June 20 Astoria to St. Helen’s, Oregon

I feel like I’m back in Scandinavia again.  Astoria is fast preparing for the Midsummer Festival and flying Danish, Swedish, Finnish, and Norwegian flags up and down Main Street.  We biked past Suomi Hall, the Finnish fraternal organization.  Then we passed towns with names like Svensen and Swedetown.  Scandinavia, of coure, is covered with forests.  So is Oregon.  That must be the connection.  Scandinavian loggers transported to the Pacific Northwest just like the farmers went to Minnesota and North Dakota.

I took a picture of a big cargo ship passing under the bridge in Astoria.   Fifty miles later, as we biked into the town of Ranier, we saw the same ship entering the port.  So at least we know that we’re as fast as a cargo steamer.

Today was the first day of point-to-point riding. We’re actually headed to the Atlantic now, though it’s going to take a while to get there.  We traveled 69 miles today through very green, rolling countryside.  Pine trees and birch trees are thick as match sticks in a box.  They’re also everywhere, including the huge logging trucks that come booming past.  We’re climbing up from the Pacific; we climbed 3,250 feet today.  Our highest elevation was around 700 feet above sea level so it’s not like we were gasping for air.  Still, 700 feet is a pretty good climb when you literally start at sea level.

Now we’re in St. Helens, a pretty little town which is supposed to have fantastic views. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any of them as it’s been gray, cloudy and threatening to rain all day.  That’s nice for biking — we stay cool — but I hope it will clear up so maybe we can see a view like this one:

Daily distance: 69.3 miles (111.5 km)
Average speed: 14.3 mph (23 kph)
Total climb: 3,250 feet (990.6 meters)
Total distance:  100 miles (161 km)

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5 Responses to June 20 Astoria to St. Helen’s, Oregon

  1. Mom says:

    Fran and Dave are with me now. The three of us enjoyed your description of your ride in Oregon. Sounded like all is going well.

  2. Ricardo Barreto says:

    It looks like a good and promising start. Your descriptions of the journey is extraordinary. You are going to have enough and interesting material to write a book out of this interesting experience. I predict is going to be a best seller..You will see!!!! Cheers and our best regards
    Ricardo, Cecilia & family

  3. Suellen White says:

    So you’re as fast as a cargo ship, eh? Love the photos. Keep ’em coming.

  4. Nancy Howell says:

    Travis, we’re rooting for you every mile. Your daily account is terrific and something to look forward to every evening, probably as much as you look forward to getting off your bike! I’m so glad we met you at the Tubbs and thank you for your effort and committment in raising funds for MS. Happiest of trails to you!

  5. Laurie says:

    69 miles! I can only imagine……

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