June 15, 2016 Portland --> Gresham --> Ripplebrook Campground - 46.6 miles

We decided to take the MAX light rail out to Gresham to avoid the traffic and start the ride from there. The Springwater Trail Corridor runs about 8 miles to Boring, OR. This is a paved bike trail and was a wonderful warmup for getting the kinks worked out when riding a fully loaded touring bike. Beautiful little windflowers along the way, which was pretty much flat.

At Boring, we started riding a series of small roads and highways the approximately 20 miles or so to Estacada, the trailhead for the Cascading Rivers Bikeway (CRB). This ride was through rolling farmland and past strawberry fruit stands and Christmas tree farms. Lots of wild flowers. The temps were in the 50-60 degree range and quite overcast. A few sprinkles here and there, but no major rain at this point. 

In Estacada, we stopped at Subway for lunch (thanks Sassy and Morris for the gift card), then visited a local grocery store to get a few items for dinner since we were camping out. Then hit the CRB - a beautiful ride through lush green areas running alongside the rushing river. This is one of the delights I remember previously from riiding through Oregon in 2012. At certain points, the water in the stream/river swirled and flowed emerald green. Lots of old logs lodged at various places where it appeared they must have been headed for lumber mills. Another striking feature of the ride was the lack of traffic. We pretty much had the road to ourselves and, in fact, at one point the road was closed off to motorized traffic. 

Alas, along the way, our luck ran out and we encountered a short-lived downpour. Came up too quickly before I could get the rain gear on, so I was pretty soaked. Then cleared up for a while, then rained again. By then I had on the rain gear, which merely trapped the soaked clothing underneath. Lesson learned - just assume rain in Oregon and wear the rain gear to start with. 

We finally pulled in to the Ripplebrook Camp ground late in the afternoon, a beautiful heavily treed fairly primitive campground. Set up our tents in spitting rain, then changed into dry clothes and took a quick nap before dinner. Randy pulled out his portable camp stove, and I had a freeze dried pasta primavera dinner from REI with broccoli salad I had picked up from the store in Estacada. Topped off with a Grandma's oatmeal raisin cookie and via coffee. Quite a nice meal. Randy had his own Uncle Ben's concoction. As we finished up, it was beginning to lightly rain. We quickly cleaned up and retreated to our tents for the night. 

I obsessed throughout the night about possible deluges that would soak through the tent, and the fact that it was cold. Knew that my bike shoes were soaked and my feet would be wet and cold to start the next day. However, all in all, was quite cozy and comfy. No phone service or wi-fi, and because of the cold and wet I was not inclined to pull out the iPad. So did the next best thing and went to sleep at 8:00 pm. Planning more appropriate clothes for tomorrow. 

For those riding with us for the first time, thought you might wonder how Randy and I came to do this ride together. I met Randy at the start of the 3rd week of my Transamerica ride in 2012.  He lives in Tuscon AZ and was riding with 2 other friends from Arizona. As often happens on these kind of adventures, you meet others on the route and sometimes ride together for a while. In this case, Randy and I found that we were compatible biking partners and ended up riding together for almost 10 weeks to complete the Transamerica ride. We have stayed in touch since, and even did another ride in 2013 from Minneapolis to Bar Harbor, MA. This northwest ride arose out of our common appreciation for Oregon and the northwest, and a desire to ride the Jasper/Banff to Vancouver ride. Plus, I guess it is fair to say we are touring biking junkies at this point. 

June 14, 2016 - Travel to Portland, OR

Traveled to Portland to meet up with Randy for the Northwest Bike Tour ("NBT"). It was raining as my flight pulled into the gate. My thought - "better today than tomorrow when we actually start riding." 

Caught up with Randy at baggage claim and proceeded to the hotel. I had my bike with me, and started putting it together while Randy took the train over to the Amtrak station to pick up his bike. Miraculously, I was able to assemble the bike efficiently (for me), which made me appreciate the time I took last week to practice. Due to the strong possibility of rain throughout the ride, I asked for fenders for my birthday (thanks George). Practicing beforehand helped me work out any kinks or trepidation I had about installing the fenders for the first time. I also want to thank the guys at REI who packed the bike for travel. Everything was placed to make it as easy as possible for me.

One question I am sometimes asked is how I get the bike to another state to start a ride. There are several options. Randy likes to send his by Amtrak and pick it up. There are several companies that specialize in shipping bicycles, and will come pick them up where you designate and deliver to your destination. These options necessitate sending the bicycle several days in advance so that it is there when you arrive. I chose to check my bicycle as luggage, which meant that I knew it would be there with me when I arrived and I could just go to the hotel and put it together. No matter which method you choose, in my experience it costs around $65 - $75.

After Randy returned from Amtrak, we walked to Elmers for dinner. A basic family dining restaurant. I had a grilled chicken salad with apples, glazed nuts, cranberries and blue cheese crumbles. Thought I would at least give healthy eating a try to begin with. Or at least try to offset the bag of atomic fire balls I ate on the plane to Portland.

Returned to the room around 7:30 pm, and watched a little TV before going to sleep. The time change, coupled with the excitement of the day was exhausting. Tomorrow, the plan is to take the train (MAX) to Gresham, where we will pick up the trail to Estacada and start the Cascading Rivers Scenic Bikeway, a 70 mile trail ending in Detroit. We plan to camp halfway tomorrow, then stay in Detroit on Thursday.

https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/BIKE/docs/CascadingRiversMapandCue.pdf

As I start this new adventure, I am committed as always to "going with the flow" and being open to what each day brings. More and more, I have come to the place in life that I don't always have to know. In that uncertainty, I am freed up to engage in possibilities and experiences I might otherwise miss in the midst of all the planning. I readily confess that I am often afraid and sometimes give in to worry - about whatever. But the big lesson is to just go ahead and "do it afraid", whatever "it" is. The potential payoff is huge.

So I end this day with the words from "Slipping Through My Fist" by David Wilcox:

I have drifted down a ways 

along the shoreline,

I just watched these ropes 

give way 

where they were tied.

I could have reached out quick 

when the ropes first slipped, if I had tried, 

but I was wondering where the wind was trying to take me overnight, 

if I never did resist, 

and what strange breezes make a sailor want to come to this, 

with the lines untied, slipping through my fist.

It is downhill all the way to the ocean.

So, of course the river wants to flow.

The river's been here longer,

It's older and stronger and knows where to go.

2016 NORTHWEST BIKE ADVENTURE

In 2015, I took a break from my passion for long distance bicycle touring and hiked the 500 mile El Camino de Santiago (the "Way of St. James") with my sister Donna.  One of the many lessons and "aha moments" I took away from the hike included the realization that I am most definitely a biker at heart, and not a hiker.

On June 14, 2016, I am thrilled to be teaming up once again with my riding partner, Randy Garmon, to begin a new biking adventure through the northwest to include Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Canada. The ride will incorporate some areas we have ridden previously, and add many new routes and towns. Should be some stunning scenery and challenging hills/mountains. A bicyclist's paradise. I am especially looking forward to beating the Texas summer heat, and for the opportunity to re-connect with friends I have met the last couple of years as part of my previous adventures.

I am also using this ride to raise funds in support of "Truth-Be-Told", a long time favorite cause of mine. "Truth-Be-Told" was co-founded by a close friend, Nathalie Sorrell, and in part helps teach incarcerated women how to give voice to their life stories as part of the healing process and in preparation for life after prison. I have been privileged to personally witness the fruits of this important work over the years. Please check out their website at www.truth-be-told.org.

I invite you to join with me once again on this new adventure. If you wish to receive automatic email updates, sign up to the right where it says, "Follow Kim's Ride By Email".

See you on the road!

Kim Basinger
June 12, 2016

May 28, 2015 Day 33 - O Pedrouza --> Santiago - approx. 18 K

May 28, 2015  Day 33 - O Pedrouza --> Santiago - approx 18 K

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! We arrived at the Cathedral in Santiago at approx. 12:00 noon. Our journey officially ended at the Pilgrim's office where we received our Compostela certifying that we had completed the walk. 

The day started out with self-serve breakfast at the little pension where we stayed in O Pedrouza. Had a great view of hazy mountains out the window.

Got on the road by 7:00 am, full of anticipation since this was the culmination of the walk - reaching Santiago. The Camino was full of other pilgrims - you could almost feel the electricity in the air.

After about 45 minutes, we came upon John & Suzanne and Simon & Millie at a roadside cafe having breakfast. Stopped to visit and firm up plans in Santiago. Suzanne is walking today. It is understandably very important to her to complete the walk into Santiago. 

Most of the day was similar to the past few days. Wooded paths, interspersed with dirt paths alongside farmlands. The biggest surprise was that there were several climbs along the way. We all agree that the Brierly guidebook we rely on primarily does not adequately warn of the climbs the last few days. Decided that he must of gotten tired or petered out the last few days with regard to his reporting.

Coming into Santiago is somewhat reminiscent of Burgos, in that you walk for what seems like forever through industrial areas of the city. Finally, we reached the old part of the city and descended towards the Cathedral. They were just beginning the 12:00 noon mass as we arrived. Had to wind our way around the outside of the Cathedral to the other side to find the street where the official Pilgrim's office is located. Then, stood in line for over an hour to receive the official Compostela, signifying we had competed our Camino walk. 

By this time we were beyond hungry, so stopped for lunch before hunting for the hotel. I had scrambled eggs with mushrooms and Galician cheese, and Donna had one of those mixta salads she is becoming addicted to. Thus fortified, we started the hunt for the street on which our hotel was located. While only 300 meters from the Cathedral, it took several kind locals to steer us in the right direction before we finally arrived. What a treat! We essentially have a two bedroom suite and a tub to soak in to boot. Like everywhere else we have stayed in Spain, everything is very clean and spacious. The windows in my room open up to a lovely view of the Cathedral. And the cost of this little haven - approx. $60. Could not have asked for a better place to land at the end of our Camino. 

After resting and re-grouping, Donna and I walked over to take a look at the Cathedral (Donna's other mission was ice cream reconnaissance). Unfortunately, most of the outside is shrouded in scaffolding as part of a cleaning / renovation project. Still, it was quite impressive. We went inside and the Cathedral itself is huge, with many side chapels and interesting artwork. There is this tiny stone stair passageway where you can climb behind the altar and "hug" the saint. Although I am not even sure who he is, I went ahead and gave a little hug anyway - can't hurt.

We ran into Marion, Krys, etc and visited for a while, before meeting up with John & Suzanne a and Simon & Millie for dinner. The whole group ended up together for the evening. We are all going to get together for 12:00 noon mass tomorrow, then most of them are heading for Finestere on Saturday.

One of the fun things about being in Santiago is seeing the "cast of characters" everywhere you look. We keep seeing pilgrims we first saw at the beginning of the walk. Or, some we actually walked with. We saw John the Korean that I sat next to at dinner the other night in Ribidisu, and he gave us a big hug to celebrate the completion of our first Camino. Dan, from San Francisco. We saw this one guy from Germany that was on the trail with us for weeks on end, but would never say hello. I took his picture on the square as a memento. 

At dinner, Marion noted that she was a little disappointed that she didn't feel this overwhelming emotion upon entering Santiago. Some sort of spiritual high. I observed that we were so tired and hungry as we trudged in looking for where to go, and then hunting for the pilgrim's office, then foraging for food, and finally looking for the hotel....this evening we were finally able to relax with friends and revel in the accomplishment. I think the best word to describe my emotions is "content". This is more the type of situation where you continue to process and learn from the lessons long after the physical journey ends. 

I thought of one final thing I wanted to share, before I conclude this Camino. Often, while walking (or biking) for hours on end, I will engage in a practice of saying individual prayers of blessings on people whose names come to mind. That includes just about everyone who has been a part of my life, including readers of my blog. You.

Continued blessings on you all.

Buen Camino!

Kim

   

Donna - May 28, 2015 Day 33 - O Pedrouzo --> Santigao - 18 K

After 2 continents, 9000 air miles and 500 miles by foot our amazing Camino adventure draws to an end.

Some of our expectations were exceeded and some not quite met as expected - just like in life.   What I do know for sure is that the earth is still a beautiful place and relationships make the journey meaningful.

Buen Camino,
Donna

May 27, 2015 Day 32 - Ribadiso --> O Pedrouzo - 22.8 K

May 27, 2015  Day 32 - Ribadiso --> O Pedrouzo - 22.8 K

I don't have much to say about today. More of the same - perfect weather, similar walking conditions through rolling hills and farmland, a lot of interludes through forested paths. Donna and I were both in fairly quiet moods and walked alone most of the day. The crowd of pilgrims continued to increase as we near Santiago. 

As we started the day up the incline next to the albergue where we stayed last night, we heard a "yelp" behind us - John and Suzanne. Suzanne said her foot was feeling better and she was going to attempt to walk today. Again, her main goal to walk into Santiago tomorrow.  

A group of us hope to get together for the pilgrim's mass and swinging of the incense. Maybe dinner. But organizing all that amid the crowds and various places we are staying, not to mention communication issues, could be a trick. We'll have to see if there is some Camino magic to bring us back together.

I will end here for now, and let a few of the day's pictures say the rest.

Buen Camino!

Kim

May 26, 2015 Day 31 - Palas De Rei --> Ribadiso - 25.6 K

May 26, 2015  Day 31 - Palas De Rei --> Ribadiso - 25.6 K

Another perfectly gorgeous and stunning day to walk. Perfect temps - just cool enough and yet warm when standing in the sun. 

Just outside town there was a sign declaring only 65 more kilometers to Santiago. Another reminder that the end is imminent. 

The walk today was similar to yesterday's in that it was a variety of paths along rolling farmlands, and even more so in wooded areas. What was surprising was the amount of uphill climb. Based on our Camino guidebook, we anticipated that this would be a fairly level day, with a few small inclines. However, there were a number of STEEP climbs in the last 8 K of the day - a rather rude shock. Still, in all, a wonderful hiking day. 

Yesterday, Donna and I spent some time discussing our aging/end of life wishes and desires. Just to be clear on how we wanted things done in the event something were to happen to us. It was a good discussion and I think we both felt a real sister bond.

Today, my musings were more about the lessons and take-always for me from hiking the Camino. I organized the bullet points in my head, and have resolved to sit down and put them on paper in my own handwriting before I leave Spain. While fairly personal in nature, I am happy to share my thoughts with anyone who wants to know - just ask sometime. One thought I will share - I am very aware of and thankful for all the many blessings in my life and do not take them for granted. I know how fortunate I am in being able to truly live an abundant life.

We reached the albergue where we are staying tonight at about 2:30 pm. It was a particularly enjoyable afternoon and evening because John & Suzanne, Simon & Millie, Chris 2 and Marianne, and a few other standard Camino buddies are here, and we got to spend quality time telling stories and laughing. Group processing the Camino, and speaking of future meetings, although I think we all realize that it unlikely to really happen. We were also joined by a Korean gentleman named John, who is on his fourth Camino. He was a wealth of information and insight into life and adventures. He recommended that I consider biking in Tibet, as they have fabulous paved roads for biking, courtesy of the Chinese. Never thought about Tibet - maybe I will now. Another thing I have learned from these adventures is that it also seems to leave you with a sense that all things are possible, and to look out for those possibilities in your life. 

Tomorrow is the last "regular" day on the Camino. I consider walking into Santiago to end the walk on Thursday a special day of its own. As I sit here in the albergue library writing this blog, my new friend John from Korea came in to tell me that the pilgrim's mass where they swing the incense burner overhead (depicted in "The Way") is on Friday evening at 7:30 pm. So, the group will all plan to meet at the cathedral early to get good seats.

As you can probably tell, I am feeling a little emotional tonight. Blessings and "Buen Camino" to anyone who happens to read this blog entry.

Kim