Day Three – Portland to Hood River

Today’s ride was 73 miles which, on paper, would seem easier than yesterday. It wasn’t. Today’s ride was more difficult as a result of the heat, a solid climb early in the ride – as well as one that came later in the ride that wasn’t anticipated and more challenging than the one yesterday. There were a few other challenging riding situations that presented themselves.

We started out about 8 am from the hotel in Portland and meandered our way out of Portland across surface streets and bike paths. We hit a path along the way that was – apparently – a bridge where the path ran along the median of an interstate. We were well protected for the 4 mile span of the bridge by concrete medians on either side, but it was a first. I had never ridden along the median of an interstate before. But this wasn’t the only first related to an interstate.

We continued out of town and met our first challenging climb which we were told was the most challenging of the day. It was, and it was no fun. We encouraged each other up the hills that followed one another in what seemed to be a never-ending sequence. We laughed and made bad jokes. We also sang the hill song that one of the lovely riders, Caroline, had taught us. It’s not difficult to learn, simply sing a series of expletives one after another to whatever tune you’d like. Perfect accompaniment! At one point we collected as a group at the top, only to find that it wasn’t actually the top and there was more climbing to be had.

Of course, as is the case with most of the hills we encounter, we find that there is a solid downhill waiting on the back-side and we’re able to fly down quickly resting our legs while our hands and arms do most of the work keeping the brakes intact.

We rode over a wonderful bridge that was wildly scary called ‘Bridge of the Gods‘. It’s a grated bridge that sits 140 feet above the water. The fact that it is grated means that you ride across the top of it, and – should you look down – you would see the 108 foot deep river 140 feet below. I opted to look straight ahead and not look down. In addition to my fear of heights, the challenges riding across the grates which are tricky, there was a heavy side-wind to ensure that we were all paying attention.

We had a wonderful lunch, as has been the case thus far. I opted for a second dose of chamois butter which helps to reduce the friction in your cycling shorts and was pleasantly surprised at the presence of a bathroom of sorts at the lunch stop. Bathroom breaks along the way involve taking what the route gives you – and sometimes not looking down into out-house type toilets as much as not looking down while crossing 140 foot high grated bridges.

Our post-lunch stretch included a climb which we were advised would be a little spicy. After returning to the hotel and uploading my route from my bike computer, Strava advised me that it was my biggest climb… ever. Which was surprising because it wasn’t to be bigger than yesterday’s climb. I did stop at one slightly less step incline and rested my legs which were burning as well as my lungs which were also on fire. That short little 2 minute stop gave me just what I needed to make it the rest of the way. That, and lots of prayer. I’m not kidding on that last bit. I prayed. Sadly, looking at tomorrow’s route – I think I’ll do even more praying somewhere between mile 70 and 90. 

The rest of the ride was met with my legs letting me know that they were less than happy with me, but I took it easy. There were moments on the ride earlier in the day where I was astounded by the beauty the route presented to the point of feeling the watering of tears in my eyes. We are so fortunate and blessed to live in a beautiful country and I am immensely appreciative of this opportunity to see and experience it the way that I am – even with the challenges. Today we even took time to stop and smell the roses by taking photos to capture the experience.