Comment: Have A Great Ride

Dear, dear Cycle Oregon folks... it's been a long road since this Blog was set up in July, but not as long as the road you'll be taking tomorrow! What a polite and interesting group you are... I had fun with the questions and the comments and especially with how nice everyone has been, here and in the Cycle Oregon forum.

We've had tons of "hits" on this Blog, and we've had web traffic from almost every state, including Alaska and Hawaii. We've also been visited by viewers from countries like Australia, Italy, Brazil, and Japan... and of course our neighbors to the north, Canada.

Here's to a good time, a great ride, meeting new friends, and exploring new places... Thanks again for visiting the blog, the River Canyon Press Cycle Oregon page, and most of all... thanks for visiting us in "The State of Jefferson." (Remember to send us a few pictures or comments when the ride is over... we'll post them here to share with everyone.)

Good luck!

Comment: Yreka Welcome Mat Is Out As Well

Here's some info on the planned events for Cycle Oregon participants during the Yreka stop, as per the Siskiyou Daily News.

Quoting fom Mike Slizewski's article, "Cycle Oregon activities in Yreka include shuttles from the fairgrounds to downtown Yreka. They will run from 12:45 p.m. to 6 p.m., and there will be four pick-up and drop-off locations, according the Yreka Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jill Harris.“A map will be handed out on Sunday at the chamber booth,” Harris stated in a press release. “Shuttle service is a fundraiser for Madrone Hospice, and the charge is $5 per person.” Ringe Pool will be open from 1-6 p.m. for cyclists to swim and/or shower. A fundraiser for the Yreka High School swim team, cost is $3 per person. Photographs will be taken by M&M Photography at sculptor Ralph Starritt’s local icon, the Yreka Miner. This is one of the shuttle stops. Yreka Mailbox will be set up in the Yreka chamber office with U.S.P.S. flat-rate shipping available. Harris also stated that the following businesses will be open from 1-6 p.m.: Klander’s Deli, the Village Grind (free WiFi and a 10-percent discount for Cycle Oregon), Surroundings, Natural Selections, Siskiyou Gallery & Frame (10-percent Cycle Oregon discount), Miner Street Antiques, Capp’s Speakeasy (local beer and wine-tasting, and featuring Granola Girl products), Celestial Dreams, New Traditions Dulcimers & Woodcrafts, Hospice Heartisans, The Shoe Shop, The Audacity entertainment café (live music), Liberty Arts gallery (current exhibit is local Indian art), Dave’s Clocks (no sales tax for Cycle Oregon), Tasty Q (State of Jefferson items and local food products), Black’s Home Furnishings (mining display), Shoppe Serendipity, MacGregor’s Gifts, Grogg & Book Emporium ($1 books and Lee Morris woodcarving demonstration, free “grogg” for Cycle Oregon), Winterburn’s Lighthouse (50-percent off everything sale), Ming’s ($9 Chinese buffet per person), and Sister Chic."

For the full text of the article go to SiskiyouDailyNews.com.

Blogger note: If you get a chance while you're in the Main Street area, stop by the Siskiyou County Courthouse at 311 Fourth Street. Go through the front door and to your immediate left (unless someone moved it) you'll see the biggest display of gold south of Alaska. It's been called "The Million Dollar Gold Display," but the value may be much more than that now. It's a great way to see the different forms of gold (placer, nugget, dust, etc.) and yes... it is real.

Comment: After The Ride

After the RIDE, feel free to send pictures, comments, and heck, even poems (normally I'm very touchy about poetry) if you have them and we'll post them here... kind of a showcase for everyone. We'll keep this up for a while after the ride is over.

Send your material to the River Canyon Press at publicrelations@rivercanyonpress.com and we'll try to get them on the blog site to share with everyone else. The lawyer is making me say a bunch of legal junk about the submissions, but my summary is: Your stuff will be on the internet, we aren't paying you for it, and we have no control of what happens to it after we put it in the blog. There, that's done. Don't submit your invention ideas, the secret Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe, or a map of where the gold is buried in your backyard... everyone will see it.

Question: Oregon Caves Shuttle

Anonymous asked, "Is there a shuttle available to visit the Oregon Caves while we are there?"

I've called around, and unless the Cycle Oregon folks are planning to provide one your options may be limited. (Update 9/7/09: There may be shuttles to the Caves... see the Cycle Oregon Forum posts here.)

I love the Oregon Caves. The place is thick with history, and if I had a magic wand the Chateau would be my personal writer's retreat in the mountains... but until I find that magic wand I settle for one of the old fashioned rooms (no tv, no phone) and sharing the place with everyone else staying there that night. It's one of the places I'd encourage my out-of-town friends to see...

Out of the box idea... A Day 6 "Layover" Adventure: What if you and a few friends prearranged a car rental in Grants Pass? Some companies will even come and pick you up. The drive from Grants Pass to Cave Junction takes about 35 minutes (30ish miles), and then the drive from Cave Juntion to the Oregon Caves is about another 30 minutes (20ish miles) (windy mountain road). Take a backpack with a picnic lunch, and after the Cave tour you can hang out in the forest above the cave (where the tour ends) and picnic...There are two paths back to the base from the end of the tour, and I usually take the longer one. You can also see if the Chateau is serving lunch (or dinner). If it's a really hot day, there is a creek fed pond behind the Chateau that is perfect for feet dangling or even more... but the water is very cold. Ask the Chateau staff for a mini-tour of the building, or -- if you have a group going with you -- call ahead and ask if you could arrange a group tour of the caves and the Chateau. In the past the staff has been delightful and amenable to requests.

I always, even in hot summer temps, bring a sweatshirt as a backup IN the cave... can feel very cold... 44 degrees, I think, all year.

Once you leave Cave Junction for the Oregon Caves, there are no gas stations and no stores.

Here are some car rental places in Grants Pass. I haven't used them. If you're a Costco member, try to book through their "TRAVEL" tab on Costco.com. I've found great deals there once in a while...

Enterprise Rent-A-Car - Grants Pass - http://www.enterprise.com/
1325 Ne 7Th St, Grants Pass - (541) 471-7800

Discount Rent-A-Car - 1470 NE 7th St, Grants Pass - (541) 471-6411

Budget Rent-A-Car: Grants Pass - 825 NE ""F"" St - http://www.budgettruck.com/
825 NE ""F"" St, Grants Pass - (541) 471-6311

Oregon Caves Information:
National Park Service -- http://www.nps.gov/orca/index.htm
The Chateau at Oregon Caves -- http://ivcdo.projecta.com/sectionindex.asp?sectionid=2

If you miss it on this trip... think about putting it on your list of things to do when you come back.

Hope this helps. Drive safe. Have fun!

Info: Lake Selmac Welcome Mat Is Out

Here's some Lake Selmac area information, from Mark, courtesy of the Cycle Oregon Forum at http://forum.cycleoregon.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=598 for those who may not have seen it:

"I've been involved with planning the community booth at Lake Selmac, and I wanted to let everyone know some of what we'll have available for you there. As you ride over the hill from Happy Camp, you'll descend into the Illinois Valley, the gateway to the high Siskiyous. The Siskiyou mountains are a biologically and geologically unique ecosystem, and we wanted to share our excitement about being in such a special place. In addition, the Community Information booth is being sponsored by the Illinois River Valley Arts Council, which for several years has developed a unique program of bringing the Arts into our local schools through our Learning Through Art program. At the Community Information Booth we'll have extensive information about the Arts Council and our programs. Also, we've teamed up with the Siskiyou Field Institute to present information about all the specialness of the Siskiyou Mountain region."

"Here's some of the specific things we'll have at the Community Information Booth:Free wine tasting courtesy of Bendock Estates Winery from 6 to 8 pmWe'll have a laundry service available. Bring your laundry to the Community Information Booth before 8 pm (of course, earlier is better!) and we'll have it laundered and folded and available for you to pick it up by 6 am the next morning. A local laundromat, the Brown Barn Laundry in Cave Junction, is teaming up to provide this service. They are very familiar with washing and drying cycling clothes. Cost is $9 per load.We going to have a raffle with two dynamite prizes. One prize is an overnight for two at the Caves Chateau and Oregon Caves, plus dinner for two at the Chateau Dinning Room, and a Caves Tour. In addition, if you want to bring your bikes to ride either up or down the hill from the Caves (a beautiful 8 mile hill, or 20 miles from Cave Junction all the way to the Caves), we'll help arrange car or bike shuttle for you. This vacation can taken when you choose.The other prize is two nights lodging for two at Deer Creek Center, the home of The Siskiyou Field Institute (and John Wayne's old ranch), and two days of courses at the Siskiyou Field Institute (SFI). Lots in info about SFI and their wonderful selection of classes will be available at the Community BoothTickets for the raffle will be only be sold at Lake Selmac on the day the Cycle Oregon is there. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20"

"We'll have two shirts available: One is a wonderful embroidered shirt we're making in conjunction with a local business that specializes in embroidered clothing. It will have an outline of the high Siskiyou Mountains and a Cycle Oregon souvenir message. The other shirt, a T-Shirt from SFI, will feature a silk screened image of the Darlingtonia, an insect eating plant found in the Illinois Valley and widely in Siskiyous.We'll have a couple of postcards available, and if you want to send a card to someone, fill it out and we'll mail it for you the next day!We'll have an Associate Membership available to the Illinois River Valley Arts Council. Associate members are kept up to date on our programs, especially our unique effort to bring the Arts in the schools and make up for the budget cuts in Arts education that our schools have suffered.Siskiyou Field Institute will also offer memberships in various categories. Cell phone reception is pretty limited and the Lake Selmac campsite. We're working with a local computer company to try to provide a wireless internet signal at the Community Information Booth. If this works out (we need to do final testing yet!), we'll have a free Internet Cafe and the Community Booth, and also if you have a laptop or other device, the signal will be available to you to check email, etc. And of course, we'll have some great food vendors with scrumptious goodies, and some special marketplace folks including displays of human powered vehicles.Mark R"

Good job, Mark R. !

Comment: DEET

Anonymous added, "WARNING: I've heard rumors that the amazing DEET molecules don't play nice with lycra/spandex/cycling clothes. So unless one wants to chance putting on a "how come that guy's clothes are disappearing, mommy?" show, be VEWWWY COWFULL when applying DEET ("Dis Enzyme Exposes Things") on or near your cycling duds...or maybe it's just another urban legend. Might be fun to find out..."

Wow. Had no idea. I guess if you're riding faster than the mosquitos can fly, then you only have to worry about the little monsters in camp... Or, if the DEET does dissolve your shiny riding clothes, you might want to think about some really good sunblock too.

On a side note: For those of you I've seen training in the area, good job. Hope you're enjoying us!

Comment: Another Wi Fi Spot

Anonymous added, "Blondies' Bistro also has free Wi-Fi (and Great Food), downtown on 5th & G St. 541-479-0420" in Grants Pass. Here's the website: http://www.blondiesbistro.com/page/page/5905570.htm

Question: Shipping Alternatives on The Ride

From anonymous34, we were asked, "I'm planning on buying a few things along the route, and I'd like to ship them home since we won't have much room in our bags. What shipping options are available along the route?"

All of the standard shipping options, like UPS, FedEx are available in Medford, Grants Pass and Yreka. In places like Glendale and Happy Camp, there is a US Postal Service presence and depending on the time of day and day of the week, they even have boxes to put your treasures in to ship back to yourself.

In Happy Camp, at the vendor fair the Author Signing booth will have the large flat rate boxes available to hand out (500 or so)... and you can take it to the post office yourself (before 5 pm?), or have the Author Signing booth ladies take it for you for a nominal charge. Just fill it up, write your address on it, seal it up, give it to the ladies with your payment, and you can rest assured they'll get it in the mail. Also, a lot of the vendors along the route have been asked to provide a shipping option for the items they're offering.

Another idea is to stow a few of the kevlar type priority mail envelopes from the USPS in your bags with preprinted postage from the post office on it. Then you could put some items in it (a few tshirts, handmade necklaces, etc.), find the closest post office, and put it though the mail slot. For safety regulations, I was told that there are big restrictions on stamped packages in Priority Mail (I know it sounds weird), so check this one out for yourself.

Question: Wifi Access

Submitted by SAG 4 Driver, "Many folks (myself included) unfortunately do not disconnect from the real world completely during the week. Is it possible to get information on "free" wireless spots in each of the cities we are visting?"

SAG, that is a great question and I imagine many other riders are wondering the same thing. We've included a list of commercial and public sources of "free wifi", but the listings are not guaranteed and may change. In Oregon, most public libraries offer free guest internet access (usually up to one hour per day) on their library computers... and unfortunately the wifi hotspot availability is going to be very limited on your trip in areas like Happy Camp and Glendale.

Before I get to the list of wifi spots, I personally use a Verizon USB satellite/cell tower internet hookup for about $60 a month for direct internet service that doesn't rely on wifi... It can be hot-swapped from one computer to the other and has on-board software. With the device I can connect to the internet anywhere I can get a phone signal. I use the internet for my business and for investment issues every day, and if I were going on the road for a week and didn't have the setup that I do have, I might even try to borrow or "rent" one from a friend/coworker/family member for the week. (After reading some other posts it may seem that I work for Verizon... not true, it's just about the only thing to work out here "in the sticks.")

One other trick I've used in the past, to check on-computer dedicated email (like Outlook) was to create a gmail account through Google, and then have all my regular email forwarded to the gmail account. I could access the gmail system from any public computer in the US... like in a library or computer cafe. I guess it all depends on what you need.

Wi-Fi Hotspots (partial list, may change)

Medford

Central Library
205 S Central Ave
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 774-8689

Red Robin
501 Biddle Rd
Medford, OR 97504

The Branch
628 N Riverside Ave
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 776-6919

Yreka

Best Western Miners Inn (in the lobby)
122 E Miner St
Yreka, CA 96097

Village Grind
400 W Miner St
Yreka, CA 96097
(530) 842-4607

Happy Camp Area

Happy Camp Community Computer Center
Happy Camp High School
Happy Camp, CA 96039
(530) 493-5213
(This location is open from noon to 5:30 p.m., and has computers with high speed internet available to the public. Wifi may not be available.)

Cave Junction Area (Lake Selmac)

Valley Surf Internet
139 S Caves Ave
Cave Junction, OR 97523
(541) 592-4117

Carlos Restaurante
120 N Redwood Hwy
Cave Junction, OR 97523
(541) 592-4553

Grants Pass

Dutch Brothers Coffee
322 NW 6th St
Grants Pass, OR 97526
(541) 476-6358

Island Juice
1610 SW Allen Creek Rd
Grants Pass, OR 97527

PFG Computer
208 NW 6th St
Grants Pass, OR 97526
(541) 659-4790

Blue Stone Bakery
412 NW 6th St
Grants Pass, OR 97526
(541) 471-1922

Good luck SAG, and we'll update this list as more info comes in.

Question: Cell Phone Coverage

Submitted by an anonymous reader, "How's the cell phone coverage on the route?"

You will be traveling in remote and undeveloped areas for much of your ride, and cell phone signal coverage is very "iffy" in some areas. Near cities like Medford, Yreka, and Grants Pass we've been told that most of the regular carriers come in just fine -- but in the remote areas like Happy Camp, Lake Selmac, and Glendale locals use Verizon. Expect and plan for coverage "dead zones."

Question: Bigfoot Photo Op

Comment and question from D., "I'm sad to report that due to habitat loss, sasquatchs can no longer be found in Western Canada so a big part of the appeal of Cycle Oregon's visit to Jefferson State would be the propects of photographing a sasquatch up close. Do you think I could lure a creature close with peanut butter sandwiches and cold milk? Looking forward to my trip! Thank you; D. Wayne Mather Langley BC Canada(eh!)"

D., we're looking forward to hosting you as your elusive Sasquatch hunt continues. Around here we call him Bigfoot, and you can't throw a stick around here without hitting someone who claims to have seen Bigfoot in the mountains around Happy Camp.

There have been serious (?) attempts over the years to scientifically search for our beloved beast -- "Monster Hunters" was the most recent televised event with their nighttime listening stations placed in boats on the Klamath, downriver a bit from Happy Camp. I'm not sure if the peanut butter sandwich and cold milk trap has been tried yet, but I do know from personal experience that a six pack of warm Oly's (actually, only a five pack) and beef jerky do not work.

If you do not photograph the beast, there's always the giant metal sculpture of him as you enter town, and the wooden carving of him at the Post Office -- and plenty of other neat things to take pictures of on your ride. Here's a bumper sticker from the area for the last election.

Other local "legends" and oddities:

• Local Native American lore also places a mountain devil in the area, called a Putawan.
• The giant "spiderweb" you'll see in town doesn't mean there's a spider as big as a house running around loose. Someone built the (currently unverified) "World's Biggest Dreamcatcher" and put it up near Parry's Market.
• Locals say that you can regularly see UFO's from the top of Shinar's Saddle -- a mountain area close to the last big uphill climb on your way into Happy Camp on Highway 96. It's been explained that the fast moving "balls of light" are probably ground lightning, but rumor has it that an Area 52 exists near Klamath Falls and "alien technology" is being tested by "the government". Hmmmm. Not sure about that one, but doesn't every community have their little odd quirks?

D., let's hope that your Sasqutches return. Until then, feel free to look for them on your ride!

Question: Temperature and Bugs

Submitted by Jerry, "I'm very much looking forward to spending time riding in the State of Jefferson. What should I expect for evening and morning temperature range during Cycle Oregon? Any particular bug problems at that time, bug repellent needed?"

Well, thanks Jerry -- we're all putting out the Welcome Mat, and hoping that you enjoy our part of the country so much that you come back to visit us again!

Regarding temperatures, there are a lot of factors to consider. I'll outline some of my own observations regarding your route, but remember that rainstorms, local forest fire activity, and unexpected cold fronts can always throw my "forecast" off. We have had summer temperatures here sometimes into October, and if I were going on the ride I'd guess that daytime temps between 80 and 90, and nightime lows in the high 50's, 60's and low 70's. Please remember that I said "guess". Personally I'd gamble on leaving the big sleeping bag and the big jackets at home if I had to make a choice today, and layer under a long sleeve tshirt and thinner sweats in camp. Before you leave to come to the ride, check these Medford TV station websites for their forecasts: http://www.ktvl.com/sections/weather/7day/ or http://www.localnewscomesfirst.com/


Daytime observations:

• Medford: In the late summer when there is a lack of wind the city sometimes has a hazy, smoky layer above it that lets the sunlight and the heat "in" but doesn't always let it "out".
• Yreka: Technically "high desert", with breezes that sometimes carry more heat than cooling. Once you get onto Highway 96, the Klamath River will help cool things down a bit, and the high desert turns into stands of fir and pine alternating with oak filled hillsides giving some shade.
• Happy Camp: Even though it's smack dab in the middle of the forest it can get the Yreka-like desert heat. The Klamath cools it off a little, usually bringing a breeze through the town (and the River Park) in the morning and at night.
• Lake Selmac: You'll see dry, oak filled valleys after you descend from the Greyback portion of your ride, but the Lake area seems to be a bit cooler than the countryside around it.
• Glendale: Less familiar with this neck of the woods, but what I have seen alternates between farm fields and wooded mountains. I'd guess it'd be a little cooler on this portion that most of the others.
• Grants Pass: It gets "Happy Camp" hot here, too... but the ride route does have a bit of trees for shade and the Rogue River brings a breeze in the morning and in the evening.

Possible local forest fire activity can create that inversion effect (Medford haze) causing temps to rise, and depending on the type of weather system rain can make it seem hotter because of the humidity after.

About the BUGS! There can be mosquitos, heavily, especially near water. It's strange, but it seems that some people tend to "attract" the mosquitos while others are nearly untouched. Once I found "Ben's" insect repellent, I've used it ever since. You can ususally find it at Campmor.com or in your big box chains, but it is 100% DEET. I wavered for a while about the DEET warnings I had heard in the past -- especailly for my children -- but personally I weighed the exposure risks against the harm that dozens and dozens of mosquito bites and tick "implantations" could do. It has usage directions on the package, but I also spray my socks or pant legs to reduce ticks. The mosquito bites are annoying and itchy, but can carry the West Nile virus -- although I've never known anyone who got it. The ticks, on the other hand, only start to become irritating after they've been chomping on you for a while (and they go for warm spots -- head, groin, underarms) and they have been proven to sometimes carry Lyme's Disease. I have known one person who did contract Lyme's. As a parent I tend to put those worst case scenarios out there, but really the odds are everyone will be just fine with a little prevention. Let me know if I need to calrify anything. Hope this helps!

Question: Greyback Road

Submitted by a viewer, "How's the road over Grayback?"

I just went "over the hill" to Cave Junction a few days ago, and I paid especially close attention to the condition of the road.

For years there had been marked differences in the condition since roughly one half of the road is in California and the other is in Oregon. The winter snow drifts -- sometimes five to six feet -- that close down the seasonal road every year also add to the road erosion problems. In the past several years water runoff measures have been taken to keep the road in better condition.

Not being a road engineer, please take my descriptions with a grain of salt. The California side has recently been "black topped" or asphalted, and the condition is smooth and level. The center line markers -- at this point -- are the yellow tabs instead of paint. At the summit, someone has marked the "Cali" and "Oregon" line on the road with orange spray paint -- being a Greyback traveller since it was paved decades ago, there seems to always have been the painted marking.

At the painted line, you can see that the Oregon side is different. It is what we would call a standard paved mountain road -- with a few bumps and cracks here and there. It's not uncommon to see a small section of the road, usually on the downhill side, slouching a little bit due to the erosion under the road. The "slouch" causes a little bump -- worse ones get taken care of.

There is one spot in the road -- currently -- where road repair is happening due to a gully washout. The small detour to the side is probably less than 50 yards, and is not paved. Hopefully the road repair will be done by the time you all show up.

If it were me, I'd watch my speeds on the downhill side -- there are some areas where keeping it on the road is very important. Also, when you see the 10 mph caution sign and "whoa!" painted on the road (by the same state line painter?) -- it signals the beginning of one hairpin switchback.

It's a beautiful, beautiful ride. We can't wait to welcome all of you!

Question: Cake Order

Chuck B. asked, "What's the best place in Yreka to order a cake?"

I've purchased several birthday and anniversary cakes from Raley's Bakery, inside the Raley's Store at the south of Yreka. You'll find decorated sheet cakes as well as a few specialty items. The address is 1842 Fort Jones Road, Yreka, CA and the phone number is (530) 842-4307. The store hours are 6 am to 10 pm.

A call to the bakery confirmed that they do need at least 24 hours notice for special orders. Prices (right now) are: 1/4 sheet, $14.99; 1/4 sheet with filling, $19.99; 1/2 sheet, $19.99; and 1/2 sheet with filling is $27.99.

For a super special occasion where you'd like something a little different, there are several online and out-of-town specialty stores (like Dean & Deluca at www.deandeluca.com) with overnight shipping in the $200 range... but if you're at the bike camp you may have to talk someone into receiving the shipment for you and the logistics may make that plan too much trouble.

Enjoy!

Question: Klamath River Foam

User question: "Driving on Highway 96, I saw a foamy type of debris in the Klamath. What is it?"

For a long time we had heard concerns from rafters and other visitors about the occasional foamy matter spotted in the Klamath River. Quite a few folks speculated that it had something to do with pesticides, wastes, or pollution -- until about 15 years ago when a study was completed showing it was basically vegetable matter. If I remember correctly, I think the biologist quoted in the Siskiyou Daily News explained the process like what would happen if you put several heads of lettuce in a washing machine. (Sorry no reference available.)