Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Trail Animals

Went to the Zoo last week and it got me thinking about all the animals that I have seen on the trails around Corvallis. Of course just about every ride I see deer. One night on a ride through Chip Ross Park I saw 14. I have also seen rabbits, mice, squirrels, turkeys, a skunk, and a porcupine. Two weeks ago we chased a pair of coyotes down the trail and about 4 weeks ago while I was climbing Dan's I had stare down with a bobcat for about a minute from 10 yards. I haven't seen the mountain line, and I'm pretty sure I saw a black bear. Biggest scare was on the Coast ride when James and I surprised an elk (or he surprised us) as we came around the corner on a downhill. Lots of bugs, salamanders, snakes, etc. Of course there are always dogs, a cat or two, cows and a lots of horses (but do they count as "wild" animals). Just one more reasons why riding in Corvallis the best.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Bend - America's Top MTB Town

Just one more reason why Oregon is the place to be if you are a mountain bike rider!

MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION MAGAZINE NAMES BEND AMERICA’S TOP MOUNTAIN BIKING TOWN IN MAY 2009 ISSUE (copied from the Bend Real Estate Guide)

Bend Beats Out Other Popular Destinations Including Moab, Utah, Crested Butte and Durango, Colo., and Marin, Calif., For Top Honors

(BEND, OR.)—It’s not even April, yet the May 2009 issue of Mountain Bike Action magazine is out and so is the secret about Bend’s mountain biking scene. In a feature story titled, “America’s Top Mountain Biking Town: 35 reasons why Bend, Oregon, rules,” Mountain Bike Action (circulation 66,239)editors praised everything from access and lodging, to weather and friendly locals as reasons why they made their ultimate decision. “To prevail over such respected mountain biking destinations as those we were up against is a perfect example of Bend’s business community rallying together to support tourism and leave a positive and lasting impression on the editors that will reap rewards for years to come,” said Doug LaPlaca, president and CEO of Visit Bend. “From Cog Wild Bicycle Tours and Phoenix Inn, to Green Energy Transportation, Deschutes Brewery and several local bike shops and other businesses, this honor is truly a city-wide achievement.”

During a four-day visit to Bend last September, editor-in-chief Jim McIlvain and assistant editor John Ker spent several days touring Bend with representatives of Visit Bend and Cog Wild Bicycle Tours. Their riding itinerary featured three full-day trips, including Cog Wild’s Ochoco Mountain, Cascade Lakes, and Bachelor-to-Bend tours.

The May issue of Mountain Bike Action began arriving in subscribers’ mailboxes late last week, and will be available on newsstands in early April. It will also be available on the Mountain Bike Action web site, www.mbaction.com.