05/06/2018
Last weekend, Morgan Coleman and I rode a route we discovered through the blog Buckyrides.com. It is a great website for the thoughtful reviews, but mostly because it is an outstanding resources for the routes it highlights. This is the first of the routes I've ridden, but based on what a great ride it was, I know I will try others. Check it out on https://buckyrides.com/routes/
The first highlight was obvious even before the ride began: A dreary day in Portland was a crisp, sunny spring day in Mosier. The wind was a bit of a factor, but it was not so bad as to affect the ride.
Mostly a loop, we started in town and headed out the highway towards the Rowena Curves, which were a treat to zip down. I'm still cautious after my broken bones, but my confidence is returning and I was able to enjoy the famous curves despite the wind.
Near The Dalles, we diverted off the loop towards the eagle caves, which were fascinating - large caves notched on the side of a huge cliff. It took one steep climb, some singletrack , and a bit of hiking to get there, but those just added to the adventure.
Later, a six mile climb that was steeper than I expected provided a real workout. But from there on in, it was smooth sailing back to Mosier. We ended with food and beer at Pfriem in Hood River, then headed back into Portland, only to find a driving rain the entire way home.
Another great day on the bike! Thanks to Morgan for the great company and to James at BuckyRides for some last minute guidance.
