• Mileage today 100.1
• Miles traveled 131.5
• Elevation today 4905 ft
• Elevation total 5666 ft
• Weather – Cool, foggy in Astoria and then cloudy, low 60’s through forest land, arriving in Portland to a few raindrops and a deluge once in the hotel (good clean living😇)

Today was the “real” start of the ride, leaving from Astoria. Up and over to Sacapoose and into Portland. This is beautiful forest of the Clapsop State Forest. We must have crossed the Nehalem River 4 times and rode next to it for at least 20 miles. It’s a working forest meaning trees are cut and then replanted. It’s beautiful!!! A bonus was the wildlife preserve in Jewel (see the elk pic with forest in background.

The ride was three pieces – an early climb and push across, a second climb with a bombing run type decent and the a highway ride into Portland with all the urban noise you could handle. It was tough in spots ( aka climb speed was single digits). For most part tho it was spinning the pedals at a good clip. The big decent was riding down a slide with soft bendy corners that allowed you hit the apex and lean into it. In cycling terms, it was a cracker with speeds up to 35. Plus when we went down – no cars. Now we earned it and it was a blast! Ride into Portland was ehh – 20 miles of cars zooming by as we rode the shoulder that was wide and smooth.

After arriving in Portland at about 3:15, clean up and I headed for a coffee stop – Roseline Coffee (Highly recommend and the barista, Stewart was terrific, knowledgeable and super friendly!)

Do it all again tomorrow- 6:30 breakfast call!!