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Christmas In Dairyland
Ride Report 12/15/02
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We knew from experience that this was the one ride that we could count on for rain. We had heard there was a storm of enormous magnitude coming our way so we were feeling right at home until we saw the sun shining when we got up. We were kind of disappointed. This is supposed to be a cold and wet ride. It is only 20 miles with lots of climbing both directions to keep a body warm.
This year we made gift baskets for a drawing at the beginning of the ride. They were filled with fruit, a gift certificate, candy, cheese, crackers, patch kits, and other goodies. Becky had seen a show on how to make them so naturally we had to try out her new- found skills. We loaded up our BOB Trailer with the gifts and treats, and topped off the load with a radio blasting Christmas music.
We were happy to see old friends Bill & Ann, and Larry Fratkin at the start. Soon we were joined by a couple riding a "Bike E" Tandem. What brave souls to come out when the weatherman was issuing storm warnings! We had our drawing and each one got a prize! That worked out well. Louie's two sisters and niece showed up with a car to do sag support for us. We would not have to haul the trailer up the hill to the Dairy after all. The "Bike E" folks had saved one of our ride maps from last year. They had promised to do the ride last year, got in the picture, but could not do the ride because the bike was not ready. This year they didn't get in the picture but they made the ride.
Just as we started the ride, the rains came. We felt much better. How could we break with tradition?! We pretty much all stayed together as a group with one or two bikes going on ahead to stretch their legs before hanging back to wait for the group. People smile, waved and honked and we shouted, "Merry Christmas" to anyone within hearing distance. It must be the antlers on our helmets or it could be the McElhoes Christmas tree complete with gifts on the back of their bike. Whatever the cause, the end result was Christmas Cheer.
Louie's family met us at the base of the first climb to fortify us with muffins. We gobbled them down in no time whatsoever. There is something about riding a bike on cold wet days that gives a body an appetite! We all made it over the first climb and then braced ourselves for the climb up Shattuck Road to the Dairy. No problem. We paused once more when Louie's sister, Deborah, brought us cookies and warm drinks before going to see all the sights. Santa and Mrs. Claus waved at us through the window as we warmed ourselves with hot chocolate.
Once at the Dairy we were happy to see that Rusty Nails still doing his show. We watched him make his famous chocolate chip cookies. We visited the museum and storybook lane before getting ready to head back. Everyone was asking us how far we rode and were all duly impressed that we would ride in the winter and in the rain from Portland.
We split up a bit on the way back with those folks wishing to stay warm sprinting on ahead. Louie's family kept themselves entertained chatting with the Mcelhoes and then Larry while they waited on our arrival.
We had a wonderful time in spite of the weather. We wish to thank everyone for coming out for the ride. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good ride.
Christmas In Dairyland
Ride Report 12/15/01
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Who needs a tree when you have a bike to decorate! Bec made Christmas handlebar tape by ironing different Christmas icons onto white cork tape. Louie hung his stocking with care off the front of the handlebars. With a Ho Ho Ho we were off in a flash to Laurelhurst Park, antlers on helmets, garland and lights on the BOB, silver beads wrapped around Blueberry, and the BOB filled to the brim with goodies and hot drinks for all.
Just to make this years ride extra special we decided that some lucky cyclist should get a gift certificate to Bike Gallery just for showing up! We tucked it inside a bike map book and placed cookies, candies, and map book all in a Christmas baggie. It was fun to see Denise's eyes light up when she opened up her map and the gift certificate unfurled.
We were happy to see Larry again. Every time he joins us for a ride, he is grinning from ear to ear. We love to see that. Sharing our joy of cycling is what Blueberry Rides are all about.
We rode as a group over the Hawthorne Bridge and up Terwilleger. Folks honked and waved. It had to be the antlers! We shouted, "Merry Christmas", to others out walking and running. We handed out a goody bag to another cyclist who rolled up wanting to know what we were all about. Grinning from ear to ear, she stood and powered on up the hill we were climbing.
The group was patient with us as we pulled the BOB up over the west hills and then up to Alpenrose Dairy. Once there we filled their tummies again with hot drinks and cookies and sent them off to explore Christmas Town. We all met up at the opera house to see Rusty Nails, the clown, do a magic show. Those with errands to run packed up and headed back to Portland. The rest of us enjoyed singing Christmas Carols and listening to the children's laughter as Rusty pulled yet another flower bouquet out of his magic cylinder.
On the way back, we took Rick. Renee and Claudine to the bike store so Rick and Renee could purchase some shoe covers. Keeping feet warm is no small task. For us it requires three to four layers of various foot covers. Bec uses wool socks, neoprene socks, Gore-Tex socks, and then big over-booties. Louie is good without the Gore-Tex but with everything else.
After riding the few short miles back to Luarelhurst Park, we all said our good-byes and vowed to ride together again in the New Year.
Christmas In Dairyland
Ride Report 12/09/00
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We woke up to blue skies for our Christmas in Dairyland Ride! Yahoo! Louie had decorated The Raspberry with tinsel, lights and ornaments. I was in charge of decorating the BOB trailer. In keeping with the spirit of the season we served hot chocolate, coffee, cookies, and Blueberry Tea at the start. We then carried all of our goodies in the trailer all the way up the hill to Alpenrose Dairy. Whew!
We had suggested that participants decorate thier bicycles as well. Liz had wound gold garlands around her bike. Al and Al showed up with a set of antlers on their helmets. One bike had a Christmas wreath on the front. Another had bows on the back. Everyone was very festive. The biggest hit of all was the big red antlers that I had fashioned onto our helmets. They brought a smile to everyone's face. We all agreed that Louie should have a red nose, but he would have none of that, the "Grinch".
A couple of staunch wheelmen were overwhelmed by the Blueberry Ride's hospitality. They kept saying, "Man, we never get this stuff on the other wheelmen rides! We're going to have to start checking the newsletter to make sure we don't miss the next Blueberry Ride." Smiling, sipping, and munching, no one was in a hurry to start riding.
We all took off with bells ringing and antlers held high. It was a very tight knit group that hung together.
Riders frequently
stopped so that others could catch up. We were impressed by how well the group remained single file even at stops.
We all chatted happily with each other as we rode. Once at Christmas Town everyone wondered around checking out the displays.
We had to go through Story Book lane so Louie could sniff the flocked trees, one of his favorite scents.
We were just about ready to leave when a couple of cute little girls ran up to Louie, tugged on his jersey and pleaded
"Mister, mister, come quick. Santa fell down on the train and now it won't work!" We were picturing Santa with a heart attack
or some such thing so we hurried after them only to find that one of the robot/puppet Santas had
fallen over on a model train. We couldn't just leave Santa lying there on the railroad tracks so we found a staffer to
prop him back up.
Satified that we alone are responsible for saving Christmas, we started home, the sun warming our backs. Along the way people we passed would yell, "On Prancer! On Dancer! On Donner! On Blitzen! On Comet! On Cupid!" er....you get the idea. From Terwilliger we could see the Willamette River giving back the golds and reds of trees still holding fast to their fall colors. All along the ten mile stretch of inner city bike paths we received a steady stream of waves, honks, and shouts of Merry Christmas as our group rode by. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good ride!