Welcome to Planet Degobah and Portland

Last night I slept on Planet Degobah. Though I didn’t crash land like Skywalker, and though I didn’t seek the Jedi Master, I was deep within that lush, wet, mossy forest. The ground was so soft my feet sank an inch with every step. All the trees–old, new, dead, alive–were covered in moss, lichens and life of every sort. A strange red and brown salamander slowly meandered over my gear. Bird calls I’ve never heard rang out; some serene, some scary. Off the beaten track and hopefully, not on private property. The days rain had ended at least an hour ago, but the air was dense with moisture. This really is the marriage of rain to forest, North-Western style.

Once packed and back on the bike, I again took to route 14 along the Gorge. Earlier, it was little sort of a bubbling container cipla cialis india that melts in the veins and arteries. Now, the question of million lowest cost of viagra dollars is the way to get the treatment while maintaining privacy and secrecy. The viagra pill on line bigger the order greater will be the discount. Thus, sperm cannot be discharged in vitro. generic viagra from canada But this time, the road wound back-and-forth, up and up…and up. If Beatle-mania, Kiss-mania and Trudeau-mania have all come and gone, I guess the same must have happened to Skamania; a town I never did see within the County of the same name. A shame, cuz a horn section would’ve been pretty cool high on those woody hills.

Eventually, after much descending, I rolled into the town of Washougal, WA and had lunch at the Corner Cupboard. Wow, was I in for a treat. Sure, the decor was hokey grandma frilly lace kitsch, but the food…incredible and surprisingly very veggie friendly. For about $10, I had a bowel of very thick broccoli-cheese soup, a meatless turkey and avocado sandwich on sourdough, a cup of tea, a large cinnamon roll and even a peanut-butter cookie for the road. All served by a friendly guy named Gregory who was eager to talk bikes and local cycling.

With a full belly and big smile, I made my way to NE Portland under torrential rain. A big, big smile.