A last minute 40 mile loop

The weather was just going to be too good today to not be on a bike.  I decided that a fixie ride of Portland's 40 mile loop would be just about perfect.  I posted an invitation late yesterday for folks to join me. 3 friends from the Thursday Night Ride group decided to join the fun. 3 of the 4 of us were on fixed gear bikes, and the 4th would have been but he is recuperating from an injury that would be worked pretty hard on a fixed gear bike.

We took off from Sellwood Riverside Park and headed north.  When we got to Tilikum Crossing we stopped for a photo.

Me, Arty, Blake, and Joe

It was a gorgeous day, the temperature reached well into the 70's, with just the slightest hint of a west wind.  Blake peeled off soon, as he had some parking issues with his car and needed to get back and move it before someone decided to issue a ticket.   Arty, Joe and I continued on our planned route.

The first climb was up Greeley Ave.  Artie was feeling it so we slowed up a bit.  As we reached the top, we turned out toward University of Portland and the bluff.  It was on a low traffic road and was a joy to pedal today.

Once we passed U of P we turned onto the Peninsula Crossing Trail.  We eventually made it over to  Marine Drive and would follow it until 33rd Ave.  Before we got there, we stopped at a convenience store just past I-5 and the Interstate Bridge for some snacks.  Arty hadn't had breakfast, and Joe and I can always eat!

We enjoyed a slight tailwind as we road along Marine Drive. When we got to 33rd we turned onto the Marine Drive Bike Path.  We'd remain on bike paths for the remainder of the ride today.  Arty peeled off at this point, he needed to be at 30 something and Division before we'd be finished today, so it was an ideal point for him to start riding directly there.

Joe and I continued on around.  We arrived at the Glenn Jackson Bridge and turned onto the I-205 bike path.  We climbed to the highest elevation of our route as we approached the Gateway Transit Center.

We turned west on the Springwater Trail and would follow it back to our starting point.  We did make a quick stop at Cartlandia as we rode by.  I decided that since it was my first ride this year in short sleeves and shorts that I might as well complete the look, and had a banana split. Joe made healthier choices.  ;-)

When we got back to Sellwood, Joe detoured for a pizza, and I rode the last two miles back to my vehicle.

It was a great day to be on a bike!

.........Road Bike.....Rollers.............MTB..........Lifecycle......Total
Today ........39................0...................0.......................0...........39
Jan...............0................0...............,...0.......................0............0
Feb..........124...............0...................0.......................0...........124
March......277................0..................0........................0..........277
April......180................0..................0........................0..........180
YTD...... 581...............0...................0.......................0...........581