pretty low.


Okay, by this point my senses were overwhelmed...


...thankfully I was able to find a cozy roadside pub to relax.


Crappy cell shot of my vittles. I think this might have contributed to me getting lost...


Riding up the inlet to Toledo.


The only pic I took of the Hill Top Road. I shot some crappy video, but it didn't do justice to that incredible find.


Up on Mary's Peak now, first of the summit Meadows.


Top of the parking lot, all alone!


Cool clouds and sun near the top.


More snow in the meadows... Bring yer sleds!


Track of the route.