Nov 6, 2009 - Tacoma to Portland

Thank you cousin John, Heidi, Gen, and Kerr for your gracious hospitality.  I enjoyed so much meeting and getting to know everyone.....( how long had it been since cousin John and I had seen each other, we wondered? ).  And a special 'Thanks' to Heidi for providing me with  cue sheets and maps for the STP ( Seattle to Portland ) tour. Had a beautiful, quiet ride through the valleys and forests of western Washington, to the crossing of the mighty Columbia River at the Lewis & Clark Bridge at Longview, WA.  I had pretty heavy headwinds much of the way -  apparently the remnants of a storm system wreaking havoc along the Oregon/Washington coast.  

An 'illegal' photograph: Lewis & Clark Bridge over the Columbia River ( The sign says: "No voluntary stopping allowed while crossing bridge.")

Crossing into Oregon at the Lewis and Clark Bridge over the Columbia River....Beginning the long slow grade onto the bridge from the Washington side, a cold rain is falling, skies gray and angry....Exiting the bridge on the Oregon side,  warm sunshine and blue skies!!!  Oh what a difference a bridge makes.

Approach ramp to Lewis and Clark Bridge at Longview, WA

Soaking up some sunshine in Rainier, Oregon, watching the Columbia River roll by on it's way to the Pacific