Columbia River Gorge - The Dalles

[BobMielke]

I had 4 days off last week and spent 2 working with a computer network. I did manage a planned ride up the Columbia River Gorge to The Dalles. Highway 14 is a two lane road that runs along the Gorge on the Washington side. I've ridden it many times before and am still blown away by the scenic views. Since I'm no stranger to this ride I knew just where to stop for the best photographs. The scope of these vistas is incredible, with high cliffs, mostly stripped of vegetation, looming far above the waters edge. Mt. Hood looms in the background as i reached The Dalles, a community on the river providing a fresh water dock for barges and sea faring ships. The weather was special that day as puffy skies contrasted the stark, clear blue skies. What a cool ride! It was a 235 mile day as I returned to Beaverton via Interstate 84, a superslab that runs along the Columbia River Gorge. It's certainly not a boring ride.

http://bobmielke.smugmug.com/photos/353402227_adPng-L.jpg
http://bobmielke.smugmug.com/photos/353402534_pMaY7-L.jpg
http://bobmielke.smugmug.com/photos/353402459_VsssR-L.jpg

[Rich]

Bob, you're a lucky guy to have laid eyes on scenery like that while the rest of us are working!

Very nice, thanks for sharing.

Now get back to work. :ha

[womanridge]

That sure wet my appetite!! I'll be visiting my neice & nephew in 3 weeks. They live on the west side of the gorge near White Salmon(I think that's the name of the town). This will be my longest ride this year from Wisconsin. Thanks for the preview of a bit of what's to come.

[BobMielke]

http://bobmielke.smugmug.com will give you a better idea of what you can look forward to on your visit. My e- mail account is bobmielke@comcast.net if I can help in any way. Good Luck!

[bluestune]

Great shots Bob, thanks for posting.

[pmdave]

I just got home from the SoundRider Sportbike NW rally in Stevenson, right in the area shown in those photos. It's not a BMW rally, but it is an AMA regional event. The original sport bike rally has grown to include sport touring, dual sport, and scooters, and runs for almost two weeks.

One big advantage of attending this combined rally are the organized trips, road information, poker runs, and even an afternoon of riding a privately owned very twisty section of an old road known as the Maryhill Loops Road. Camping is available on site, and several meals are included. Rides are mapped out in all directions, including a "butt burner" and dual sport routes on unpaved forest service roads.

One favorite day loop takes in Mt. St. Helens, another circumscribes Mt. Hood. Others go to viewpoints from which a number of mountains can be seen, including Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood. When we say "mountains" around here, we're talking about peaks over 10,000 feet, glaciers and all. OK, there are hundreds of hills twice as steep as those "mountains" on the right coast, but there are too many to count.

There are seven spectacular waterfalls along the scenic highway on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, and some impressive lava cliffs on the Washington side. There are also several huge dams in the area, plus interpretive centers, sternwheeleer trips, fresh fruit, ghost towns, and whitewater rafting.

There are always a selection of seminars at the event. This year Nick Ienatsch gave a couple of serious talks, plus a "coffee with Nick." There were also presentations and a course by Bret Tkacs of Puget Sound Safety, a panel discussion about the fatality problem, and three seminars by author David L. Hough.

BMW Motorrad NA had their huge trailer and demo bikes at the event. The dualsport NW and scooter NW are in progress right now. I suspect the schedule will be similar next year. OK, it's not a BMW-only event, although there are usually lots of BMW riders in attendance. The rally fees are steep, but provide a lot of bang for the buck.

So, if you are intrigued by the Columbia Gorge area, I highly suggest you check out SBNW at www.SoundRider.com.

[franze]

those are three awesome pictures.:bow

[Burnszilla]

http://bobmielke.smugmug.com/photos/353402534_pMaY7-L.jpg


That there looks like a postcard! :thumb

[GrafikFeat]

That there looks like a postcard! :thumb

That's a great example to show how the mountain(s) have an effect on PNW weather.
Noting the "downwind" side or eastern slope.

[The_Veg]

That's a great example to show how the mountain(s) have an effect on PNW weather.
Noting the "downwind" side or eastern slope.

Which direction are we looking in the picture?

[GrafikFeat]

Which direction are we looking in the picture?

That would be South. From WA over the Columbia River to Mt. Hood in OR.

[The_Veg]

That would be South. From WA over the Columbia River to Mt. Hood in OR.

Ah OK! Thanks. Interesting how the mountains can do the opposite in other climes, e.g. 'rain shadow' deserts in the southwest.

[41077]

Don't miss hwy 30 just off of 84 starting at Moiser continuing to Rowena
Check it out on google earth, there are some awesome curves in that area.

[GrafikFeat]

Ah OK! Thanks. Interesting how the mountains can do the opposite in other climes, e.g. 'rain shadow' deserts in the southwest.

Oh... They do that here too!

Look at Eastern WA the "Evergreen State" (http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/54772/stories/63292)... :laugh


This is a great run (http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/54772/itinerary/63222) also!!!

[41077]

Just off of 84 nice break from the slab.

[GrafikFeat]

Just off of 84 nice break from the slab.

Nice livin' out here ain't it! :laugh

[lineman126]

Beutiful pictures! Thanks for posting them. I stood atop Mt hood about 10 years ago. It truley is a beutiful area. I can't wait to get back out west and enjoy gods country again.