I woke up late of course...it's summer!!
I gathered my last minute items - towel, tarp, book, journal! I'm off at about 9AM.
I meandered through backroads and highways...through Woodburn, Aurora and Canby.
My computer finally called it quits after 19,500 miles and over 6 years. Now I found something to use the rest of my REI dividend on! Or maybe I just need a new battery...
I ran over a firework popper in Canby...must've been left over from the 4th of July.
It's a bit chillier than I thought it would've been today.
The Canby Ferry, $3 for bikes - just chillin' here, eat lunch, journal, read, rest before I cross the river and head on my way - 26 more miles to go!
Hills on the other side of the ferry!! I saw a deer bounding along. Rode past ostrich and alpaca farms. I walked up many hills - I'm hurting. My left knee is sore, right ankle is sore, and butt cheeks are chafing. I am thirsty. The saving grace is Viewpoint Restaurant and Lounge with a small grocer. I'm always thirsty and not that hungry. What's wrong with me? It's brutal.
Milo McIver State Park - I am solo in the hike/bike site. There is deer there grazing. I showered, read, journaled and charged my devices in the bathroom. I set up my bivvy bag and got down to sleep. I wasn't feeling well. But I had a night of uncomfortable sleep awaiting me! YAY. I went to bed at 8PM and tossed and turned all night.
Day #2: July 8, 2019
I awoke with the sun and wasn't sure of the time. It ended up being about 5AM. Oh well. I'm up - slowly got myself ready, and walked up the hill out of the park at about 8:00...and I'm off yet again. Today has a lot of hills and over 3,000 feet of elevation gain...yikes!
I made my way to OR-211 by Christmas tree farms and ranchhouses. This road took me to Molalla at about 11:30AM. I stopped and rested for a bit at Taco Bell, before I found OR-213 which takes me to Silverton. The maps wanted me to take a shorter route to Silver Falls, but since I was running low on water and could use a break, I rode to Silverton only a few miles away. It was here I regrouped and recouped before making the vertical push to the park. I had my obligatory ice cream cone at McDonalds. It tasted o so great on my throat.
Reluctantly, I got back on my bike and headed out of town on the Silver Falls Highway - through sweat and gears, I made it to the park. It was about 7PM.
After riding through both campground loops and finding no available spots, I asked a ranger if there were any tent spots available. Clearly seeing my loaded bicycle and the fact I did not have an automobile with me, she said unfortunately no, we're all full up. I told her I didn't see any signs that said they were full. She said there was a sign on either side of the highway, basically calling me a liar. She told me the next one is in Silverton, 14 miles away. I told her I just came from Silverton and am not going back. After a moment of silence, she said then it will be Salem, 25 miles away. By this time it was pushing 8PM and the sun was heading down. She then left on her golf cart to talk to the people selling firewood. It's 8PM and I don't have a car. I am being denied camping rights. Sleeping is a right. Not a privilege. When will people get this concept through their thick skulls? Where's the compassion? The heart? The humanity? How is this even legal? Telling me to ride 30 miles at night? I rode 50 miles to get here for Petey's Sake!
After I could not find a complaint box, I left the damn park, frustrated and angry as could be. I called Elyse and kept her in the loop. I eventually decided to ride 20 miles to Aumsville where she would pick me up. I am super ticked at the state park system. I cut my trip short...damn parks. This happened once in Montana and also happened in Crater Lake and almost happened again in Zion.
I wrote an e-mail to the parks department, but they are unprofessional and haven't responded yet. I may go down to their office. Something needs to change. This cannot continue to happen. When a park turns me away, they are saying they don't like a profit. They turn away a customer. I am wiling to pay. That is not the issue. There are many places I could've probably just hunkered down and slept. Maybe I should've. Instead, I made a dangerous ride back into town. I lost respect for Silver Falls if I ever had any. What gets me is that the rangers and parks staff don't even remotely attempt to help. They have zero compassion and zero heart strings. The customer service is lacking in a huge way. Where's the human spirit?
Something needs to change...
So...what was going to be a five day trip, ended up being just a long and frustrating bike overnight...
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