Report from Oregon...

Today we rode with Rose City motorcycle club on an AMA sanctioned ride
to benefit the Oregon Kidney Foundation and the Vernonia Food bank.
There were 314 riders on all sorts of bikes, lots of full dressed rigs
but also some sport bikes, dual sports, some hot rod Harleys and
(scary to me) Trikes .

When I left Oregon City this morning at 7 AM it was 32.9 degrees but
no black ice! We left the start at Beaverton Honda and it rose to a
mighty 34/35 degrees and stayed there until out first check point in
the rural western Oregon coast range town of Jewel. There is a wild
Elk viewing area in Jewel with several herds visible from the road.
Coming into Jewel we drove through a few miles of very light snow with
no accumulation on the road but it still was snowing. Leaving Jewel
for the north Oregon coast town of Astoria we drove through a couple
of miles of light hail. when we got to Astoria for the third check
point the temp had risen to a mighty 42 degrees.

At about 126 miles we crossed a very cool and very high bridge into
Washington state then turned west heading for home. It rained but was
a balmy 46 degrees most of the way back to the Honda shop. The final
mileage was 246.8 miles and it jumped way up to 52 degrees by the time
we headed home at 5:30.

I am doing a review for a magazine on a product called Hunter Flat
Bars, www.hunterflatbars.com. My hands are trashed from arthritis so I
have been looking for a product to help relieve the pressure on my
hands and wrists so I can enjoy my re-entry (20 year suspension) into
my love of motorcycle riding.

My initial thoughts were good, they seemed to make it easier on my
wrists, especially at the 125 mile mark when I normally start going
down hill with pain fast. More soon as I ride a few miles.

Here are a few photos, I was a little lazy with the camera today, too
much teeth chattering even with a heated jacket liner and grips.

Ed