Independence was a cute little intersection that ended River Rd., but then the trouble started. I was on Corvallis Rd., and I passed Buena Vista Rd. I remembered that road as being somewhere between Albany and Harrisburg, so I thought wow, that road goes for a long way and I could get on it now, but I'd rather ride different roads. I had forgotten about it by the time I met another sign saying "Buena Vista" and again turned away. Then I thought wait - that was a really straight shot, I bet I WAS supposed to take Buena Vista. Checked my directions and found I was right. I went back (up a hill) and saw that it was Prather Rd., and realized it was probably directing me to the town Buena Vista. I didn't want to take an unknown road, so I turned forward again. Then remembered I actually had seen Buena Vista Rd. already, and way too far back to feel like retracing. So I went back again and took Prather Rd., knowing that if I got to the town I'd be able to find the road named after it.
Eventually I got to Buena Vista Rd. I wasn't sure how far east the sun would be at this time in the morning, but I judged one way went southeast-ish and the other was some form of west. So I took the southeast one, and everything seemed to be fine for a long time. Then I ran back into Corvallis Rd. Corvallis Rd. was a loopy one, so I didn't immediately think disaster, but this wasn't the one I was supposed to run into. I asked someone for directions and realized that I had gone in a fucking circle, and between a bendy road and not knowing how far east the sun was, I'd never figured that I was going the complete wrong direction. Apparently I rode this entire loop over:
Upon learning this, I turned around and thought maybe I should have checked my direction when I was in Buena Vista since the road turned into Meridian Street. But as soon as I entered town and saw the sign, it made a 90 degree bend. What the hell kind of meridian is that? Now I just say "chaos theory." You misremember a detail from your directions, you end up riding twelve extra miles around 9-10 am. On the hottest damn day of the year.As I finally got to the last road into Albany, it was too hot. Now I used to go to Bikram and so I know can exercise in supercentenarian temperatures, but I was also really tired of riding after that extra loop. Between noon and 1 I stayed under a tree in a park and then it was really too hot. I tolerate hot air temperatures pretty well, but the overhead direct sunlight was a killer and Oakville Rd didn't have much shade. I also unexpectedly had to cross Hwy 34, which is why I will be trying 99 on the way back up. I took a break in a shady cove just before it joined up with Peoria Rd, which was prettier. Peoria Rd. went slow and steady - constant water, frequent momentary stops in the shade, and a perpetual battle to stay covered in sunscreen. As the sun got more oblique, I noticed riding into Harrisburg about 4:30 that the heat was already more bearable. I really think it's the direct irradiation that bugs me.
Stayed for about an hour and then hopped onto the 18-mile Coburg Rd. Now that it seemed to be liquid-warm rather than baking-hot and the long shadows made everything look beautiful, it was actually pretty enjoyable. Riding into Eugene in the early evening felt like the reward I deserved after a long day. I rode down Coburg Rd., noting where it crossed Harlow, and over the Ferry St. bridge into downtown, where I got cash from an ATM, and then continued into West Eugene to meet my friend.
I arrived covered in a gritty paste of TiO2 nanoparticles, sodium-potassium-chloride-phosphate salt, dust, and variously sourced oils. Ate Taco Bell for dinner, grabbed some groceries at Fred Meyer, and took a bus to his apartment, finding out that my UO ID still works as a bus pass.
Then I was very sleepy.
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