All the leaves are.....

The weather has been on and off rainy lately but we did have an absolutely fantastic day recently. It cleared off and I was able to go for a mid-week ride to blow the stink off so I left the dirty dishes in the sink and took off in search of autumn colors.

Western Oregon just doesn't have the giant maples that offer the beautiful picture book leaf colors you find in the Eastern states and provinces but plenty of evergreen conifers and oak trees.

If you look hard enough though you can find a vine maple or two amongst the greenery and moss.

Does an orange bike count as fall color?

I hadn't been up to the top of Marys Peak yet this year, so the ride up was long overdue, let alone never being up there mid week. I actually had the whole mountain to myself for a few minutes.

And from the top of one mountain you can get a great photo of another across the valley.

Mt. .Jefferson

I have been busy with Team Oregon teaching my first two classes the last two weekends of September. A mentor was with me in the classroom in case I messed up, froze of stage fright or missed something and of course to evaluate me. It wasn't Irondad, but a longtime instructor and leadership council member much, much higher ranking than Dan and twice as difficult. 

(I'm kidding, everyone at Team Oregon is so encouraging and helpful). 

Needless to say, the extra effort and time I dedicated beforehand paid off and I completed the requirement to meet standard in two consecutive classes. I am a now full certified instructor and I just taught my last class of the year, solo.

My first range last Spring

Next year I'll work on becoming a mentor myself and pay it forward. What a great program!