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Oregon Bicycle Ride XXV
August 6 - 13, 2011

Over the Rivers and Through the Woods
25th Anniversary Celebration!

The Oregon Bicycle Ride will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011, and wants you to help celebrate this milestone. To commemorate this achievement, OBR will tour the Willamette Valley. Knowing some of you live in this spectacular part of Oregon, touring the valley OBR style will be a different experience. With spectacular places to camp, scenic roads to ride, and OBR’s great support and attention to detail - this will be a must ride for everyone. Let’s celebrate 25 years of spinning wheels in Oregon together!

Saturday, August 6 - Albany
Linn County Fairgrounds
Check-In and Orientation

Creek View

Start your adventure reuniting with old friends and meeting new ones. Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany, Oregon will host our meeting day. Albany is located on I-5 about 70 miles south of Portland and rests at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River. The city has various nicknames including Hub of the Valley, Grass Seed Capital, and Rare Metals Capital and boasts a population of about 49,000. Arrive early and take in many of the historic homes which will be on tour this Saturday - you can find more information at the Albany Visitors Association. There will be an orientation meeting during the dinner hour. Camping and weekly parking will be available at no additional charge.


Sunday, August 7 - Albany to Brownsville
Mileage: 70; Elevation Gain: 978'

Today begins with a leisurely ride meandering through fields of pumpkins, corn, and Christmas trees. Quaint country roads will take you to a couple of covered bridges and through the communities of Crabtree and Scio before riding along the South Santiam River to Waterloo. Be prepared for some gentle climbing towards Sodaville. You will then be rewarded with a nice downhill stretch into the open fields of the southern Willamette Valley. Be sure to stop and visit the Thompson’s Mills State Heritage Site, Oregon’s oldest surviving water-powered mill.

Monday, August 8 - Brownsville Layover
Mileage: 57; Elevation Gain: 305'

Spending two nights in historic Brownsville at their beautiful Pioneer Park will allow time to enjoy riding the back roads of the southern Willamette Valley and still have time to explore the wonders of this historic city. Enjoy lunch at a memorable restaurant and experience the leisurely pace of this beautiful town. Brownsville was the filming location for the movie Stand by Me and you can take a walking tour of the area used by the movie. Ice cream shops, antique stores, and museums are just a few of the attractions awaiting you.

Tuesday, August 9 - Brownsville to Sweet Home
Mileage: 73; Elevation Gain: 1,995'

Foothills, here we come! This 73-mile ride will take you away from the valley fields, south along the McKenzie River, before turning north to the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range. Experience rolling hills that lead us toward the "Gateway to the Santiam Playground" - Sweet Home. Pedal across Foster Dam and through the woods along the lake to the expansive Sunnyside County Park. Here you can relax in the peace and quiet of the outdoors or cool off with a plunge in the Santiam River.

Wednesday, August 10 - Sweet Home to Silver Falls State Park
Mileage: 71; Elevation Gain: 3,012'

Larwood Bridge

Today you will ride over rolling hills that provide expansive views from the top. Along the way, visit more of the area’s historic covered bridges. You can’t miss the Christmas tree farms that span over many hillsides. Did you know that Oregon has the most land devoted to Christmas trees in the United States? The ride will finish with a challenging, but rewarding, climb into the majestic forest of Silver Falls State Park - the largest state park in Oregon, where you will camp for two nights.


Thursday, August 11 - Silver Falls State Park Layover
Mileage: 63; Elevation Gain: 2,602'

Flower Fields

It is another day of choices that will fill everyone’s desire. Do you ride today? Do you hike today? Maybe both? Or do you experience one of the interpretive walks? If you ride, you will visit the Oregon Garden and the Mt. Angel Abbey, some of the most beautiful spots on this tour. If you hike, you can explore Silver Falls which is a temperate rain forest offering spectacular scenery. The most famous feature, Trail of Ten Falls, is a seven-mile hiking trail which passes by and under several stunning waterfalls of the north and south forks of Silver Creek. Whatever you choose to do, you will come away with a new appreciation for the beautiful state of Oregon.


Friday, August 12 - Silver Falls State Park to Champoeg State Park
Mileage: 67; Elevation Gain: 1,450'

You will ride out of the tranquility of Silver Falls today over some of the most wonderful little roads in the northern Willamette Valley. Burrowing your way out of the forest and over undulating hills, you will pedal past a multitude of nurseries making your way to Champoeg, the crown jewel of Oregon State Parks. Here you will be sleeping under the trees where, in 1843, pioneers gathered to establish our provisional government. Be sure to stop by the visitor’s center, and learn about the history of this area and walk through the gardens. Visit the Historic Butteville Store, founded in 1863 and considered the oldest operating store in Oregon, for a fresh lemonade or old-fashioned hand-dipped milkshakes.

Saturday, August 13 - Champoeg State Park to Albany
Mileage: 60; Elevation Gain: 778'

You will break camp for the last time to head back to the place where this journey began. It will be a lazy summer day’s ride as you wind around the fields of Oregon’s agricultural prosperity: corn, flowers and hops. You will spin your way along the oak- lined roads and emerge upon vast acres of vineyards while winding your way back to the confluence of the Calapooia and Willamette Rivers. Enjoy your final lunch and shower while reflecting upon this adventure and its memories that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Total miles 461
Total elevation gain 11,120'


OBR Entry Fees: Individual: $895.00 After April 1, 2011: $925.00
  Family (3 or more): $870.00 each After April 1, 2011: $895.00 each
         
Both Rides: Individual: $1700.00 After April 1, 2011: $1755.00
  Family (3 or more): $1650.00 each After April 1, 2011: $1705.00 each

Ride fees for the Oregon Bicycle Ride include: transport of your gear, support vehicles, rest stops overflowing with food each day, all meals starting with dinner on Saturday evening through lunch on the final ride day, most lunches, campsites, shower and toilet facilities, socks, Chico bags and the commemorative 25th Anniversary vest.

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