Today we loaded up the bikes - 12 panniers full of gear - made a quick stop by the bike store and loaded up on food and drink for the 55 miles to Umatilla, OR. Our route was more trafficked than I prefer along Highway 12. We had a decent shoulder but the cars and trucks zooming by made for less than a relaxing time. We were safe, but the traffic was loud and required us to be 'on' all the time. I fantasized about and longed for the hundreds of miles we had experienced last summer in Europe through pastures and sleepy towns as I worked to relax.
CR is participating in a road kill project which means we stopped anytime we came across road kill and logged it. After the 2nd or 3rd stop, I began to feel inadequate at my strictly 'down time' focus for this trip. I am neither sponsored nor collecting any relevant data. I thought about this for a mile or so and called out 'STOP' as CR and the kids did any time someone saw road kill which needed logging. Everyone came to a stop and I announced that, since setting out this morning, we had passed at least half a dozen signs for wineries with 'tastings happening now' none of which was receiving a visit from us and that from now on, I was planning on stopping at each one and photographing it as an example of missed opportunity. As I took my first picture (see below) CR said 'are you making fun of me?' Nope - just noting the lack of winery experience we are having....
About 12 miles out, we stopped to eat and found one of the only shady spots I saw all day. There was an elm tree surrounded by soft, green grass that gave us a lovely picnic spot. I looked for a water spigot and found one we could use to refill our bottles. After I had filled mine and was placing it on my bike, CR did the same and suddenly jumped back, whispering loudly for me to 'come over and bring your camera.' There, in a small dug out area by the window, was a young skunk. After we had taken pics of him, I threw him a cookie, much to CR's chagrin, who said he thought it unfair that I share such a delicious item with a Skunk.
After another 20 miles or so the Columbia river game into view. I can only imagine how astonished the Lewis and Clark party must have been to have come upon it, unaware, We hung a left and road along this majestic river, surrounded by gold and brown cliffs. The scene was magnificent. The river is enormous and glistens as it turns around the cliffs that jut above it. We had the Columbia at our side for around 20 miles before it veered off, leaving us with fields of grain. I also called this part of the route 'side dish alley' because every mile or so we'd see, and I'm completely serious, a stray potato or onion. They, the potatoes and onions, are transported by the truck load and a few fall out along the way.
Our last 15 miles was tough, mostly because we'd been in the saddle for so long (7 hours). Our planned stop of Umatilla yielded a local dairy dip-styled burger joint with milk shakes and onion rings. I ordered a salad with grilled chicken and received a portion large enough for 4 people and did my best to eat all of it. My last picture is of the motel sign. As we peddaled up to it Sho said 'is that play on words, like 'until I come in'? Ah, yeah, was all I could think to say - check out the pic!
No comments:
Post a Comment