7/23/2003, Sunset Bay State Park to Humbug Mountain State Park, 63.25 miles

What happened? The day started out so well.

We started out riding the ridge of a series of hills for the first 20 or so miles. It was a peaceful, quiet, and beautiful ride despite the often steep grades. I composed another tune (composed two yesterday) but forgot again to write it down.

For the next 10 or so miles we biked along the shores and cliffs of Brendon - where we wondered how much the houses cost. The wind soon picked up, but other than along the small detour we took when we got lost, it was mostly tailwind. We rode quickly and smoothly to Langlois and then Port Orafort, where we grocery shopped.

The ride to camp was less than 8 miles and was supposed to be uneventful though beautiful. But on my second hill after Orafort, I noiced my gears mis-shifting. After I shopped and got off the bike, I noticed that I couldn't roll the bike - the rear wheel had fallen off!

At first, I thought the rear axle was broken, but after unloading and detaching the trailer on the side of the road (I had done this just yesterday after Coos Bay when the trailer fender had gotten loose!) and taking the axle out, I learned that the axle was actually fine and that it was just the clamp coming loose.

Upon arriving at camp and discussing with Sis what happened, we now both suspect that somone messed with our bike. First, sis had lost her sweat band at the market, though at that time, we blamed the wind even though she had firmly coiled it around her helmet. Later after she got on the bike, she noticed that her helmet had been re-adjusted. The wind couldn't have done that! As for my axle, I have not touched it since Vancouver, and it has carried me across Washington and most of Oregon. Someone must have tried to sabatoge my bike!

It was a scary experience to have your wheel come under you while climbing a windy, steep hill. In addition, a couple of oversized trucks (moving portable homes) were just passing by at the time. I will have to be more vigilant from now on. Someone could try to disconnect my brakes for heaven's sake!