Day 12: Columbia River Gorge
The Bonneville Dam on the Columbia.
Bonneville Dam birds.
Columbia River Gorge and Cascades.
I rode Interstate 84 in Oregon along the south shore of the Columbia River until I reached the Columbia Gorge area. There I left the interstate in favor of old US Highway 30, the Historic Columbia River Highway, a two-laner which parallels I-84 and the Union Pacific Railroad, but is a much more leisurely ride with numerous stopping points at scenic sites and trailheads. On two occasions I parked the bike and hiked a mile or two up into the hills in search of better views of the Gorge and photos of the cascades along the trails. It was a gloomy overcast day, but I managed to get some decent photographs in spite of the light.
The waterproof CruiserBoots I wore while riding are not comfortable for long walks. I changed into my Adidas hiking boots for walking the trails. For my next long trip I hope to find a comfortable pair of waterproof backpacking boots that will double as riding boots, and perhaps pack a pair of waterproof gaiters to keep my ankles dry if the weather gets really wet. My Aerostich Darien jacket and pants, three-finger nylon overgloves, and Nolan helmet should take care of the rest of me. The extra pair of boots took quite a bit of space in the right side bag. If I can get by with one pair of boots for both riding and hiking, that space will be useful for other necessities.
On reaching the Portland area in late afternoon, I high-tailed it down Interstate 205 and I-5 to Eugene, where I found a comfortable motor hotel for the night. Another lively college town with plenty of restaurants, I took a walk around the downtown area and found the Mona Lizza (sic) Ristorante & Bar at 830 Olive Street, a friendly upscale Italian restaurant, where I fell in love with a waitress (again) and had a delicious dinner.
Return to 2002 trip map.