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Published: September 20th 2018
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Oregon 2018. Portland last ride
Well today was certainly an interesting one with no one locked up in Multnomah County Jail. The Sheriff was quite polite once he had got over his serious warning bit and threats of a $280 fine. These British cyclists take some controlling. The day started badly as soon as we had done our crossing of the ’Bridge if God’ over the Columbia River into Washington State. We attempted to go down the cycle route starting at the bridge only to be accosted by a guy in a yellow jacket jumping out of his car and telling us the route was closed but did not offer any further explanation. As cyclists do we went 400 metres down the road and jumped the concrete barrier. Several miles later we were accosted by another Ranger telling us the same but not offering any alternative. Eventually we decided to take the Highway49 shoulder and head west towards Portland amongst the noisy traffic, not ideal cycling conditions. We tried to get off at Jn 32 but a Sheriffette came alongside in a big Dodge RAM looking serious and telling us we had violated the State of Oregon Rules by going
over the barrier and that we must continue to Jn 28 and take the Historic Highway from there. So on we bounded down the road like a well oiled snake. Junction 31 loomed ahead with the sign for food, too much to resist. Unfortunately it meant crossing the fast lane to get there so we diced with death once more all for the sake of a dose of drip coffee. Under the tunnel to the small food stand only to be chased by another angry sheriff who lined us up and gave us the lecture of our lives for being disobedient. When that was delivered he put his smile back on and talked about Japan, where he once worked in the USAF, and other polite talk. He is now our bestest friend and agreed to have his photograph taken with us - well about four actually, before departing to find some other foreign miscreants. The Multnomah Falls alongside were quite spectacular with a fall of 190 metres. The nice sheriff had actually told us to go to Jn 28 and walk up the slipway the wrong way as there is only an exit there, which we did and then rode
up the hillside to a great lookout building near the top. Here we had a long view of the river and surrounding hills before finishing the climb and going to the Womens Forum lookout where a lady was completing a painting of the river, which she had just earlier sold to a passer by. Lunchtime approached so we stopped at a darkened room called a pub in Springdale for a chicken sandwich and fries (chips). Unfortunately not before yet another sheriff educated us about not stopping for the stop sign as we came into ’town’. The third today, we must stop this immediately. From here on it was mostly a pleasant long descent into the outskirts and then the inskirts of Portland. The nearer we got to the airport the busier the traffic became and at one place was about 8 lanes wide, resembling a runway. Getting across to turn left on some occasions was definitely hairy and luckily the motorists generally seemed to take pity on us and made space. Eventually we arrived at our hotel and when our bike bags arrived we dismantled our bikes and put them away. Game over until the next tour. Now a rest/shopping
day tomorrow before heading back to the UK on Friday before the cops catch up with us.
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