Day 4, Hood River to Boardman, OR

This was our view through most of the ride today from Hood River to Boardman. The road parallels the river. This picture is taken from a dedicated bicycle path above Interstate 84. The northern edge of the river borders the state of Washington and the southern edge borders Oregon.

By volume, the Columbia is the fourth-largest river in the United States; it has the greatest flow of any North American river draining into the Pacific. The river's heavy flow and its relatively steep gradient gives it tremendous potential for the generation of electricity. The 14 hydroelectric dams on the Columbia's main stem and many more on its tributaries produce more hydroelectric power than those of any other North American river.

Day view of Mt. Hood from Interstate 84 and dusk view of the mountain from River Lodge & Grill where I am staying the night of August 27th, 2014.  In addition to being Oregon's highest mountain, it is one of the loftiest mountains in the nation based on its prominence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hood

We had quite a few bicycle casualties today. Riding on the shoulder of an Interstate predisposes to having flat tires and punctured tubes. Here is R.K., an anesthesiologist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin fixing his second flat of the day. Within a few minutes as he would start riding, he went on to having a third flat. I had a punctured tube from the steel wire of a shredded tire along the shoulder at the 62.5 mile mark of my ride today. The temperatures soared above 100 degrees F. today and the going was tough. The sun was brutal on all of us. The X11 color list of web colors lists seventeen different shades of brown, but the complete list of browns is much longer. Each passing day, I am turning a darker shade of brown. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_brown

Also, yesterday we had N.M., a chartered flight attendant from Long Beach, CA take a spill on a steep descent. She got scraped up pretty bad and had to receive medical attention. She is riding the support van for a couple of days before she is deemed fit to rejoin the riders.

A few of my fellow riders are raising money for their pet charities. Here is my thought on the matter. For every time I am able to give you a "Wow!!!" moment, I want you to donate $1 to your favorite local charity. You certainly are welcome to donate more if you like. I know Lowville Food Pantry is trying to raise some money. So for today's blog I am suggesting that if I succeeded in making you go "Wow!!!", please donate your dollar to http://www.lowvillefoodpantry.org/

Please share my information with your family and friends. I am enjoying bringing to you this travelogue.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Manoj-Voras-Mt-Everest-Climb-other-adventures/110457545646338

http://manojxcountryonbicycle.blogspot.com/

Day 3, Portland to Hood River

Portland, OR is a very bicyclist friendly city. People bicycle all over the place and motorized traffic accommodates them very well. Funny moments happened several times. As we rode away from Portland, from time to time a local cyclist would come up to us and would want to know where we all were heading. We would say, Portland. And of course, the friendly cyclist would advise us that we should turn around as we were heading away from Portland, OR. We then, with a twinkle in our eyes, would say that we are headed to Portland, Maine. All the way across the country.

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is indeed very scenic. The many waterfalls were a sight to behold. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multnomah_Falls

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vista_House

The Crown Point Vista House is "an observatory from which the view both up and down the Columbia could be viewed in silent communion with the infinite".

The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. It flows northwest and then south into the US state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state of Oregon before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The river is 1,243 miles (2,000 km) long, and its largest tributary is the Snake River. Its drainage basin is roughly the size of France and extends into seven U.S. states and a Canadian province.

And at the end of my day, I was reunited with Scott Woolums, my guide on Everest in 2013 who makes Hood River his home. Hood river has become world famous for windsurfing and kiteboarding. Also, for vegetarians, Tofurky is manufactured by Turtle Island Foods in Hood River.

Day 2, Astoria to Portland

It has been a long time since I rode a 100 miles in a day. The last time was 1993. It was the month of June. I had just finished medical school. I studied in a city called Jamnagar in the state of Gujarat in India. I rode from Jamnagar to my home city of Ahmedabad, a distance of 319 km. The first day I rode 194 km and the second day I rode 125 km. And now, 31 years later I get the opportunity to ride 100 miles in a day. I'm unable to upload the Garmin GPS data successfully. The summary of the ride is as follows: Total distance was 100 miles, the time taken was 9 hours and 18 minutes with an average speed of 10.73 miles per hour, maximum speed of 35.34 miles per hour, total calories burned were 5702, the ascent was 3619 feet. I am exhausted and the moment my head hits the pillow I will be in deep slumber. The first half of the ride today was exhilarating. We traveled through the coastal area first. The early morning fog had rolled onto the mainland from the ocean. It was damp and cold. Traveling through the rain forest with streams flowing by was very soothing. Once we got near Portland, the chaotic traffic took away from the enjoyment. I was able to relax in a hot tub and do a few laps of the pool at the Marriott. Later, the group went out for a nice dinner. I'm now getting this post ready. As soon as I am done, I plan on going to bed. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's ride which will be from Portland to Hood River, the home of Scott Woolums, my Mt. Everest guide. The distance is roughly 75 miles and we will be traveling along the Columbia River gorge with some very scenic waterfalls. I will post pictures tomorrow. The pictures above are: a view of the mighty Columbia meeting the Pacific ocean, the roadside water and food service our guides provide through the day and the last one is me unwinding in my room at the end of the grueling day.

Day 1

A bolt of lightning at the Chicago airport yesterday.  The plane we were to board had to be diverted. This caused a minor delay. In Portland now. My body clock is still E.S.T. It was 3:30 a.m. when my eyes opened, ready for the day. My climbing friend Thomas Lizzio has come with me to see me off today and for that I thank him. He will do some climbing in the Pacific N.W. over the next 5 days while he is here.

Here is the description of today's itinerary:

DAY 1: SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2014
Road Bike: Astoria to Fort Stevens Return
Approximately 30 miles with 250 feet of climbing
Your Trek Travel guides will meet you at the Hotel Lucia (400 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon) at 9:00 AM on the first day of the trip. Today is the day to get everything in order before embarking on your cross country odyssey.After a 2- hour shuttle to the town of Astoria, you will enjoy a hearty welcome lunch and brief introductions, and your guides will take time to ensure you a comfortable fit on your bike.We recommend that you have a professional bike fit early in your training, for the greatest efficiency and to reduce the risk of injury. Please bring all measurements from bike fits, as well as your saddle, pedals, personal GPS unit, and any other equipment you would like affixed to your bike to this meeting so your guides can set up your bike to your requirements. Following the bike fit and some introductory information, it’s time for a short scenic spin from Astoria to Fort Stevens State Park and down to the Pacific Ocean where you can dip your tire into the water to mark the official start of your journey. Use the rest of this ride to warm up your legs and make sure you are comfortable in your saddle.Your warm-up ride will be followed by a social hour and dinner at the Bridgewater Bistro, where your guides will discuss your upcoming adventure in more detail and answer any questions you may have.
Hotel | Cannery Pier Hotel | www.cannerypierhotel.com 

Watertown Daily Times | Sherpa guide visits Lowville doctor

Watertown Daily Times | Sherpa guide visits Lowville doctor

Da Ongchhu is coming

Da Ongchhu Sherpa will be arriving in Lowville Thursday evening. The plan is for him to come with me to my office and spend Friday morning there. TV interview with Mr. Brian Ashley for Friday afternoon is in the planning stage. Saturday morning a bicycle ride with Chris Brock of Watertown Daily Times. Then off to the Adirondack High Peaks for the day. Sunday morning an interview with staff reporter Amanda Thomson-Tangalin. Then a quick trip to Alexandria Bay and Uncle Sam Boat Tour of the 1000 Islands. Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. a "meet and greet" in his honor at the Lowville Free Library. Light snacks will be served. Everyone is invited. Please come and meet a legendary Sherpa from the Khumbhu Valley. Bring your camera for a photo with him. Da Ongchhu is 35 years old with a 24-year-old wife and 5-year-old daughter. If you feel like bringing to him a small memento/souvenir of Lowville/Lewis County/Northern NY to take back to his home in Nepal to his wife/daughter to remember you by, I am sure he will be very appreciative of the gesture. My wife Sheree and my daughter Shamaa join me in extending you a very warm welcome to take part in this joyous moment of Da Ongchhu's life.

Thanks to Campmor, my "Gear Sponsor"

A big thank you to my "Gear Sponsor" Campmor. I encourage my friends who follow my adventures to support their business. Check out www.campmor.com to browse their inventory of outdoors gear. They have a huge selection at the best prices.