View Workout (Joe Uhan)

Return to Log

Crater Lake Ride 2009

August 23, 2009 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Bike

Weather: 40? Warmed to maybe 70 by ride's end

Comments:
Woke up at 0420, just as Matt's douchey frat "friends" (of friends) were coming home from the wedding/after-party. It was pretty odd/awkward: a bunch of drunk guys eating Matt's food (while he's already in bed); me in my biking clothes, grabbing "breakfast". Ha!

TIRED AS FUCK driving in the dark up OR58 to Crater for the Annual Crater Lake Rim Ride. I didn't get to bed 'til nearly midnight. Nothing was open til I got to Chemult, OR, about 100mi into the drive. Got a huge coffee and some cookies, which was breakfast.

Parked at the North Crater TH and was on the bike -- in the new shoes/pedals -- at 0700. Took a starting pic and the camera was acting funny.

Snapped a couple pics in the beginning, then started a climb up and over a ridge and into the Pumice Desert. Snapped a TON of pics of this sweet area...only to find my batteries near-dead! MF-ER! This happened LAST YEAR, too! Damnit!

I wasn't sure what I'd do: I could bike to the visitor center for more batteries...or just F it. Wasn't sure. Meanwhile, THE CLIMB started: like 7 miles straight uphill. My legs were pretty dead from the long run so I wasn't doing much more than 9mph up it, and even less near the end.

Took a quick stop at the rim (no food), and was able to snap pics without using the LCD screen. So I figured I'd wing it on this as long as I could. I pressed on, clockwise.

The ride was VERY PEACEFUL. Though very tired, it was a terrific ride. Stopped a couple times over several overlooks on the east side. No traffic. Saw one car the first 30mi. Crystal clear skies, sky blue water! :)

The climbs up and down by the Sunken Ship weren't as bad as I remembered, but the Rim Village climb was! F. I was pretty tired by then and, despite having shoes/cleats/pedals, I was still dragging ass, but I eventually made it. Passed a group of older bikers, including two on recumbent bikes going like 2mph! :s

Spent a decent amount of time at the Village, taking in the sights. No snack here (didn't feel like paying). And, the camera batteries were STILL holding up, so I didn't buy those, either. Able to snap several cool pics without the LCD up there.

The ride back was tougher than I remember, with some big-time climbs before reaching the exit road. At one climb, I passed the biker crew again, this time with the woman on the recumbent going seriously like 1mph (because I was going only 7-8!). It was hilarious, because later on I looked back to see a LINE OF CARS dragging behind her...just like Dumb & Dumber! So I got "Where I Find My Heaven" in my head for the rest of the ride, which is a terrific (and appropriate) tune!

Flew down the crater, back to the car. A couple more uphills that were tough, as I was bonking (only 1 Clif the whole ride). Did 55mi in about 3.5hrs. Not bad.

Checked out the pizza joint on Diamond Lake but it was like $16 for a TEN INCH PIZZA. WTF?? So I DIETED from that and had a great burger at a greasy spoon in Chemult.

TERRIFIC drive home down OR58.

GREAT DAY! Pics forthcoming.