This morning it feels for the first time like we’re transitioning into Autumn. It has turned significantly cooler than it has been most of the last month – it is around sixty when I leave home a bit after sunrise – and a refreshing breeze from the northwest leaves the air feeling fresh and freed … Continue reading "Biking to the MAX: North Plains"
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For years I’ve wondered how it would be to bike along the Nestucca River from the coast to Carlton in the Willamette Valley – I’m sure it must be the quietest crossing on the northwest coast. I could never quite figure out how to fit it into a reasonable loop, but it’s a natural for … Continue reading "Cannon Beach to Portland"
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This ride was an initial experiment with using the bus over to the coast. Before this we’ve always just driven over and taken a loop or day ride. Besides being greener, taking the bus opens up new ride possibilities – we’ve never ridden home from the coast before. The experiment was a success, in that it looks … Continue reading "Astoria to Portland"
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We’re leaving on a four day microtour shortly. This evening we’ll help celebrate my mother’s 93rd birthday at a dinner in Seattle. Ordinarily we drive up for events like these, but this time we’re leaving the car home and taking Amtrak. Tonight we’ll stay over in a downtown motel and then in the morning start … Continue reading "Seattle to Bellingham"
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For some time now I’ve harbored the idea of biking from home to Vernonia and back as a day ride. It’s doable – about 105 miles – but really more than I want to take on. As a MAX-enabled ride though it’s much more manageable at 85 miles. That’s still a pretty long ride for … Continue reading "Biking to the MAX: Vernonia"
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The STP is one of the premier organized rides in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a massive event, a virtual moving city – only the first 10,000 applicants each year can participate. Roughly 200 miles, most riders complete it in two days, and some charge down in one. Rachael have only done the organized ride once, staying over … Continue reading "Seattle to Portland"
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Riders in a rush could complete a circuit of Mount Hood in two days, or even one if they just want the challenge without slowing down to enjoy the show. The shortest distance for the loop would cross Lolo Pass on the west side of the mountain, stay on Highway 35 on the east, and cut across from Odell … Continue reading "The Mount Hood loop"
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This is one variation on a loop of the northwest corner that we run every few years: out to Astoria along highway 102; down the coast to Pacific City, taking the quiet interior route between Astoria and Seaside rather than a busy, uninteresting stretch of the coast highway; and then back up to Highway 202 again following … Continue reading "The Nehalem River loop"
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This five day loop is the third of a series that included our loop tours to Walla Walla and Bickleton. This one begins and ends at Roosevelt, a tiny community on the Washington side of the Columbia. We based ourselves here even though it’s about the furthest point from home because there’s no lodging anywhere … Continue reading "The Roosevelt loop"
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This was a five day loop in southeast Washington, beginning and ending in Bickleton. The route includes overnights in Hermiston and Kennewick, so it overlaps the Walla Walla loop we took earlier this month. There’s not much to Bickleton, a hamlet straddling the ridge between Goldendale and the Yakima Valley. It’s big claim to fame is … Continue reading "The Bickleton Loop"
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