Still Here, Working.... and Even Riding

CATCHING UP

Hello all.  Just a quick post to say that I am still around reading blogs when I have time.  I used to be able to read them every day on my lunch break but without internet access during the day, I seem to only have time on Sunday mornings.  So I do apologize for missing a lot of your posts and not keeping up like I used to.

My job is going well.  I have been there 7 weeks already.  Where did the time go?  It has been a bit of a learning process, but I managed to find just the job I wanted without knowing it when I applied.  No longer am I on the front lines answering phones and dealing with clients walking in the door as well as handling everything else.  I am in the back behind locked doors, in my cubicle doing calendaring, finalizing of court documents before filing, etc.  Pretty much a keyboard jockey and I am good with that.  Fortunately, there is a good group of people there that have made the transition easier.

I am even getting used to using the Windows computer at the office after having only used Macs for 17 years. Using Outlook for mail and calendaring was all new to me.

SELLING THE HOUSE

We are under contract with our house with a closing date on or before September 1st.  A friend's mom made us a formal offer and we accepted.  Technically I think we're in escrow.  No need to find a realtor or formally list the house.  Since we are in escrow this frees us up for actively looking for a place to buy in Salem.  We have been looking at listings online and went and looked at one with our realtor.  Unfortunately it just wasn't quite right and the property taxes were really high for some reason.  The realtor we are working with in Salem is confident she will find the right house for us.  Hard when most out there are over 1500 square feet and we are now living in 912 square feet and don't really want to go too much larger. Realistically we know we'll end up at about 1300 or 1400 though.  Anyone want to come visit? I think we'll have a spare room.

RIDING!!

Yes, I have been out on the bikes.  Not as much as I'd like with prepping the house for sale, but anytime on two wheels is a good time.

Most recently on Memorial Day, Monday May 28th, four of us went out plonking through the woods on our dual sports looking for gravel.  We found it.  On a nice warm sunny dry day.  The pollen count was high and the dust swirled higher behind the bikes. 

After tail gunning for 5 hours my gear was so dirty I stripped it off in the garage in front of the washer and dryer.  Didn't even want it in the house. It has since been through the washing machine, hung to dry, and is race ready again.  Not bad for 7-8 year old gear.

We met for coffee at 9 and headed out at 10.  We got home just after 3.  Here are a few pics.

(Troubadour-DRZ 400, My TW 200, Jeff-DRZ 400, and Andy/PolarBear-Tiger 955)

(First stop on the corner of Maxfield Creek Rd and Kings Valley Highway)

(Troubadour's DRZ-400 at a stop along Gage Rd. FYI - Gage Rd = gravel road fun)

(Stopped at Fort Hoskins for a snack and restroom break - bikes/gear are looking dirtier)

From Fort Hoskins we did another stint of 10 miles or so of gravel.  Between that and Gage road I was really getting used to standing on my pegs for better control and speed in the gravel. Something I hadn't been comfortable doing before, but was enjoying. Although it does use a different set of muscles and I was a wee sore the next day.

We took some back roads to Clem Rd. Not only is Clem Road gravel, but it is the road where the TW dropped its chain last time out.  We faced that daemon and had no issues.

Clem road ends at Highway 20 and we turned west for a quick 2 miles to Burnt Woods and the general store where Jeff and I could fuel up since we had little tanks.

PolarBear got a call from work and had to take off home then head out to a call.  Damn work getting in the way. So the three of us continued on to Woods Creek. A favorite loop we've been on many times before but we were riding it in a counter clockwise direction this time.  Those steeper descents I wasn't a big fan of were now steeper ascents.  Joy.  And this time instead of a lot of puddles we just had a lot of craters or pot holes where the puddles used to be.  Pick your line and go.

We stopped at our usual place for a drink of water and to soak up some sunshine. This is where I took my favorite picture of the day.

(Troubadour soaking up the sunshine)

(Looking out towards the hills)

(More scenery)

(The wild flowers were blooming)

From this stop it was an easy gravel descent back to the highway.  One side of the hill is long and a lower grade and one side is short and steeper.  Troubadour and I talked and we think we prefer it the usual way.  Long climb, steeper descent. I think there was just better flow that way.

Once back on the highway we went east into Philomath towards Corvallis.  Just outside of Corvallis we had to detour in stop-and-go traffic because of an accident up ahead, but we made it home.

We arrived home about 3 pm.  Tired, dusty, and ready for a cold beverage.

With weekends taken up with packing and looking at houses, I am not sure when I will get back out on two wheels.  This summer is kind of a wash, but by the fall, which is usually perfect weather (and no allergies) our weekends should be our own again.

- Au Revoir

"Time is the only one of life's resources, that when it's all spent, you wish you had spent more of it foolishly." - Robert Brault

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