June 2012 – Page 3 – Ride for Water

Day 7 – June 10 – Umatilla, OR to Walla Walla, WA – 54 Miles

An Encounter at the Fruit Stand This did not turn out to be a rest day, although we slept in and didn’t hit the road until nearly noon. We had looked at the available attractions at Umatilla, OR vs. Walla Walla, WA and there was no...

Day 6 – June 9 – Mary Hill State Park, WA to Umatilla, OR – 87 Miles

Last night the air was crisp, clear, and cool much like that of a fall evening. As I was going to bed I put on my headphones and selected Aaron Copland’s 3rd Symphony on my i-pod. Copeland’s music, for me, paints panoramic vistas and evokes...

Day 5 June 8 – Hood River, OR to Mary Hill, State Park, WA – 53 Miles

Today started with sunshine peaking thru. We hoped we were far enough east to avoid the rains of yesterday. The rest of the group had stayed at another small hotel in Hood River, and had decided to start early to try to make up miles. ...

Day 4 – June 7 – Ainsworth State Park to Hood River, Oregon – 30 Miles

You might notice from the mileage that we did not make a great deal of progress today. We awoke this morning to rain. Not a light rain, but a constant soaking rain. Camping is great, but breaking camp and cycling all day in the rain...

Day 3 – June 6 – Oswego Lake (Portland) to Ainsworth State Park – 60 Miles

Day 3 Oswego Lake (Portland) to Ainsworth State Park 60 Miles Our day began by plotting a course back to the designated Lewis and Clark Trail, east toward the Columbia River Gorge. First we had to go up, around and over Portland. Just before arriving at the...

Day 2 Clatskanie to Portland

A Better Day. 78 Miles We awoke around 6 AM to the sound of pouring rain. Our wet gear from Day 1 was strung across a coat rack in hopes that it would dry over the heating unit. That was mostly successful but we prepared...

Day 1 – June 4 – Seaside to Clatskanie – 60 Miles

A Day Full of Challenges. The weather predictions were for rain showers for the start of the ride. We were fortunate that it was just overcast and the temps were in the mid 50s. The hotel sign had advertised a “continental breakfast” when I inquired...

Arrival

Our travel to Portland went well. The time to wind down watching the scenery pass was a welcome transition from the hectic preparations over the last week. It provided a needed segue to a total different way of thinking about time and the journey that...

A Note of Gratitude

As we roll along through rural Wisconsin following the Mississippi River into Minneapolis, I still find it hard to believe that the trip has started. As the night falls I think about all those who have shown their support and encouragement to make this trip...

We’re Ready

Its just after 9 PM on the 31st. We leave in the morning for Chicago to catch Empire Builder for Portland. It departs at 2:15. We will need to get there in plenty of time to check the boxed bikes as well as the other boxes containing the...