May 30, Windsurf Hood River


Just to prove some things never changed, I hopped on the sailboard again.  In a habit started when I was twenty, I managed to end up way downwind, and had to walk back to my launch site  The day started off pleasant enough with Day 2 at Flow Yoga, then a casual windsurfing start.  We rolled down to the Waterfront Park, in Hood River, and I rigged up.  Started the day day on a 5.2 meter sail.  I was fortunate to be on the river at the windiest point in the day.  Unfortunately, I decided to rig a smaller sail and head back out, just as the wind backed off.   Quite a bit of slogging and I just made it to shore at Kite Beach.  Thus the long walk back to my launch site, and Francine who was reading a book out of the wind.

May 29, Gunsight Ridge to Gumjuwac Trail

Francine, Gunsight Ridge Trail
With warm and dry weather in Hood River, we decided to start high, and drove highway 35 towards Mt. Hood.  We found a good parking lot near our finish, the bottom of Gumjuwac Trail.   Ride started off with a road climb, further up Hwy 35.  We slowly spun past Mt Hood Meadows ski area lower lot then cut through a snowpark to head up dirt road 3550 for another 4 miles.  At around 5,000 feet we finally hit singletrack and started going up and down along Gunsight Ridge Trail (highpoint 5,920).  We enjoyed the narrow trail and high elevation vegetation.   Eventually we started going downhill and had a great descent all the way back to the car at 3.600 ft.  Managed 19.6 miles with a wrong turn on the logging road.  Stopped in Parkdale to see the new Brewpub and have a couple of beers.  We then had great BBQ across the street.  Nice day!

Top of our Hwy 35 climb,  Dirt road starts out of the snow park
across from Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area


Climbing on Gunsight Ridge Trail

Selfie with Hood kind of visible
Kevin rides through a burned out area



Francine and Kevin

Getting steep on Gumjuwac


Francine


May 28, Hood River, Or. Moto Post Canyon

Rolled into Hood River, and started settling into our vacation.  Stopped at the motorcycle shop and picked up a couple of Off Road Vehicle tabs for our dirt bikes.  A whopping $10.50 each.  Free map of Post Canyon included.  Checked out a good beach for windsurfing, then signed up at Flow Yoga to make sure we work out all our muscles on this trip.  Mountain biking, windsurfing, yoga, motorcycle riding, beer, and good food.  It's going to be a nice vacation.   We jumped on our motorcycles and ran over to Post Canyon to see if we could get lost before dark.  Luckily we didn't get too lost.

Francine on her little Honda CRF 150

Kevin - Trail 116



May 27, Living in Paradise

Got out on the dirt bike and did a Mt. Catherine circumnavigation with a detour to a Pretty pond in the Silver Peak basin.  Great Weather.



Vic sticks in a ear plug

Mt. Catherine in background.  Day 1 vacation

Driveway view.  Mt. Chikamin at the end of Gold Creek Valley

Lupine in bloom


May 12, Echo Ridge, Chelan, Wa.

New trail - Switchback Alley!  Across the street from the rope tow, there is a new climbing/descending trail that takes you up to The Shoe.  Good stuff.   Light rain all morning, before our ride, made for most excellent trail conditions.  We also checked out Dust to Glory, new last summer.  Still trying to dial in the best loop up top, but Minor Threat to The Shoe and Switchback Alley made for a great descent.  15 miles.


May 11, Stairway to Heaven, Wenatchee Canyon #2

Going Up

Going Down
Another beautiful day in Wenatchee.   Rode up Stairway to Heaven, up the road a little, down Road Rage, up the road to Waterslide, down trail, then back up road to the top of Stairway to Heaven for the rollercoaster ride home.  After the ride, we headed to Lake Chelan to stay for two nights with Pat & Larry at the Lake Chelan Shores resort.  11.77 miles.