11/22/2008 – Yacolt Mountain

Of course this route never comes out just as planned. Matthew, Chad and guest, and Nick made the trip from Portland, joining the Longview regulars. We were in smaller groups all day, as this route has so many little hills, crazy turns, and getaways. Maybe we could have kept it a bit tighter, but all in all a good ride — about 57 miles all told. How about that Pup Creek bit at the end? Geez.

11/15/2008 – Wildwood w/Hale Road

This was one of my best rides in memory. Nick and Mike M. came up from the P-Crowd and rounded out a solid group of 7. In the end it was 71 miles after tacking on (although it was planned all along) the 5-mile Hale Road extension. I asked the road captain whether we should do it and he said something to the effect of “why not spoil an otherwise great ride” — I took that as an affirmative. The weather was spectacular and some great socializing afterward.

This route is now to be the official “Wildwood” route, and is found under the new Ride Library link – to the right of this entry — Cheers.

11/8/2008 — Italian Creek to China Garden

Highpoints:

Rainy and Windy with a decent turnout. Chad made it up from Portland and witnessed the evil that is Mike’s Hill. But before we ever got there Mike “The Horse” Vanhoose ripped his crankarm off…. needless to say the “Battlecruiser”, as he calls it, is sunk for now. What a monster!