Columbia River Gorge Ride

On Saturday, June 16th my two friends and I (the same group did the RTB ride in May) set out to do a 38 mile bike loop (about 3000 total feet of elevation gain) in the Columbia River Gorge. The ride started outside of The Dalles and was put on by the organization “Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway” the http://www.hcrh.org/events.html. It was the windiest bike ride I have ever done (I do not have proof but I believe the crosswinds were 30mph!) Here is a simple math equation

World renowned wind surfing location = sucky road bike conditions


Although the winds were challenging, leading me to almost get blown off my bike no less then 4 times and causing a varity of expletives to fly out of my mouth while repeating “I will NEVER do a ride in the gorge again” the views were absolutely breathtaking and it was worth enduring tornado like conditions (okay maybe I am exaggerating just a little..) to climb and descend Rowena Crest , Mayerdale Estate, Mosier Viewpoint, and the Mosier Twin Tunnels.












View from Rowena Crest
















..what we had to climb to reach the top of Rowena Crest






The rest stop at Mayerdale Estate had the amazing fresh fruit Oregon is known for this time of year. I think I cleaned out half of their Watermelon supply and as a result cleaned myself out the next day.

I remember us girls philosophizing when the ride was over about why they didn’t warn us about the wind and then I had this common sensical epiphany. How is this any more logical then someone doing a ride in Portland then saying “I cannot believe they didn’t tell us it would be raining and the roads would be wet” ;-)



HCRH State Trail

Road biking is almost always an adventure, the conditions rarely perfect but with each ride and new challenging condition, you become that much of a better cyclist and learn something new about yourself not only physically, but as a human being. For me it was being reaffirmed when things get tough (like the wind) you just can’t stop, you have to push through it.







Outside Mosier Twin Tunnels

I am looking forward to my next ride in the gorge toward the end of summer when the winds are supposedly a little milder; maybe there will only be 20mph wind gusts ;-)