Yesterday we covered 69 miles and today 75. From St Helens to Portland we followed the Columbia and the terrain was quite level and higher speed.
Past Portland we had a wakeup call on the climbing challenge that we will be facing. Although the grades were not severe (about 8% max), they were long and we climbed about 1300 feet to our resort hotel at Welches. We are all beginning to work together more like a team now. Along with the steeper grades came beautiful nurseries and berry farms with Mount Hood in the background. Ken and our new friend Dr. Dave are shown pedaling toward Welches under Mount Hood. This is beautiful country, rich with streams an lush vegetation.
Hi, this Ken and I will add my two cents worth. As Tom said we had a flat run of about 20 flat miles into Portland then onto a really nice bike path to go around the North side of town. Once I found myself becoming very emotional, the weather was great, the path was good, Washington and the Columbia River were on my left and Mt. Hood was in view straight ahead. How lucky I am to have such a wonderful opportunity, what a beautiful country we live in.
To me today was relativly easy as climbs go, a lot of it was between 1 to 4 percent and was in steps rather than continuious. And sometimes it appears that you are going downhill when you are actually climbing so that helps mentally as well. At the top right is a diagram of the profile of today's ride. opefully is it readable.
Just past Portland we began to see beautiful nurseries and berry farms.
Tom & Ken:
ReplyDeleteWe will be following your progress and keep you in our prayers. We have been visiting with a couple of our sons as they vacationed up in Siesta Key and then brought a couple of grandkids back with us for a couple of days, so haven't had time to really log on or anything yet.
Hey Tom,
ReplyDeleteLong time, no see! Glad to see someone pursuing a dream for once! Right now I'm fighting to keep one. This time, it's not the City of Peoria, but my insurance company. Somehow, I need to incorporate, get an operating system together, possibly have a part time job lined up, and have some money to afford a major insurance increase by 7/13! I will make some time to keep myself posted as to your progress. You two may be a good source of inspiration for me. As always...
Dream Big!,
Colin Hawkinson
Hey guys you are sounding great!
ReplyDeleteWay to enjoy the ride.
I can honestly say "wish I were there"
Godspeed,
Ken