http://thomasng.net/photos/teanna-and-whittys-wedding/

Tour de Vine part 2 – Hood River / Odell

Distance to-date this year: 1131.87 miles (since March 12th, 2009)

Route
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Davis+Dr&daddr=Mount+Hood+Hwy%2FMt+Hood+Hwy%2FOR-35+to:Sunday+Dr+to:Neal+Creek+Rd+to:Neal+Creek+Rd+to:Thomsen+Rd+to:Mount+Hood+Hwy%2FMt+Hood+Hwy%2FOR-35+to:Fir+Mountain+Rd+to:Eastside+Rd+to:Eastside+Rd+to:OR-35+to:Eastside+Rd+to:Unknown+road+to:Old+Columbia+River+Dr%2FUS-30+to:Belmont+Dr+to:Alameda+Rd+to:Unknown+road+to:45.625023,-121.544666+to:Davis+Dr&hl=en&geocode=FW8suAIdeGXB-A%3BFVI8uAId0dPB-A%3BFakwuAId_7vB-A%3BFasRuAIdNNnB-A%3BFcg4uAIdctnB-A%3BFV40uAIdtwHC-A%3BFXVOuAIdIt3B-A%3BFeByuAIddAfC-A%3BFe2JuAIduQXC-A%3BFePSuAId_hfC-A%3BFc6juAIdvNnB-A%3BFd7juAIdNBbC-A%3BFeohuQIdLhLC-A%3BFe5suQIdaxzC-A%3BFVlJuQIdL3jB-A%3BFZwCuQIdfELB-A%3BFbPauAIdW7bA-A%3B%3BFWAsuAIdMmjB-A&mra=dpe&mrcr=9&mrsp=17&sz=15&via=2,5,7,8,11,14,15,17&sll=45.625834,-121.541834&sspn=0.014736,0.038624&ie=UTF8&ll=45.669485,-121.525612&spn=0.088888,0.22316&t=p&z=13

Distance to-date this year: 846.78 miles (since March 12th, 2009)

Rode with Ben and Erik

Route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/or/hillsboro/104124348873147260

Basically:
My place to work. To REI via Evergreen, to Erik’s place via Cornell/206th. Back to Evergreen via 206th, to Jackson School, to Mason Hill Rd, to Jackson Quarry Rd, to West Union/Cornelius Pass Rd to Rock Creek Trail to Cornell, to 206th back to Erik’s place.

Uyen: what makes time travel possible?
Thomas: 1) the Flux Capacitor, and 2) 88mph.
Uyen: hahaha yay!

I rode with 9 other crazy bicycling friends (and 8990 strangers) for the 28th annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic.

We camped out at the halfway mark in Centralia, WA. We had 3 great support team members who helped us out at the half way mark. Thank you for setting up our camp site! I am definitely doing this again in 2008! I’m sure that everyone will do this again as well (or I’ll keep asking them until they cave in hehehe). Next time, we may want to register a little earlier and confirm registrations, and possibly take the train up.

I’ll post photos when they are all available. Until then, these are the ride details that I was able to record:

Day 1: 102 miles; 6hrs 29minutes; avg speed 16.3mph
Day 2: my computer got reset at mile 140. So, these are the mile 140+ stats:
3hrs 57minutes, 15.24mph; avg cad: 67; max: 31.5; 60.29mi

The annual event did not go with out incident, however. Some guy fell on to my bike and cracked the left carbon fiber crank. The replacement is $170.00 + labor, and will be here in about 2 weeks. The guy stopped between me and Simon and fell onto my bike. This was at mile 25. I didn’t notice the crack until mile 75. I’m thankful that the crank stayed in one piece through the 204 mile ride. There were other crashes involving bicyclists only leaving them with scrapes, bruises and broken bones. On top of that, I am saddened to hear that a drunk driver did a hit-and-run with a bicyclist Sunday morning. The following is an excerpt from the Seattle PI article:

“Gerald Marvin, 24, of Seattle suffered serious injuries when the driver of a sport utility vehicle swerved out of his lane on U.S. 30 northwest of Portland. Struck from behind, Marvin slammed into two other cyclists, who suffered minor injuries.

Police pulled over a 40-year-old driver, an ex-convict with a 1989 conviction for an Oregon murder, eight miles from the accident scene.

Daniel B. Whittlinger was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run, driving under the influence and violating his parole, according to the Oregon State Police.

Witnesses said the driver initially stopped his Jeep Grand Cherokee after the 9:20 a.m. crash, but then sped away, said Lt. Gregg Hastings, a state police spokesman.

Whittlinger is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.”

This is one large win for cyclists. We do fight back.

The funeral services for Marvin Blocker will be held at 2pm on Monday July, 9 at the River of Life church in Oregon City.

The address is:
405 Warner Parrott Road
Oregon City, OR 97045
[map]

Monday and Tuesday were tough. I was tired from 188 mile ride weekend. The STP is coming up and I wanted to make sure that I can finish 200 miles in two days worth of riding. I’m sure I can do it now, but I need to learn how to not sprint ahead and control my pace. That’ll definitely help out the tired feeling at the end of the rides. I seem to burn as much energy as I can on the practice rides so I’ll be ready, but in doing so, it does not help train for an at-pace ride.

Wednesday was the 4th of July. It was hot. My apartment was hot too. I ended up going into work to get at least some of that AC blowing around. I ended up working (at my choice) to catch up on some board level tests. It was actually quite relaxing. No one else was around to take away my scopes, or other lab equipment that I had setup in my area. It was great. I headed into Portland later that night to meetup with everyone (Chantelle, Christen, Katie, Josh, Steve, Troy, and Ty) for a BBQ and we watched the fireworks. That was really cool. Someone made a comment as to how the majority of our core group of friends are still from Franklin. I find that truly amazing.

Thursday started out alright and I went biking with Connie. We completed a 21.84 mile ride. That was pretty fun, and I got her a new Facebook picture! After the ride, I came home, and things went down hill. Marvin passed away July 5th. I’m still having a hard time trying to comprehend that. It’s not fair how you can talk about someone one day, and the next they’re gone. Services will be held on Monday, and i’m going to take the afternoon off to attend that. Rest in peace Marvin.

Friday – Steve got into town. We hung out at Produce Row and went to the Alibi. I got home at 3am and went to sleep at 4am.

Saturday – I got up at 8, went to REI to pickup my STP packet. I also went to Erin and Geoff’s wedding. It was really good to see them both. Went to the Blues Festival too and we watched Porky’s afterwards at the place that Chantelle is house sitting for. It was a nice place. I got home at 3am again. It’s now 3:34am and I’m realizing that my complete thoughts have translated into really short sentences. I’m done. I’ll edit this later.

If the news has not yet reached you – I’m sorry for it coming via a bulletin on myspace, but Marvin Blocker passed away yesterday July 5, 2007.

Although the exact cause of his death is yet to be determined, it is believed to have been heart related.

There is no word about services yet.

Anyone who knew Marvin knew that his potential was limitless. Despite enduring some hardships the last few years, those in contact with him always believed that the hilarious, brilliant guy forever comfortable being the center of attention would get things straight and go on to greatness.

At 24, it’s clear that he was cheated by time.

His friends and family have lost a truly unique individual and will miss him for everything he was and everything he could have been.

- Jd

You’ll be missed Marvin.

Gonna miss you man.