November 22: Fun on Foothills in the Fog with Friends
As I hurtled over a hill just past the Alsea Summit in the Suislaw National Forest, the top portion of the heavy fog blanketing the area lifted, creating a breathtaking tableau of colors before me. Traveling with my two favorite riding partners had already put me in a great mood and the stunning scenery just made a great day even better.
Leo Guzman Fernandez and I met up at the Willamette Falls Overlook, stopping briefly there to snap a picture of the thundering frothy white sheets of water cascading down to the jagged grey rocks in the turbulent silvery waters below.
With temperatures just in the forties, we wound our way on 99E along the shoreline before heading west on highway 22 and then south on highway 223, breathing in the crisp air and enjoying the warmth of our electric jackets.
As we barreled around curves through the countryside, the thick white mist gave the fields and farmlands around us an ethereal feel. Silence permeated the air and the pink, purple, and orange leaves of grape vines and nut and fruit trees were barely visible.
Pulling into Philomath, we met up with Gene Lord and continued west on highway 34 towards Alsea, making the most of this delightfully twisty route through the foothills of the Suislaw National Forest. Gnarly, moss-covered dark brown branches reached out over the road and streaks of orange highlighted the road where the damp fall foliage lay.
Shortly after cresting the summit, blue sky burst out of the fog above, framing the bright green fields, brown and white spotted cows, and rustic red barn in the foreground in a dazzling display of shimmering color. Reveling in the warmth of the newfound sun, we continued carving our way through the curves before turning around at Taylor’s Landing and heading back to Philomath.
Traveling north on highway 223, we stopped at the Ritner Creek Covered Bridge to admire the iconic white wood structure, the last of its kind built in Oregon. Replaced by a concrete bridge and relocated to its current spot in 1976, this historic landmark is well worth the stop. What a great day on the bike!
