Last long solo ride before the Big Ride!

I started out by riding to Frenchman's Bar, west and north along
the Columbia River, out near farmlands and the wildlife refuge.
There's also a beach where I watch the huge container ships from
Asia as they head to Portland. When I ride there I'm usually
completely alone with the herons, geese, coyotes, and squirrels.
It's great.

Not so today. There were dozens of other cyclists speeding past me in the opposite direction. It turns out that there was a triathlon going on there. So, for a short while, I could pretend I was a triathlete. (Thank goodness they didn't make me swim!)

First stop: Esther Short Park for a snack and a drink.

(Commercial break: The Vancouver Symphony will be playing a free concert there on August 28th!)



Then, I headed south across I-5, east along Marine Drive and the
bike path there, then north across the I-205 bridge bike path, which runs down the middle of the freeway. (Don't worry. I never leave the bike path.)






After my veggie burger and strawberry lemonade lunch at
Burgerville, I took the 34-mile RACC route east around
Lacamas Lake. The lake was absolutely beautiful.

Elvira joined me for the last 11 or so miles of my 90-mile ride. It's amazing how much easier it is to ride with someone else. I felt completely refreshed when she joined me.




HAPPY 23rd BIRTHDAY, Erin!