today i thought i'd go on another one of my favorite loops, this time out east. there are sections of this ride that are really intense, very tight turns and severe grades. obviously the weather was perfect today, and again very light traffic. Gordon Creek Rd. will expose your 30-year-old bike's age quite well...
Larch Mountain is beautiful, but the pavement on the last 5 miles is a little rough, and it's easy to mistake the many mini-sinkholes and cracks for shadows. i actually had to stop at a Plaid Pantry and buy some new shades because my Smith's polarized lenses caused this weird distortion in my visor that made the road look like it was covered with bumps and shadows. believe it or not, these were the least shitty-looking:
this section is Marmot Rd...it runs parallel tho Hwy. 26 through a small valley just to the North. after twisting around through the trees you pop out into this incredibly picturesque clearing made up of farmland, pastures, and old barns. ahead in the distance is Mt. Hood, and soon its back into the trees before ending at Hwy. 26.
i stopped by the "secret spot" or "blue hole" or whatever else its know as on the way back too. it's more or less across from Dodge Park on the Sandy River. unfortunately the gravel double-track has been fenced off and posted with NO TRESPASSING signs about 5 minutes into the woods. instead of risking some kind of bullshit ticket i just found my own spot, and it was totally sweet.
