November 1: Fantastic Fall Foliage

What a fantastic day frolicking through fantastic fall foliage. Fiery pops of yellow, red, and orange leaves adorned trees, bushes, and shrubs of all kinds as I made my way east to Goldendale along the Klickitat River.

Heading out on highway 14, I breathed in the fresh morning air, taking in the majestic sight of Mt Hood’s snowy white craggy peak valiantly bursting forth above the heavy mist and low-lying clouds.

Snaking my way along the Columbia Gorge, I watched as the wind blew across the river’s surface, creating delightful ripples in the silvery blue-grey water. A variety of colorful cargo trains chugged west beside the shoreline, disappearing in the tunnels burrowed in the rocky cliffs.

As I twisted through densely forested hills, the rolling mountainsides created striking layers of blue, green, and grey that provided a perfect backdrop for the flaming yellow, orange, and red foliage all around.

Turning north on highway 142 at Lyle, I followed the Klickitat River past Klickitat and up through the mountainous terrain, giving myself a bird’s eye view of the vibrant palette of colors below.

Having typically traveled this route in the opposite direction, I marveled at how different everything looked when traversing up the mountain rather than down. As the road narrowed and the middle stripe disappeared, I loved seeing the gilded trees and brilliant bushes nestled in the clefts of the rolling brown hills above.

Making my way into Goldendale from the west, I joined my best friend Michelle at the Honky Tonk Bar and Grill for a delicious bacon blue burger and great conversation. What a great day on the bike!