April 2 - An Explosion of Color
What an explosion of color! Today’s ride to Bend and back provided amazing views of rolling green farmland, towering snow-covered mountain peaks, and deep blue sunny skies dotted with white clouds. It’s truly not possible to have a bad day on a bike!
I left West Linn early this morning to head south along with Grant Myers to meet up with Gene Lord in Sweet Home. A little past Salem we turned off on highway 164 East towards Jefferson. What a breath of fresh air! The vast vistas of deep green farmlands and picturesque little barns made swooping along the gentle curves so relaxing and refreshing. The air was chilly as it was in the high 30s, but the sun was shining and everything from cherry trees to fields and farms was bursting with color.
After gassing up in Sweet Home we headed east on highway 20 through the mesmerizing Middle Cascade Range winter wonderland. It was the ideal time to be going over the pass on a bike – the road itself was clear but everything around us was white. I felt like I was driving through a glittery white tunnel as there were snowbanks on both sides of the road, the branches of the trees surrounding me were heavy with snow, and the towering peaks above me were all white-capped.
Near the top of one of the passes we stopped to take a picture right where a snowplow driver was stopped for a break. On our way into Bend, we were treated to majestic views of Three Fingered Jack, Mount Washington, the Santiam River, and the deep aqua-green colored Suttle Lake.
In Bend we stopped to eat at Bangers and Brews, a local eatery with fresh sausages and homemade sides. I ordered a bratwurst and an Italian lamb sausage along with caramelized onions and sweet peppers on a bed of greens with a house-made chimichurri sauce that was divine. For “dessert” I feasted on a side of homemade mashed potatoes with caramelized onions and gravy. The food was both delicious and filling.
As we headed out of Bend on highway 97, we were treated to stunning views of Mount Sister and Mount Jefferson as we made our way north. After passing through the Warm Springs Reservation area we entered the Mount Hood National Forest and had several fantastic views of Mount Hood on our way into Government Camp. What a great day on the bike!
