Hill-Pumper

Today was my second metric century to date. It was called the Monster Cookie Metric which was put on by the Salem Bicycle Club. The ride started and ended at the state capital building. It is a pretty flat course with a nice lunch at a state park. Overall, I am happy with my ride. My total ride time (on the bike) was 3 hours 30 minutes with a 17.61 mph average. I dropped quite a few of the skinny folk and was really only passed by bike clubs doing the pace line thing with a few exceptions of course. I did hang with one of the bike clubs for about 8 miles, but I did not get to close to them for fear of messing up. I did catch a couple of bike club members at the end and finished the ride with them. So, here are a few pictures from the ride.

This is the Oregon state capital building.

This is one of the local hops farms.

This is the first and third rest stop

This is one of the many grass seed farm here in the Willamette valley

Lunch at Champoeg Park (pronounced Shampoo- ee)

and.. a picture of my trusty steed who one again got me home!!!

Tex_Arcana

I don't know how to tell you this, so I'll be blunt.

Someone stole the dome off your capital building.

Looks like a nice ride despite that tragic incident.

bautieri

I was to understand there would be a large cookie invloved...

*leaves disapointed

Hill-Pumper

Yep, that's why they put the gold guy on the top to guard the place so no one would steal the rest of the building. Actually they call the gold statue on the top on the Oregon Pioneer.

Ah, but there was a monster cookie involved and they were available at lunch. I figured I was obligated to have one since the event was named after it. I would have taken a picture of it and posted it, but I did not want to cause anyone to fall off their diet.

BigUgly

Ahhh Hops! Willamette non the less!!! Being a homebrewer I use Willamette Hops in a lot of my recipes. I am actually trying to grow some this summer as I planted the rhizomes last week. I hope I don't have to build a trellis as tall as the one in your pic, my neighbors may have something to say about that. Thanks for sharing the pics and your ride!

davin1023

You may not need the trellis this year, but just wait until next year. I planted Willamette and Cascade last year in march. They did ok, but little to know harvest, this year the things are already over two feet tall, some over three (I planted 6 of each.)

bautieri

Then all is well

Jeff Wills

Note recumbent rider to the left. He and his two friends were holding down the honor of both Clydesdale-ness and Recumbentdom by riding with aerobellies displayed.