From wet to dry, a Cherry of a Ride!

Months ago I put a weekend of riding in north central Oregon on the calendar, playing the odds that it would likely be raining in Portland, and likely be dry in The Dalles/Tygh Valley. (Portland gets an average 2.55" of rain in May, The Dalles gets 0.71") I had 4 people say they would be interested in joining the fun.  So far so good!

Even though it was predicted to be wet at home, all my "maybes" decided not to ride.  No problem, I've bike solo much of the time, I could do it again.

On tap today was the Cherry of a Ride route, but I would start the route from Hood River.

It was raining as I left home this morning and rained on and off until just past Cascade Locks.  Hood River was partly cloudy but not raining as I arrived. The roads were damp from overnight rains, but the sky looked promising, so I carried a raincoat but did not wear it.

The famous Gorge winds were blowing a bit from the west.  As I pedaled out toward the Mosier Twin Tunnels I had a tailwind. There were signs advising that a running/walking event was going on. Sure enough, there were a lot of folks on the  Historic Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway, and it seemed that most of them were wearing tutus. (even this little dog!)

The ride along the old highway is always scenic, a testament to the visionaries who built the road.

I arrived at the Mosier Twin Tunnels. I always look with amazement at these tunnels, and the road in general.  My dad was born the year the road was built. He drove over it many, many times.  He told stories of sharing the road with semi trucks. It was the only road through the Gorge for over 35 years.  If you were driving from Portland to Pendleton or points east, you were on this road. In later years they installed signals at the tunnels to regulate one way traffic. Even with the tunnels regulated, that road is darn narrow to imagine meeting an 18 wheeler coming the other way.  Today, it is just bikes and pedestrians who share the roadway.

During the winter of 1921 a couple of folks took shelter in these tunnels from a big winter storm.  They ended up getting snowed in the tunnel and spent 12 days in there before being rescued.

Today I just pedaled through. :-)

Once through the tunnels it was just a short pedal to Mosier.  Beginning just outside Mosier I was still on the Historic Highway but I was now sharing it with motor vehicles.  In Mosier I turned up State Street, and began climbing Seven Mile Hill.  There were a few things to keep my mind off the long climb.

I reached the top and looked across the more arid area to the east.

I  rolled down the east side of Seven Mile Hill, being buffeted around by the wind as I followed the twists and turns.

Just before entering The Dalles the route turns up Chenowith Rd and comes back into The Dalles via Cherry Heights.  I rolled through The Dalles and started up State Road, 15 Mile Road, and 8 Mile Road. I was in rolling wheat country now and as I turned onto Emerson Loop I took a few photos.

Of course, I had to take another photo of this old house, probably the most photographed house on this route.

I got to Hwy 197 and crossed it for an out and back. The wind was picking up and the ride out had a brisk headwind.  I turned around and enjoyed a tailwind back.  I turned down 8 Mile Road and enjoyed the ride back down to The Dalles.

I rode along the Riverfront Trail to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center then jumped on Hwy 30.  I rode up the Rowena Loops.

The wind really made the descent back into Mosier interesting.
The views were still enjoyable.

 I got back into Mosier and retraced my way back to Hood River.  The day had improved as I pedaled.  There were less clouds this afternoon than there were this morning.  No rain today, not even close.  That was a better track record than the Willamette Valley had today.

Tomorrow is predicted to be even better.  Tygh Valley here I come!


..........road bike..........rollers........mtb.........lifecycle....total
Today.........102................0..............0...............0...........102 Jan............710................0..............0...............0...........710
Feb........... 578...............0..............0...............0............578
March ...........701.............0..............0...............0............701
April..........749.................0..............0...............0..........749
 May...........224.................0..............0...............0...........224  Total..........2962...............0..............0...............0.........2962