Gil's Oregon Trail- Riding around Corvallis

Hi all! Today my plan is to ride around Corvallis, home to Oregon St. University and one of the most bike friendly towns in the US. I learned that this area, part of the Mary's Creek watershed, was long ago  home to the Kalapuyans. They burned forest to make places for Camas Lily, deer, and elk, which they lived on. Years later around the early 1800's fur-trappers working for the Hudson's Bay Company arruved. At first the whites only wanted to trade for beaver skins, but then they decided they wanted their land. In 1834 came the Indian Trade and Intercourse Act. Then in 1850 The Willamett Valley Treaty. In 1851 the Kalapuya were asked to leave. "Never! Never! We do not wish to leave our Country!" said Daboe, a Luckiamutes head-man. " We wish to remain, our fathers, our families, and our friends are buried here." said Scho-la-que of the Mary's River clan. Despite their protests, they were moved to Grand Ronde, a small area far to the north, where many of the coastal people were moved.

The US took over little by little. Spain ceded control in 1819. Russia gave over it's claims in 1824. For awhile Britain or the Hudson's Bay Company dominated until the time of President Polk ( 54' 40" or Fight!). Britain settled the issue in 1844, leaving Oregon to us, while establishing the present US-Canadian border. Corvallis was a transportation hub. Settlers began moving in by the "Trappers Trail", the "California Trail", the "Applegate Trail" ( which came out of the Great Basin via the Humboldt Sink, crossing the Klamath , Rogue, Umpqua and Long Tom rivers). in 1840 Methodist missionaries, Hines and White arrived. A college was established in in 1852, which became OSU in1886. I'll be studying my history books to fill in the gaps, which are many.

Today, I enjoyed hanging out at the Corvallis Farmer's Market which was set up in a the park that lies along the Willamett River. I bought figs from a local farm stand, enjoyed home-made Polish sausage, and listen to blues music. I picked up a Corvallis Bike Map at the library and then tried out all the routes I could in a day, including the Willamett, Philomath, Bald Hill, and Brooklane trails. I put 33 miles on my odometer today. Tonight I pedaled up to Reservoir Hill and found a place to camp. See you in the morning!