Fredwina does orygun?

[Fredwina]

I've signed up for the Recumbent Retreat in August.
I'm probably going to arrive a day early and leave a day late(Have yet to get plane tickets, rental car).
anything I should do or see in Astoria and/or Portland? One of my "bucket" list goals is to ride in all 50 states, so I'd like to get my bike and I across the Columbia.

[Susan Otcenas]

You should PM evangundy. Edna works here at TE and she's going to the retreat as well!

Susan

[Fredwina]

we've exchanged PM. Will try and do it again

[Fredwina]

I was looking for things to do/see outside of the recumbent retreat

[evangundy]

Hi Fredwina,
Glad to hear you'll be at the R.R. I'm looking forward to meeting you in person.
If you want to ride in both Oregon and Washington, a good ride but about 85 miles long, is the Bridge of the Gods Loop, out of SE Portland. http://www.ohpv.org/events/bog/BoG.htm There are various places you could start/finish, not just the one listed on the link. The ride would not be very fun/nice if it's bad weather though. Or, since you are planning to rent a car, you could drive part of it, park, ride out and back to car, drive to another parking area, ride out and back. There are probably 3 or 4 good places to do this. If it sounds good to you, let me know, and I'll see if I can figure out the mileage and good parking and turn-around spots.

There are a couple groups of folks who are planning to ride out to Astoria from Portland, one leaving Wed, arriving Thursday, and another leaving Thurs to arrive Friday. If you might like to ride the last day in with one of them, maybe we could find someone to drive out with you, then take your car on into Astoria? The route they ride is really beautiful, quiet, rural, through the Coast Range. Not flat, but not as much "up" as you would think.

While in Astoria, you definitely need to go to the Astoria Column. You can get there by car or bike, and the view from the top of the column can be amazing on a clear day. I would recomend you drive across the bridge to Washington, park near Ilwaco, and ride while over there. The bridge is horrible by bike. I'll see if I can find a pic or two.

Staying an extra day too? Meaning overnight Sunday, then leave Monday?You would probably have time to drive further south, to maybe Tillamook (visit the Tillamook Cheese Factory or the Air Museum) or Three Capes Scenic drive, or Lincoln City, then head back to Portland. There is some nice bike riding areas along the coast.

That's all I can think of right now (it's late and past bedtime). More later.
Edna

[evangundy]

Here are some pics we took in 2005 - when Cycle Oregon finished in Astoria. We didn't ride that year, but were in Astoria for the finish.
Edna