Astoria Stories

The 31st Annual No Sweat Ride went off without a hitch, but not without flat tires.  All told the group had 3 flats, all on Highway 30, aka Dirty Thirty.  That bike lane hasn't been swept since before Lewis and Clark went through.

It's always a relief to take that left onto the Scappoose-Vernonia Highway.  It's a long climb, but beautiful and pretty low traffic.  We stopped by the little store to refill our tanks and were off again in no time.  

Early worries that we'd arrive at the Birkenfield before they opened were unfounded.  After an hour and three quarters, we were on our way up the rest of the hills between us and the coast.

For the first time in the zillion times I've ridden by the Elk Refuge, there were elk!  Or elks.  Lots of 'em.  We stopped to gawk and take photos.

The hills seemed small for me, even though I was the slowest rider in the group.  We all stopped for a beer and peanuts at the Olney Saloon, then headed to our finish line in Astoria.  A great day!