The Wild Coast of Olympic National Park

For the next two weeks, we're on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Our first stop is a little town called Forks. Having not read the books or seen the movie, before we arrived we had no idea that this little town was put on the map as the hometown of vampires from the Twilight series. They're absolutely Twilight crazy here! Every hotel room is sold out - and giggling high school girls are everywhere. Wow. Who knew?

We hit the beach today - and explored the beautiful and rugged coastline of Olympic National Park.

Cascade Cream Puff

It's not quite 5am at the start line of the Cascade Cream Puff where 200 riders are lining up to race 100+ miles with over 18,000+ feet of climbing. Brian is ready to roll!

The forecast today was mostly cloudy with 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms. WRONG! It rained all day, with temperatures in the upper 40s. The trails got wet and muddy (although you can't tell from the photos), and the racers were soaking wet and freezing cold all day.
Here's how some of the Cream Puff staff stayed warm.
This is part of the "Jedi Trail" - the last bit of singletrack on the top loop, leading back to the mid-mountain aid station.
Mid-mountain aid station. Brian didn't have to use this since he brought personal SAG...
Brian's personal SAG. There were lots of vehicles mid-mountain; making it very tempting for shivering racers to bail. Many did.
Every turn, and every obstacle was marked with orange arrows or ribbon. Three arrows pointing down means, "caution - you could DIE here!"
Brian rolls in after his second 35+ mile lap. The first time he came through, Deb was concerned that it was the end of the day... Brian was shivering uncontrollably, and suffering terrible butt pain from the new saddle. His tried and true saddle had completely broken down a week before; so he was forced to buy a new, slightly different model. The new saddle worked fine on a 20-mile training ride; but on race day Brian's butt did not dig the change. Fortunately, we had Brian's road bike in the van. He took the time to swap saddles - and pushed on. He definitely looked, and felt, better the second time around.
The covered bridge at the finish line! A welcome sight!

Yes! After a long, long day, soaking wet, freezing cold, caked with mud, numb hands and feet - it's over! Bravo, Brian!!!


The race director personally greats and congratulates each finisher...
and awards the coveted Cascade Cream Puff cap!

Actual ride stats for the day: 108 miles - 18,031 feet of climbing.
Congratulations Brian!

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”
- Lance Armstrong

Scenes from the Aufderheide Memorial Highway

While Brian rested up for tomorrow's Cascade Creampuff mountain bike race, Deb did a 60+ mile road ride up the Aufderheide Memorial Highway - which is part of the West Cascades National Scenic Byway.

It's one of the most beautiful, quiet forest roads. Deb saw three cyclists, 5 cars and a handful of friendly motorcyclists the entire day.

Independence Day Celebration!

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism." ~Erma Bombeck

We celebrated our Freedom by enjoying 24 miles of beautiful single track on the Waldo Lake Trail. The mosquitoes were digging their freedom too... But all in all, it was a great ride!



For the first time on our many Summer getaways, we actually ventured out past dark to partake of public 4th of July festivities. The city of Oakridge, population 3320, put on quite a show for such a small town! Bravo!

"Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Westfir, Oregon

We arrived in Westfir on June 30 - and will be here two weeks. We plan to ride as many trails as possible and and preview the route of the "Cascade Creampuff." Brian is racing the Creampuff on July 12: 100 miles with about 18,000' of climbing.

Here's some of the route that we've already had a chance to preview. Our first ride was 36 miles with over 5,000' of climbing. About 2/3 of that was amazing singletrack through lush forest.




Will post more photos soon!