08/21/2023
355 STRONG!
That was the number of riders who rode the 31st Strawberry Century Saturday, June 24, 2023. The weather was perfect, the riders were anxious to take the road at registration – then they were off and riding. I am happy to report all riders were accounted for and completed their respective rides. We had an instance where tandem riders needed assistance and a set of other tandem riders came to their rescue with a wheel. There was a promise of beer in there somewhere………
A big SHOUT OUT to local community businesses listed below for their generous support and the volunteers who manned the rest stops providing food, drink and place to relax for the riders as they moved on. This event could not have been accomplished without their support:
Randy’s Café, Brownsville; Charlie Eads, KGAL/KSHO Radio, Albany; Dutch Bros, Market & Hwy 20, Lebanon; Kevin and DeeDee, Grocery Outlet, Lebanon; Linn County Federal Credit Union, Sweet Home; Ernie Ritchie, Big Dawgs Food Cart, Lebanon; Sweet Home School District; Sally Skaggs, Santiam Place Wedding & Event Hall, Lebanon; Yvette Meyer, Northwest Apparel & Graphics, Lebanon.
Volunteers: Al Rimer, Barb Watson, Melissa Thompson, Jay and Linda Thatcher, Julia Anderson, Emma Ybarra, Sandy Law, Michelle Petersen, Scott and Lauren Starha, Larry and Cyndi Rozcicha, Craig, Sharon and children Lalley, Phillip Hawkrigg, Sally Skaggs, Barbara Tarrant and the Beta Sigmi Phi ladies.
As the floater – someone going where they are needed – I had the pleasure of stopping and visiting with the riders along the route at the rest stops. The camaraderie was amazing – what a great group of individuals to gather together for a mutual interest and fun. An interesting fact is the age factor, the youngest rider was 9 and the oldest 84 and everywhere in between!
Riders came from all over Oregon: Albany, Amity, Aumsville, Aurora, Beaverton, Bend, Canby, Corvallis, Cottage Grove, Damascus, Durham, Eugene, Gearhart, Gladstone, Grants Pass, Happy Valley, Hood River, Jefferson, Keizer, King City, Lake Oswego, LaPine, Lebanon, Lincoln City, McMinnville, Milwaukie, Monmouth, Newberg, Newport, Oregon City, Philomath, Portland, Redmond, Salem, Seal Rock, Seaside, Sherwood, Silverton, Springfield, Stayton, Sweet Home, Tigard, Troutdale, Tualatin, West Linn, Wilsonville, AND ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON. What a great turnout! And a BIG THANK YOU for all the cyclists that joined us.
