April 16 - Backroads to Astoria
What an amazing day! I had forgotten how wonderful it is to ride in chaps and summer gloves instead of textile pants, an electric jacket, and winter gloves. Today I had the pleasure of going on a late afternoon ride to Astoria for clam chowder at the Fort George Brewery. Grant Myers led this fantastic ride through the backroads of Oregon and Washington.
From Latus we took Oatfield Road north to 99E north to highway 30. From there we went on Scapoose Vernonia Road to 47 then to highway 202 then Astoria. Along the way we had beautiful views of the Columbia River, Nehalem River, farmlands, and the Clatsop State Forest Area. Traffic was light and we were able to swoop around a large variety of curves – tighter switchbacks and gentler turns.
The Clam Chowder at the Fort George Brewery was amazing – creamy, rich, full of potatoes, and spiked with enough spice to make it distinctive. I can see why Leo keeps coming back for more.
I was delighted to hear that we were indeed taking the long way home – north into Washington on highway 101 then east on highway 4. We had more wonderful views of the Columbia River as well as Mount Hood on our way home.
It was so sunny out I decided to take another mini detour on the way home to look at the Willamette Falls in the setting sun. The falls are a worthwhile stop in their own right as they are the largest waterfalls in the NW by Volume and the seventeenth widest in the world. It seems like so many times I am just passing them on my way to somewhere else. So tonight I took a few minutes to take in the beauty of this powerful force of nature without any time constraints.
