Cherry of a Ride

[Xrayted]

This one sounds good. Where are y'all meeting? We should be able to do this one.

[TsPoet]

Hopefully Wahine will come up with a place to meet. We could just meet in the school parking lot, or get a quick breakfast before the ride somewhere.
I'll PM her (owe her one anyway).

[Wahine]

I'm not sure of the venue. I'll try to check it out this weekend and come up with a place to meet. TS, you said that we could meet in the school parking lot? If that's an obvious spot, it works for me.

X - would you in Kit be coming in the night before. If so I can make some suggestions on places to stay in Hood River. I think you'd enjoy the atmosphere there better than The Dalles. Or we culd link up in Hood River the night before for dinner or something and then you could continue on to The Dalles that night. Hood River is an hour away from Portland, more or less and The Dalles is another 30 min east of Hood River.

TS - you could come for dinner the night before too. It's a little more driving for you tho.

[TsPoet]

I'm not sure of the venue. I'll try to check it out this weekend and come up with a place to meet. TS, you said that we could meet in the school parking lot? If that's an obvious spot, it works for me.

Based on last year, the ride starts in the school parking lot, it's a small school. It's still a small ride, so I think we could find each other. The registration was in the school gym as well as some bagels and munchies to get you started.
I'll be easy to spot - a chubby 40 yo woman with messy hair on a black recumbent with a yellow bag on the back of the seat. I'll probably drive my big, gas guzzling, red Ford Explorer Sport Trak.

Thanks for the dinner invite, but I'll probably just get up at 0-dark-30 and drive in Sunday morning. I have other commitments for Saturday that will send me East.

[Wahine]

Sounds good to me. We'll have to pick a time. I'm still toying with doing the 100. So I'd like to start early. My DH is comng and I think he'll do the 48. The 48 is the starting route for the 80 and 100, so we'll ride that much together at least.

I'm also easy to spot. Bright, and I mean Bright, green Specialized Allez with tri bars. Handsome, tall lean older man with a black cherry colored Cervelo at my side. Don't let the fancy bikes fool you. We'll probably avg 13 mph for the 48. DH is still getting used to riding hills and hasn't had much time on the bike. I doubt that I'll do much better than that on the second half of the ride, seeing as I haven't riden anything longer than 56 this year so far, and a lot of that was on the trainer.

[Xrayted]

Hmmm, that sounds like a good idea Wahine. If you can give me some ideas on where to stay, I'll check it out today. Dinner would be great. Bfast even better. We'll see as it gets closer. Either way, we all definitely have to meet up. We will probably do the 50 mile route this time. It's still early in the season and someone will still be getting used to clipless, ... Although, she will probably leave me sitting still all over the place.
Gotta go print off the entrance forms... hope to see y'all soon!

[Wahine]

This is my favorite place in town. DH and I used to stay here quite a bit when we would come down for holidays. They have great bfast and meals at the restaurant in the hotel, but they are also right in the thick of things downtown. Walking distance to everything you could want except a grocery store. All the best restaurants are within 6 blocks of the place. Great atmosphere too.

http://www.hoodriverhotel.com/

Other options....

also downtown:

http://www.oakstreethotel.com/

on the waterfront:

http://www.hoodriverinn.com/

If you need more recs let me know. If my house was done I'd be happy to have you two at my place. But alas... the construction continues.