Highs and Lows

The lows today were (1) literally - the fact that we're pretty much back down to sea level, and (2) we rode 11 miles on I-84 to get here.  It wasn't particularly unsafe, but just unpleasant - huge volume of truck traffic, a headwind ripping down Columbia Gorge and a crappy shoulder with tire shards, gravel and almost a chip-seal surface.  Just put my head down and waited for it to be over.  I think most people hopped in the van and bypassed that section.  The highs were (1) descending 7877 feet, and (2) great to see the transition from higher elevation national forest terrain to low-land agricultural and more populated areas.

Have I mentioned we have a keen group?  Because of the tough and long day yesterday combined with a big net downhill day today, snack table time was set at 8:15.  Our morning routine is this:  breakfast either in the hotel (if available) at our leisure or Emily cooks breakfast at the trailer.  Then about 15 minutes after the specified breakfast time the snack table is set out.  This allows us to pack a sandwich, nuts, bars and other snacks to carry on our bikes during the day.  Mostly we've been doing breakfast at 7 and snack table at 7:15.  This may be earlier if the day is going to be exceptionally long or hot.  Occasionally it will be a bit later, usually if the day is easy or we know the hotel will not be ready early.  So...... With snack table at 8:15 I would normally have breakfast at 8.  I went down about 7:45 today in order to have a really leisurely breakfast.  Well.......  4 people were long gone and 4 more were just rolling out.  With 2 taking a "bump" with the SAG for the first 10 miles, that left just Linda & I to leave at the appointed time.  Oh well - I think we all got in at a similar time in the end.  Just makes it harder for the SAG to support all the riders.

We had a few early climbs in the first 10 miles.  Good road, good views of Mt. Hood, and just a nice way to start the day.  Could even see a ski lift up the mountain and some stark moraine terrain on the other side of the road.

 Long, long descent on SR 35 before turning off at mile 26 and going through a couple of small villages and seeing some agricultural areas.  Still largely downhill, but also some ups and downs along the way.  Started to see lots of orchards - mostly cherries, but also some other stuff.

We went by this one rural property with all kinds of "lawn art", including this cyclist on a pole.

Started to get some views of Mt. Adams, and at some places we could see both Hood and Adams at the same time.

I really liked the rolling terrain that we were in once we got down out of the forest.  The second picture below is at the top of a 16% downhill - whee!  And then a photo looking back at it.

Beautiful gardens on some of these properties.

Stopped at the Panorama Point Vista House for a good (perhaps last) look at Mt. Hood.

Into Hood River at about 48 miles.  I think I was last there in 1994, and it seems to grown just a bit.  Stopped in at a drugstore for some re-supplies.  One downside of staying in little itty-bitty towns is that they don't have much in the way of shopping for necessities.  Next up - I-84.  We are allowed to be on the interstate where there is no other option.  The Columbia Gorge is really quite narrow.  Highway + railway on both sides and river down the middle.  That's about all there is room for.  With the traffic and the wind I was gripping the bike a bit tighter than usual so I stopped a few times to relax and take a few pictures.

Still about 7 miles to go after we left the interstate.  Still into the wind and lots of steep uphill, so not a coast into town by any means.  Finally into Cascade Locks - our home for 2 nights.  I stopped at an ice cream shop on the way to the hotel and met a fellow who had done Tour BC the same year that I had done it - small world.  Also - my friend Sheila's neighbour (in Utah) saw us in Government Camp this morning - small world, again!

Love our location - right on the Columbia River and right beside the Bridge of the Gods which we will travel over on Friday on our way to Washington.  Big rooms and river views.  Great place for a rest day.  Bridge of the Gods is a steel truss cantilever bridge opened in 1926.  It is 1856 feet long.  The bridge is named after the historic geologic feature also known as Bridge of the Gods.  The natural phenomena was caused by a landslide.  It blocked the Columbia River with a natural dam approximately 200 feet high and 3.5 miles long.  The impounded River formed a lake and drowned a forest of trees for 35 miles.  The Columbia River eventually broke through the dam and washed away most of the debris.

Stats for the day:
111 km / 69 miles from Government Camp OR to Cascade Locks OR
4252 feet up
7877 feet down
Weather:  Not too bad.  High overcast for most of the day.  Temps from 11C to mid-20sC by early afternoon.  Certainly very comfortable temps for cycling, but light was not great for photos.  Strong winds at times, especially once we got into the gorge.