OK that is it. Next year's bicycle tour is the Columbia River Gorge. Plans are to start in Portland and I hope the Empire Builder is still running because it stops along the river somewhere. Then take it to Whistler for a couple of days, then on to who knows where then home. I will be taking the Empire Builder from Seattle this year so I will figure out where I will want to stop.

I've taken the Amtrak Empire Builder from Portland OR to Spokane WA (where it joins the Seattle fork), it's a wonderful trip during the day.
There is a Portland fork stop on the WA side just down from the Hood River bridge on the Oregon side, so you could bike down the Oregon side on the old highway 30, crossover to WA at Hood River to the Amtrak stop at Bingen WA.
https://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=BNG

https://www.amtrak.com/empire-builder-train

The train was moving so these are poor pictures out a dirty window but this was wind-surfing at Hood River.

I-84 near Hood River in Oregon from the Empire builder.

Kids in the sleeper car.

 

That would take me about a day. The town I had in mind was two or three days out. Too late for me to look it up now.

I understand going west is the way to go for this trip. You go though all of the good sites during the day.

What has always scared me off is the wind. But I will keep the days short.

 

My son Pablo climbed yesterday to the northern peak (in the middle of the mountain, left side peak) of Monterrey's Saddle Mountain:

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Here's a pic of the view at the top, facing away from the city:

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And here's another one of the northern summit, as seen from the northern peak:

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My son Pablo climbed yesterday to the northern peak (in the middle of the mountain, left side peak) of Monterrey's Saddle Mountain:

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Here's a pic of the view at the top, facing away from the city:

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And here's another one of the northern summit, as seen from the northern peak:

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Wow Monterrey looks enormous. Way bigger than the Pittsburgh area. Then again much of our region is hidden by hills. And divided up by hills and rivers.

 

Wow Monterrey looks enormous. Way bigger than the Pittsburgh area. Then again much of our region is hidden by hills. And divided up by hills and rivers.

Its mountains have paths for biking aplenty, by the way.... you might find that interesting....

EDIT: you can see one of our local soccer stadiums at the lower left of the last picture

 

Its mountains have paths for biking aplenty, by the way.... you might find that interesting....

Not much of a mountain biker. I am 57 years old (soon to be 58 ) and I like having my arms and lets intact.

EDIT: you can see one of our local soccer stadiums at the lower left of the last picture

I saw that. Figured it was non an American football stadium. Any non pro leagues in American football in Mexico?

 

Not much of a mountain biker. I am 57 years old (soon to be 58 ) and I like having my arms and lets intact.




I saw that. Figured it was non an American football stadium. Any non pro leagues in American football in Mexico?

One of our universities (ITESM) is ranked among the world's best in the field of engineering... My boy has just finished 4th semester of Nanotechnology and Chemical Science Engineering, and was granted a 40% scholarship on talent merits. This university, among many others in Mexico, has a highly competitive American Football team. But Mexico does not have a professional American Football league... Soccer (and some Baseball) is more than enough for most of us.

 

OK that is it. Next year's bicycle tour is the Columbia River Gorge. Plans are to start in Portland and I hope the Empire Builder is still running because it stops along the river somewhere. Then take it to Whistler for a couple of days, then on to who knows where then home. I will be taking the Empire Builder from Seattle this year so I will figure out where I will want to stop.

you should check out Pemberton

http://www.tourismpembertonbc.com/activities/cycling/road-cycling/

http://artofliving.summitlodge.com/uncategorized/explore-whistler-camping-lillooet-lake-bc/

Whistler is overrun with tourists all year run. Been there once, do not want to go back. Lots of australians working there also.

 

you should check out Pemberton

http://www.tourismpembertonbc.com/activities/cycling/road-cycling/

http://artofliving.summitlodge.com/uncategorized/explore-whistler-camping-lillooet-lake-bc/

Whistler is overrun with tourists all year run. Been there once, do not want to go back. Lots of australians working there also.

All down hill from Whistler too.




Of course you need to come back.

But I am guessing you are suggesting staying in Pemberton for a few days which sounds like a great idea.

 

Sunset over Lake Winnepausekee

 

Here's a couple of pictures by my good friend BDH, who lives in Brownsville, Tx, and who's a photography geek. The first picture is beautiful in its symmetry and simplicity. And the second one is definitely not the gateway into Morodor, but rather a perspective of the nearby Huasteca mountains. It was was taken on a cloudy day in a moment in which light and shade were at perfect balance.

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Here's a couple of pictures by my good friend BDH, who lives in Brownsville, Tx, and who's also a photography geek. The first picture is beautiful in its symmetry and simplicity. And the second one is definitely not the gateway into Morodor, but rather a perspective of the nearby Huasteca mountains. It was was taken on a cloudy day in a moment in which light and shade were at perfect balance.

View attachment 128890

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I like the second pic. Who took that one? I think money can be made from that one. I would crop the trees out on the lest I think. Other than that it is beautiful.

 

I like the second pic. Who took that one? I think money can be made from that one. I would crop the trees out on the lest I think. Other than that it is beautiful.

P.S. I want to see the same picture with @cmartinez standing on the peak.

 

I like the second pic. Who took that one? I think money can be made from that one. I would crop the trees out on the lest I think. Other than that it is beautiful.

Not sure about cropping the trees... they add an element of realism to the pic...

 

P.S. I want to see the same picture with @cmartinez standing on the peak.

Most probably you'd find me lying at the bottom!

 

I love the second pic!

 

My wife needs to get a far better device than a Samsung S8 ... but still, the intention is clear, ain't it?

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My wife needs to get a far better device than a Samsung S8 ... but still, the intention is clear, ain't it?

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Give the poor bird a straw, it can't even get close to the red juice.

 

Give the poor bird a straw, it can't even get close to the red juice.

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There you go... better?

 

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There you go... better?

Do you have a whole flock of hummingbirds to feed or are you expecting that poor little thing to finish that 7-Eleven Big Gulp by himself?