I went to this ride with the Concours Owners Group last year for the first time. The "ribbon" is one of several rivers in the area. The roads follow the course of the river and twist and wind their way through the mountains and hills. With excellent pavement and twisty roads, this place is totally awesome to ride. And then in the evening after riding hard, the group parties hard. All good friends, and each year and each event builds the relationships with people who live even several states away.
Left on Friday with Andy and Nancy. We headed over Chinook Pass and down to Yakima.
It's kinda cool to realize that mountain in the background will be in my rearview mirror in a couple hours.
At Chinook Pass
Heading toward Yakima
Look on the hillside, and you'll see it is on fire.
Temps were pretty high on the way in. My bike read 112F several times. Luckily, the cooling vest worked well.
Charlie led a good sized group along the Middle Fork of the John Day River.
Every turn had a beautiful view of the river as you followed it for miles and miles.
I love the rock formations.
Monday was the day to get back home. Andy and I left at a few minutes after 6am. I should've taken a picture of the quiet and still parking lot. As the poem says, "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse".
The sun was coming up behind us and made for some incredible lighting effects on the landscape.
Everywhere you look, you see different colours and textures in the landscape.
We hit some high side winds and a dust storm on the way back.
One thing that sticks in my mind as I travel, is when I see old abandoned buildings. Not just barns, but houses that used to be homes. What stories would they tell if they could reveal the hopes and dreams of the people who lived there? The children that grew up there?
Later, Mt. Adams on the horizon.
I think this is near Yakima. Note the rock just sticking out of the middle of that hillside where the road disappears.
Heading up towards Chinook Pass on the final stretch home.
Andy. Great rider, with a great personality.
Mt. Rainier
Chris
Left on Friday with Andy and Nancy. We headed over Chinook Pass and down to Yakima.
It's kinda cool to realize that mountain in the background will be in my rearview mirror in a couple hours.
At Chinook Pass
Heading toward Yakima
Look on the hillside, and you'll see it is on fire.
Temps were pretty high on the way in. My bike read 112F several times. Luckily, the cooling vest worked well.
Charlie led a good sized group along the Middle Fork of the John Day River.
Every turn had a beautiful view of the river as you followed it for miles and miles.
I love the rock formations.
Monday was the day to get back home. Andy and I left at a few minutes after 6am. I should've taken a picture of the quiet and still parking lot. As the poem says, "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse".
The sun was coming up behind us and made for some incredible lighting effects on the landscape.
Everywhere you look, you see different colours and textures in the landscape.
We hit some high side winds and a dust storm on the way back.
One thing that sticks in my mind as I travel, is when I see old abandoned buildings. Not just barns, but houses that used to be homes. What stories would they tell if they could reveal the hopes and dreams of the people who lived there? The children that grew up there?
Later, Mt. Adams on the horizon.
I think this is near Yakima. Note the rock just sticking out of the middle of that hillside where the road disappears.
Heading up towards Chinook Pass on the final stretch home.
Andy. Great rider, with a great personality.
Mt. Rainier
Chris