August 14

August 14

It wasn’t as hard to get up as I thought it would be. That told me that the wine and vodka were first-rate! Also, I was pumped that this was my next to last riding day. I rode 67 miles to Westport, OR, where Jamye picked me up for the drive into Astoria. It was tough finding a place to stay since there was a sailing regatta over the weekend. We found a place near Fort Stevens. As I pedaled near Rainier, OR, I looked across the Columbia to Longview, WA at a mill that I believe International Paper purchased from Weyerhaeuser back in 2008. As I reflected on my years at IP, it already seemed a distant memory. Soon, this adventure will be a memory as well. I am fortunate that my life is filled with many great memories. I am also thankful that I have the opportunity to create more of them. While at work, the best part of the experience was the people and the opportunity to touch other lives. The same was true of this adventure.

August 13

August 13

I took today off from riding to get some much needed rest and to spend more time with my friend Matt. We had breakfast together at The Stepping Stone Café, an establishment touted by locals as the best breakfast in Portland. The food was great and the pancakes were larger than the plates, but the service was poor. Perhaps the waiters were taking too seriously the restaurant’s slogan, “You eat here because we let you”. Matt dropped me off at the campground and we planned to meet again in Astoria, OR with Callie over the weekend. In the afternoon, Jamye and I met some good folks at the park who became great friends during our brief time together. Barry and Jan Klein were ‘full-timers’, former Airstream owners who moved up to a beautiful 40’ rig. Once Barry heard about our adventure, he thought it would be appropriate that he give me a cap he had been holding for the ‘right person’. He gave me a cap to cherish from the bike shop of 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop. Barry and I clicked like ‘brothers from another mother’. We did some shopping together in the afternoon and on Friday evening the four of us enjoyed Cuban cigars and fine wine…and some great vodka! I didn’t care that the next morning was ride day. We told stories and laughed late into the evening. We look forward to reconnecting with them one day soon again.

Larry, Barry and Jan Klein

August 12

August 12

I started the day on a bikes-only trail east of Cascade Locks with the Columbia in view, about 300 ft below. I picked up the Historic Columbia River Highway (hwy 30) at the end of the bike trail and had a beautiful ride, stopping to see several waterfalls along the way. Jamye and I had lunch at Vista House, with a tremendous view up the Columbia. After a few climbs, I coasted downhill into Troutdale, where I picked up another bike path adjacent to the Columbia. I rode into Portland near the airport and we pulled in for the next two nights at an RV park on Marine Drive. After getting cleaned up, my good friend Matt Kelly, a fellow UVA grad and former IP coworker, picked us up for what would be a wonderful evening together with his friend Callie. We had dinner near Corbett, OR at a charming place called The View Point Inn. We saw a beautiful sunset and a moon set and had amazing views of the Columbia River Gorge and the city lights of Portland and Vancouver. It was a splendid evening with fine food and great company!

Larry and Matt Kelly

Callie and Matt

Matt, Larry and Callie at View Point Inn