The Return of the Bantam, and thoughts on October camping

Well, that took awhile. I dropped off my Bantam Rambleneur at the bike shop on September 3rd. My kludged-together drivetrain was not working properly, and I didn't want another quick fix, since the same thing could happen again. I needed a new shifter in order to drop the stupid Wolf Tooth extra pulley, the thing...

Bike Overnight at Ainsworth in the Columbia Gorge, 12-13 May 2021

Horsetail Falls, 13 May 2021. Olympus Pen EES-2, Kodak Elite Chrome 100. Since my bike overnight to Milo McIver last month, I've decided that I would like to get in one camping trip a month at least until October. But the concept is easier than the execution, at least for the month of May, as...

McIver post-report: A de-briefing on my first bike camping trip of 2021

Camera: Olympus Pen EES-2. Film: Kodak ColorPlus 200. As you saw previously, I bike camped at Milo McIver State Park on April 14-15. This was my first camping trip in two-thirds of a year, a drought almost as long as the one that fell right before it. I have not bike camped nor toured that...

Bike Camping at Milo McIver, 14-15 April 2021

The Bantam at the overlook. Milo McIver State Park, 15 April 2021. Camera: Olympus EES-2. Film: Kodak ColorPlus 200. It has been a dry April in these parts, possibly record dry. And around mid-month things warmed up as well. The week of April 11th started downright chilly for this time of year (highs in the...

The itch for bike camping returns

Bike Camping at Ainsworh SP/Columbia Gorge, 25 Aug 2020. Ricoh 35 ZF/AristaEDU 200. We're having some nice weather for the beginning of March. That snow and ice storm? So two weeks ago. How can you think about winter when the outside temp is nearing 60F? Not only do we have nicer weather, but the days...

In praise of the simple butt pad

I've been using a seat pad for a few years. I got my first one in 2017: Impressed by my friend's use during roadside snack breaks on tours, I figured I should get one for my first ever backpacking trip. Unlike bike touring, there wasn't going to be a picnic table at my campsite. It's...

Bike Camping in the Columbia Gorge at Ainsworth, 25-26 Aug 2020

Horsetail Falls, 25 Aug 2020. Ricoh 35 ZF, Arista EDU 200. If you've been around here long enough, you know that riding out to the Columbia Gorge is one of my favorite things to do. It's close (within 30 miles of my front door) and features lots of great scenery. But the last few years...

A quick trip to the Gorge!

Crown Point from Menucha (NOT Women's Forum!), 14 Aug 2020. Pentax IQ Zoom 928 (Espio 928). Kodak Ultramax 400. If you've been here long enough, you'll know that my favorite "get out of town on the bike" destination is the Columbia Gorge. It's close-by (starts about ten miles from my door) and is unbelievably scenic....