CO Day 3

Day 3 – September 13: Reedsport to Bandon

“Cape Crusaders” (76 miles)

Start off rolling past dunes, marshes and lakes along Highway 101, before turning off to swoop and loop around Kentuck Bay. After climbing up and over to Charleston, enjoy lunch at stunning Shore Acres State Park as waves crash against rocky outcrops and seals bark on the way out to Cape Arago. After lunch, take on the Seven Devils – short, steep pitches that will test your resolve – before descending to Bandon for a cruise through the dunes and on into Old Town.

Up early, and it's sprinkling. Not cold, tho, so that's good. I had in my head that this was a shorter mileage day (wishful thinking on my part?)

CO Day 2

Day 2 – September 12: Cottage Grove to Reedsport

“Roller Coast-er” (90 miles)

Today we taste one of the truly sublime coast routes. From the handsome downtown of Cottage Grove, pedal incredibly smooth backroads into tiny Lorane, and then glide through a tunnel of trees on Siuslaw River Road. Yes, there’s a climb and a summit, but you’ll be so euphoric you won’t mind. After lunch it’s a steady ride through the “Chapel of the Coast Range,” a forest-and-river cathedral. We follow the Smith River to Reedsport as it grows placid and wide.

Dinner under the tent:



CO Day 1

Day 1 – September 11: Sutherlin to Cottage Grove
“Hill and Dale” (47 or 70 miles)

Our opening day builds to a climbing crescendo, starting on the inspiringly named Nonpareil Road, followed by a gentle climb through a wooded ravine. Then it’s rollers past oak copses and sheep farms, on into Scotts Valley before turning upward on London Hill for a long, steady grind. A sinuous, forested descent to lunch bottoms out for a flat cruise into Cottage Grove, skirting the shores of Cottage Grove Lake. A lovely introduction to an epic week.

Here we are before our first day of riding, wearing our "Team Vortex" jerseys. Left to right: Kyle (my son), Chris (my husband), me, Mike, Paul, Janet, Steve, and Allison. Missing from photo is Teresa (sis-in-law) who got an earlier start:

It was a hot, hot day when we rode into Cottage Grove - about 100 degrees! All of us (with the exception of Kyle) rode the 47 mile route, in the hopes of "saving ourselves" for the 90 mile ride the next day. The climb today was tough. Hope I'm up for the big climb on Day 6.

Cycle Oregon...ready or not!

Today I must focus on the daunting task of packing for Cycle Oregon. That's ONE bag, weighing no more than 65 pounds, containing all cycling gear and clothing, tools, camp clothes, towels, toiletries, sleeping bag, pad, pillow, camp chair, camera, book (Kindle), and tent.

I've lost a few pounds preparing for this ride, not nearly as much as I'd hoped but I have gained some fitness. Let's see if it's enough!

The weather forecast for the first few days is HOT. Like 90+. Living on the Oregon Coast, that's a bit warmer than what we usually experience here. But as we head west toward the southern Oregon coast, it looks like the temps will cool off a bit. (Must remember to pack SUNSCREEN).

I hope to post at least a couple times during the week, but have preloaded some daily ride details in advance. This is a great way for my family, friends and co-workers to know exactly where we are (there are FIVE Emergency Department people riding this year!)

For those that follow this blog for the DOLLS, please be patient and hang in there - I'll get back on track when I get home.

Ahhhh...Vacation!

Today is the first day of my vacation. We'll be leaving on Saturday for Sutherlin, Oregon, and will start bicycling on Sunday ~ a 500 mile, week-long tour of southwest Oregon (http://www.cycleoregon.com/).

I may upload an occasional post during next week, but it's always nice to get away from electronics and cell phones from time to time. I'll be camping/riding with a group of family and friends this year (and 2200 other riders). Here's a photo of a few of us taken in May, on a training ride. I'm the short one. We'd asked the local micro-brewery to design bike jerseys for us, and they did - the guy on the left forgot to wear on this particular ride.

I'll be focusing more on dolls on my return home.

Wish me luck!

Looking for ideas for Tutorials

I recently purchased a very cool program to process videos from my fancy video camera. The program that was bundled with the camera was essentially worthless. Now I'm looking for ideas for tutorials to post here and/or my website. They don't necessarily have to be video tutorials, but anything.

So what do you think would be of value to you? I'll be able to tackle these tutorials after Cycle Oregon in September, because I should be RIDING between now and then if I don't want to suffer too badly on the 500 mile bike tour.

Just leave your comments below for consideration. Thanks!

Front Yard Friends

These three were amazingly unafraid as I quietly approached to take the photo. Beautiful creatures, they leisurely wandered throughout the neighborhood.



My cats seemed a bit irritated and territorial. I've seen them chase off other animals, but thankfully they left these guys alone.

A Doll for Marti

Marti is a doll friend who has been waiting patiently for a doll. Last year she ordered two Cecelia dolls. One was dressed in yellow, the other in pink. She decided she wanted a third doll made from a medium brown fabric and dressed in green and purple.

This poor doll has been waiting to be made, production being bumped while other dolls took priority. This is the one I've been working on while waiting for paperclay to dry on my boy doll. Last night I did the face sculpting, and today I'll working on the face painting.

I've been searching online to find various purple/green fabrics of appropriate scale. After her face is painted, I need to pull out my two big drawers of doll hair. I may have a little wig that would fit her, or might use some wool locks.

More Paperclay

Thank goodness I'm working on multiple projects simultaneously, because I keep adding paperclay to my project. This way I can allow ample time for the clay to dry, without feeling like I'm idle.

I've just started sanding a little, but can see where I need to fill in the low spots with more clay. It's easier for me to sand the head without ears getting in the way, so I'll add those later. It's important to make the surface as smooth as possible, because the cloth-over will not hide the flaws in the sculpt.

The doll still seems to want to be a little boy, and I'm fine with that. At this point I'm undecided if I'm painting his hair or gluing some sort of fiber to his head. I'm also thinking about costume options. The name will come last.

Yahoo!

Just got an email from Julie Breidt, curator of the Hoffman Challenge. I was tickled to learn my doll "Eolande" won second place in the dolls category! I'm just thrilled to have finished my doll with all the drama that's been going on around here (not elaborating, but this, too, shall pass).

Congratulations to all the entrants. The dolls chosen to travel are now up on the Hoffman site. Links to the winning dolls' photos are a little messed up on the Hoffman site right now, but after a little tweaking of URLs, I found them (below). Clicking on the award will take you to the Hoffman site's photo of the doll. Clicking on the winners name will take you to their blogs, or other site.

The awards for Dolls are:
1st place: NANCY HALL, "Blossoms"
2nd Place: ME, "Eolande"
3rd Place: VICKI CROSSLAND, "Reluctant Princess"
Honorable Mention: KAREN MCGREGOR, "Oriental Blossoms"
Curators Choice: STEPHANIE NOVATSKI, "It's the Economy's Fault!"
Most Humorous: DALLAS SILLS, "Fern"
Best First Time Entry: TRUDY WATKINS, "Underwater Friends"
Best Incorporation of Theme: JOYCE JURCZAK, "Paradise"

Don't forget that you can see some of the dolls on my website: http://www.blueherondolls.com/2011%20Hoffman%20Challenge.htm so if you know of someone who made a Hoffman doll this year, point them in my direction if they haven't already contacted me. Thanks!!