Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway, 28 miles

Sorry, couldn’t avoid the pun in the title of this post. I took a fabulous, though short ride with my brother James. We parked in Troutdale and rode up the old Gorge Highway. Climbing up over Crown Point lead to beautiful views, perfect weather, and the discovery of fresh blacktop on the highway. We also found light traffic, on this first post-Labor Day weekend. Just a week earlier the Gorge Highway would have been packed with summer tourists.

I turned back at Bridal Veil Falls, but James rode on to Cascade Locks. He found that past Multnomah Falls the old highway had been converted to a bike path, snaking back and forth under the busy I-84. Go bikes!

I haven’t ridden as much this summer, which leads me to some concern about my fall tour. Just 3 weeks away, I plan to leave October 1. My legs are strong, though I’m still favoring a pulled muscle on my left quads. Gotta keep doing the stretches.

The larger task of cleaning out our house to make it ready for rental looms as well. The boys moved out a week ago, into an apartment in town. They seem happy and excited for their new living situation. I’ve slept up at the now vacated house, vacated – but not empty. So much detritus of the years, maintenance deferred.

I’ve been sleeping long hours up on the land, nights filled with epic dreams of transitions, volcanoes, climbing down cliffs, and casts of characters both unknown and familiar. At times I wonder if I have any new thought available, then am shocked by the dream world, always present, just waiting for me to rest, to sleep enough for my creative mind to awaken…

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