March 30: Curves Along the Columbia and Klickitat

It doesn’t get much better than riding under glorious bright blue skies following the turns of a lush blue river while gazing at beautiful white capped mountains on the horizon. Today’s curve-filled journey along both the Columbia and Klickitat Rivers to Goldendale and back was a picture-perfect introduction to Spring riding.

Heading east this morning on highway fourteen past Washougal, I couldn’t help but notice how stunning Mount Hood looked in all its icy glory – massive volcanic ridges covered in a thick layer of snow reaching up into the sun filled sky with a small blanket of clouds resting at its base. I don’t typically pull over on freeways to take a scenic picture, but this view was calling out to be captured.

Passing sheer rocky cliffs on my left with trickles of spring water flowing down their sides, I took in the massive expanse of the Columbia River flowing past Cape Horn and continuing west, somehow appearing even more blue than the sky above. A freight train loaded with goods followed me on my right for quite a few miles, snaking along the river’s edge as it made its way east.

Heading north on highway 97 into Goldendale, Mount Adams appeared on my left, framed in the foreground by fields of brown and green dotted with little farmhouses.

After a wonderful lunch with my best friend Michelle, I passed through Goldendale and continued west and south along the Klickitat River. I just love this section of narrow winding road that curves back and forth down the mountains with numerous valley and river views below. As is often the case, traffic was light, and it was easy to lose myself in the beauty of the nature around me.

I’m still struggling to figure out what is making my bike vibrate dramatically and am hopeful the shop will have more answers this week. Although riding with the constant shaking is much more physically taxing, I am grateful I was still able to get out on such a beautiful day.