May 17: Short, Stunning, and Scenic

With rain forecasted on and off throughout the day and some summer trip planning to do at home, I set my sights on a relatively short ride this morning on the Historic Columbia River Highway, meandering along the southern edge of the body of water and passing numerous breathtaking panoramic vistas of the gorge and a myriad of delightful peeks at several stunning waterfalls.

Joining the scenic roadway at Corbett, I snaked through the thick trees lining the hillside and reached the peak of the crest, gasping in wonder at the vast expanse of silver-blue river water winding its way east, framed by ancient, moss-covered stone guardrails in the foreground. Buit between 1913-1922, these arched protective walls provide a centuries-old charming accent amidst breathtaking natural beauty.

After stopping at Vista House to admire the view of the grey and white storm clouds hovering over the relatively calm river waters, I continued East, passing downed branches and errant rocks in the road. Shortly after Latourell Falls, I pulled over near Shepperd’s Dell Falls to gaze at the several-story tall stone cliff to my right, towering above me and reaching out into my lane from the sky above.

Getting back on the bike, I road past Bridal Veil Falls, Waukeena Falls, Multnomah Falls, the Oneonta Tunnel, and Horsetail Falls, stopping often to take in delightful views of frothy narrow rivulets of water cascading their way down to splash in wide pools below. It was hard to choose which photo to highlight in my blog today, but I ended up selecting one of horsetail falls. What a great day on the bike!