Day 9

Cascade Locks, OR to The Dalles, OR
Distance 43.6 miles -- Cumulative 448.3
Time 4:04:28 -- Cumulative 37:34:38
Elevation Gain 2362 -- Cumulative 15,323

The weather is still great, but it did get hot today. It was 92 when I finished.

I didn't cover a lot of distance because I was a little concerned about how I would do with the climbing. In retrospect, I could have gone to the next town.

Today I was tested in several ways. At three and a half miles I hit a mile and a half climb that was really steep. I made it up but wasn't happy. On the way up I saw a disgusting human being. A pickup truck pulled over about a quarter of a mile ahead of me.  A guy jumped out of the truck and tossed a huge chunk of debris on the side of the road and then drove off. I wonder if he is the same jerk who dumped this hot tub by the side of the road.

After the downhill, I got my first taste of riding on an Interstate, I84. I liked it because interstate highways tend to be straighter and flatter with a 10-12 foot shoulder, except for the half mile where the shoulder was 3.5-4 feet wide.

Look back by the yellow truck. That was the end of the half mile.

About two miles past this point I got my first flat tire. It came from what looked like a really small nail. Fixing a flat is not a big deal; doing it on the side of the interstate is a little more interesting.

I exited the interstate and rode into Hood River where I stopped for coffee. It is a really cool little town. Then I started a long climb interrupted only for lunch and a quick stop to taste wine at Garnier Vineyards. The wine was nice, maybe because I was tired of climbing. The descent into The Dalles was fun. For much of the ride I was up on a ridge with incredible views of the Columbia River Gorge. I took lots of pictures; here are a few.

Tomorrow I cross into Washington and head into a more remote area. I will be camping tomorrow night and I'm not sure I will have connectivity to post. Never fear, I will catch up on Monday.