Pages

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Pedal to the Petals.

The weather last weekend was slightly iffy.  The forecast predicted periods of rain, light showers, and even sunshine. Saturday we opted to do yard work.  We managed to weed and edge a few of the shrub beds in the back yard then went on a 5 mile (8 km) walk.

Sunday the weather was supposed to be a little worse.  Saturday night the forecast said rain was to start at 10 am.  By 10 am the rain hadn't appeared so we checked the forecast once more.  It was 55˚F ( 12˚C) and no rain predicted until noon.  Sufficiently inspired by Sonja and Roland's bicycle ride in single digit weather with ominous skies, we opted for a bicycle ride.  I decided on my Treks Hybrid because the seat is more comfy than my mountain bike and Troubadour chose his Electra Relic beach cruiser with the coaster brakes, how brave.

We rode east along Campus Way, a paved multi-use path, that heads east towards the OSU Campus.  And it just happens to have a covered bridge along the way.

(Irish Bend Covered Bridge spanning Oak Creek - Campus Way - Corvallis, OR)
We stopped for a picture or two and continued on our way. Soon we arrive on the Oregon State University Campus.  This was the first weekend of Spring Break and so there were not a lot of students or faculty wandering about.  Perfect time to explore a little. See a campus map HERE.

Troubadour was in the lead and we found ourselves drawn to the magnolia trees in the Memorial Union Quad.  We couldn't resist the lure of the trees in full bloom.  Even the sun came out to play.

(Notice Troubadour riding down the stairs in the background)

(He made it down the stairs just fine)

(Another beautiful magnolia)

(The Relic in front of the Memorial Union Quad entrance)
Across the Quad I spotted a peace sign woven out of what appeared to be willow branches.  I had to take a closer look.

(Peace sign made of willow branches, complete with silk rose)
Just beyond the peace sign was another large magnolia.  The brick building made a nice backdrop as did all the spent blossoms on the ground.

(Magnolia - OSU Campus, Corvallis, OR)

(A view across the Quad - you can see the other magnolia trees)

(Close up of the magnolia blooms)
Back on the bikes and we meandered a little further.  I stopped to check out a Rhodie that was blooming. 

(Rhododendron in full bloom)

(Close up of the Rhododendron blossoms)
Troubadour spotted a clock tower so we stopped for a picture.  At this point the skies had clouded over and it was starting to spit a rain drop or two.

(Clock tower by the Valley Library - OSU Campus, Corvallis, OR)
I did a little tweaking with an app on my iPad and made one of Hubby's pics look a little bit more "old timey" to go with his bicycle. This was the result.


Instead of turning around at this point we carried on east towards town for a few more pictures of the walking path.  This oak tree lined path is a favorite spot of mine.








Unfortunately this is where my camera battery died.  We didn't bring the other camera or either of our cell phones.  Oh well.  We were just a few blocks from my office so we rode down to use the loo. (One too many cups of tea before the ride)

While at the office we debated whether to ride home or leave the bikes at the office and go have a chai latte and wander around downtown a bit.  I peeked out the blinds and it was raining - heavily.  I looked at the clock and it was 11:50 am.  Damn, the rain was right on time.

Well, that escalated quickly.  More debating ensued.  Do we wait out the rain or just pedal for home? We said "screw it, we aren't going to melt" and I can make us chai lattes at home. The rain didn't look like it was going to let up.

Out into the rain and only 3 miles (4.82 km) to home.  At one point I was wishing I'd had a pair of gloves with me.  My hands were cold and dripping wet and getting colder in the wind.  Luckily we both were wearing Columbia water resistant jackets and also water resistant pants.  In Oregon you have to dress for undecided weather. Neither of us wore a helmet since we knew we wouldn't be mingling with traffic.  Brad was smart enough to wear a hat.  Me? Not so much. 

Our faces and hands were soaked, but for the most part we weren't cold, just our hands.  And we were smiling and laughing the whole time.  We did stop under the covered bridge a bit for me to warm my hands.  By the time we came out the other side of the bridge it had lightened up considerably and by the time we got home it had stopped.

Sure - if we had of waited downtown it would have stopped and we would have kept riding.  Oh well.

And no, it never rained again for the rest of the day while we sat inside, drank chai lattes, and watched a movie. Theory of Everything. It was a good movie and I recommend if you haven't seen it.

Troubadour is teaching Team Oregon this weekend so there won't be much else going on.  Maybe next weekend.

- Au Revoir

" My two favorite things in life and libraries and bicycles. The both move people forward without wasting anything.  The perfect day: riding a bicycle to the library." - Peter Golkin
.

25 comments:

  1. When I first saw the title the first thing that came to mind was you going out and stomping on all the flowers (complete with helmet). I think it's from pedal to the metal suggests stomping on the accelerator.

    The flowering trees make a nice backdrop for the bikes. And thanks for the recommendation on the Hawking film. I thought about watching it on the flight back but preferred to sleep. I'll look for it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was thinking the title was a play on words for the petal to the metal. I couldn't think of another one except 'Do you like pina coladas", because, you know, we were caught in the rain......

      The other movie we watched last weekend was The Judge with Robert Downey Jr. A long movie at 2.5 hours but it was good.

      Delete
  2. Wow, your spring is far ahead of us, magnolias are slowly opening up, but weather is still nasty. The more I enjoyed your little field trip with your beautiful bikes. Love the bicycles on the petal carpet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are ahead even for Oregon. Early blooms mean early an allergy season for a lot of folks this year. My allergies are grass so they won't kick in for another few months luckily.

      I thought the petals made a pretty carpet too. It was windy and was weird that it was 'snowing' petals on us as we stood under the big one.

      Delete
  3. Love the magnolia-tree-and-bicycle photos! So travel magazine worthy! Cloudy day for you but a good day to explore the U. campus.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am glad you liked the pics and thank you for the compliment. We like to explore campus as neither of us went to a large high school or to college (just night classes). Campus life is pretty much a mystery to us.

      Delete
  4. Magnolia is my favorite flowering tree. I can just smell their fragrance. Apology accepted.

    Enjoy every bit of this glorious spring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Martha. I didn't know magnolia was your favorite of the flowering trees. You'd love the view around here right now. Well, except for the dreaded grey days - dense fog this morning but sunshine and 72 right now. Our spring has just been so weird.

      Crater Lake only had 40 inches of snow this year compared to the over 100 inches they normally get. Makes us worry about fire season and drought Our nice spring will come at a price I'm afraid.

      Delete
    2. My magnolia is still up to its fuzzy buds in snow. The peace sign made me smile almost as much as the blossoms.

      Delete
    3. Still snow for you Karen?

      I am glad the peace sign made you smile. It did me too, that is why I needed a closer look.

      Delete
  5. Love the blossoms AND today's quote. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am glad you enjoyed them. I too love to read. I always have. I guess because my mom was an avid reader too.

      Delete
  6. Looking at the distressed picture and comparing to color is like when I see old monochrome, stiffly posed, long exposure pictures from the past and try to see them as real people in full color. Art versus Life, art is life, art should be life. I'm not sure. I like the distressed photoshop but the full color version is life lived...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great analogy. The distressed pictures make you wonder at the vibrancy of the moment. I wonder about the really old monochrome portraits and how the people would look if they actual smiled.

      Delete
  7. Lovely ride destination and photos. Good call exploring during Spring break. I've explored parts of the campus, but plenty of places I haven't discovered yet. Corvallis is a wonderful town for biking or walking through the old neighborhoods. Love the distressed look in the one photo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kari. I am sure there are places we haven't seen on campus too. I like to wander through during the summer as well, although they do have summer sessions.

      Delete
  8. Great photos!

    I had an Electra (I think the model was "Rat Rod") once upon a time. I loved it! It was so relaxing to ride. I haven't ridden a Trek, but I have ridden another hybrid and I was amazed at how comfortable it was too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lucky. Electra makes some really nice looking bikes. Nice beach cruisers too.

      I like the hybrid for asphalt riding as the seat is comfier than my mountain bike and it doesn't lean as far forward to the handlebar.

      Delete
  9. Thanks for the flower pics. Ours are still a few weeks out yet at the earliest. The irises and tulips are only an inch tall so far.
    Bikes look fun. might have to get mine off the ceiling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome. Soon those flowers will be blooming and you'll wonder where the snow and cold went.

      Time to get the bike off the ceiling and go for a pedal powered tour of the city. Find a spot not too far away and ride for a nice chai latte.

      Delete
  10. Great pictures! The Magnolias are looking amazing! Nice weather to be pedaling! It's getting way too warm down here, way too fast!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. The magnolias are mostly spent now but the crabapples are putting on quite a show.

      Such a warm spring makes me wonder how dry and hot the summer will be. Worse drought down where you live I am sure.

      Delete
  11. I want a peace sign like that just sitting in the garden! As usual, beautiful pics and those magnolias are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Knowing your cool garden shed that peace sign would fit right in!!

      Delete
  12. The colors, the smells ...oh how I love spring too!

    Such a neat place to ride and take it all in!

    Thank you for the experience...:-)

    ReplyDelete