January 25: Rollicking Ride to Ripplebrook

Today’s rollicking ride out to Ripplebrook was full of one delicious curve after another as the almost traffic-less road twisting through tall vertical cliffs along the Clackamas River provided magnificent views of peaceful blue and green waters, far-reaching valleys filled with evergreen trees, and foothills dusted with snow.

Living in a valley between two mountain ranges, it can be a little tricky to pick a route when temperatures are in the mid thirties and roads at higher elevations may have patches of ice. Today’s route had been a favorite of mine for years before my desire to travel longer distances took me on adventures further away from home.

So, I was hit with a wave of warm nostalgia as I followed Clackamas River Drive to Barton and then headed east on highway 224 to Estacada and beyond. Coming up over the rise just south of town, the eagle’s eye view of the winding light blue river below, nestled between the thick green foliage on both sides simply took my breath away.

With no businesses, residences, or services along the way, traffic was almost non-existent, transporting me to a different place and time as I worked my way east between steep vertical brown rocky outcroppings, over light sage-colored steel bridges, and alongside the now green river waters to my right, punctuated by honey-colored shrubs and stark grey and white trees along the shore.

Hawks glided in the bright blue sky above as I rode past rippling white-water rapids, waterfalls, and the stark black skeletons of trees burnt in fires several years ago.  As I got closer to Ripplebrook, the road rose in elevation, and white snow appeared on the foothills around me.

Turning around at the Ripplebrook Ranger Station, I grinned as I pulled back on the throttle. Having already checked out the road for patches of ice and rocks on my way there, I increased my speed on the way home, making it possible to enjoy the curves even more. What a glorious day on the bike!