224 miles
I’d chosen Pendleton as a stopping point because it would give me an easy ride into Stevenson the next day. What didn’t realize is that it would take me in along the Columbia Gorge. Wow, what beautiful ride!
As I was riding along the highway, I started to get glimpses of a water body to the right over the railroad tracks. I took the next exit, scooted under the railroad and down a dirt road to be presented with the view above.
Further down the road, I came out of the gorge, around a corner and was presented with a view of Mt Hood. It looks enormous as it stand out completely and is capped in snow. I found out later it only stands 11,000 odd feet high. It is however an “active” volcano. Mt. St. Helens is also just up the road to the north.
I stopped in The Dalles for coffee. I was curious to see the town because I’d seen an Instagram post recently of a local landmark that piqued my interest.
I made it to Stevenson about 1pm. If first went to the hotel but check wasn’t until 3pm. So, I went into town to take a look around.
In town, I found a row of Multistradas parked outside the Red Bluff Tap House. I found my new best friends inside.
I have never seen as many Ducati Multistradas parked together except perhaps at Ducati Island but there you get other bike mixed in.
The first event of the Giro was some off-road training. It wasn’t so much off road training as it was maneuverability skills riding in and out of cones on a grass course. It was a beautiful setting though.
At dinner that night, they introduced the ride leaders. This was Jake Zemke, former AMA racer, who would be leading the on-road route with Ricky Johnson leading the off-road route
