After what seems like several month of grayness and never ending downpours, the big yellow orb in the sky made a return appearance. And with the sunshine came warm temperatures. There was no better spending my Saturday than on the seat of my bike, cranking it along the Historic Columbia River Highway between The Dalles and Hood River.

The Gorge Ride consisted cruising alongside towering basalt cliffs at Rowena, through golden grassy meadows near Mosier, and lush green wooded areas near Hood River. There was the occasional rustic barn sitting out in the distant in an open meadow. I’ve even stopped to check out out the vintage Mayer Mansion, which was one of the ride’s designated rest stops.

Along the way, I passed through Mosier Twin Tunnels. It’s very dark inside the tunnels and westbound traffic may have a very difficult time seeing inside the tunnel because the rockfall shelter at the west end dims much of the light. I found out that the eastbound cyclists have a much better visibility since the light at the end of the tunnel is very bright, casting vivid silhouettes.

I gave this ride (and the awesome weather) two thumbs up!

I love climbing the hills. Nothing makes me more happier than maxing out my heart rate and soaked in sweat after a hard climb. After climbing the hairpin turns near Rowena Crest, I ended up with one big ear-to-ear happy grin on my face.

Will I do this ride again? You bet, either as an organized ride like Saturday’s event, or at any other time I have free. Simply park at the Gorge Discovery Center (free) near The Dalles or at the Hatfield Trailhead near Hood River ($5 fee) and crank away. Bicyclists on the Historic Columbia River Highway are common.

Ride on!

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