April 8: Respite on the River

What a great day to be on the bike! After experiencing rain, snow, and hail over the last few weeks it was wonderful to spend the day on the bike cruising along the Columbia River Gorge and the Klickitat River with no storm clouds in sight, enjoying views of the valleys, snow-capped mountains, and glistening still waters.

Leaving West Linn this morning, I headed north on I-205 and then east on Highway 14 past Washougal, Washington towards Goldendale. There is something so darn beautiful about this stretch of road, sandwiched between the sheer, rocky cliffs to the north and the vast body of water to the south. The Columbia River is nestled at the base of deep, tree-covered valleys and framed by tall snow-capped mountains on all sides.

I stopped at Cape Horn Overlook to take in the views of the still blue water, Sand Island, and the National Scenic Area to the east. The water was particularly peaceful today, with almost no wind or traffic on the water. After meeting Grant Myers in North Bonneville, we continued east along the river, passing waterfalls and lakes and riding through a variety of tunnels carved in the mountains.

We stopped for a great lunch at the Honkytonk Bar and Restaurant in Goldendale and then headed west on Highway 142 towards Klickitat. This is a great stretch of road as it zigs and zags along the Klickitat River, with numerous water views as you descend toward the gorge. The ride back towards West Linn was equally scenic, with periodic views of the snow-covered and cloud-enshrouded Mount Hood, winding blue river, and rocky multi-colored banks. What a great ride!