Day Five – Kamiah ID to Hood River OR
Miles: 490
The night before we had asked the workers where the best breakfast place was and without missing a beat they said their biscuits and gravy was the best in Idaho, and the breakfast came with the room. We really couldn't pass that up, so we were the first in line to start the day. The breakfast was really good, not the best of the trip, but they were very pleased to serve us and it was a really nice situation. With our stomachs full of biscuits and gravy we headed out on US12 and after just 15 lies we turned up ID 11 better known as Greer Grade road. We crossed over the Clearwater River and and began the ascent on Greer Grade. The road runs about 42 miles from the river to Headquarters ID, but we only rant to the top of the hill which is about 8 miles, but in that 8 miles we ascended more than 2,000 feet. There were lots of switchbacks and it was really a nice ride. The smoke had not dissipated much but we were focused on the road. There was not much traffic on this Monday morning so we let it fly. Once at the summit we pulled over and turned back down to US12. It was a quick 50 miles to our next adventure which was the Old Spiral Highway. This was our 3rd time going up the highway and it is easily in my top 5 rides of all-time even though it is a short 7 miles up the hill. Sometime between our 2012 ride and 2017 ride it was completely repaved and it is still in great condition. We rode to the top, took some pictures and returned down the main US95 route which is also quite enjoyable. After reaching the bottom we continued on US12 west, and rode hard for the next three hours to beat the heat to some degree. As we entered Walla Walla we noticed some signs that cautioned for rolling roadblocks. We weren't really sure what they were until we ran up on a pair of utility trucks not letting anyone pass. After we rode behind them for several miles they stopped and we decided to exit and jump in front of them but we were blocked from entering the highway at the next exit. We learned that they were limiting the amount of traffic for periods of time as they tended to some utility poles and lines stretching across the highway. We decided to backtrack some get gas and bypass the whole issue. We got back on US12 and were on our way. After 130 miles from the Old Spiral Highway we decided to make a stop at the Madame Dorian Bridge. This bridge used to span the Walla Walla River near its mouth at the Columbia River. The span was built in 1931 and then partially removed in 1949. The remaining portion from the South extends about 50 yards into the river and makes a nice pier. The area is now a park but unfortunately it was not very well kept. We walked out on the bridge but we didn't stay long. It was only noon but we had some more places to stop and we wanted to stop for lunch in Hermiston. We stopped at Hermiston Brewing which was only 25 miles from the bridge. The Brewery was really more of a Brewpub and we had a full lunch while enjoying a pint. It was 1:30 when we left and we had 180 miles to ride to our next stop; White River Falls. After the bridge we had said goodbye to US12 and began riding some state routes as we wound our way south then west then back up north only to run south again as we did whatever it took to stay off of the interstate. US97 took us back down south and split off on OR216 also known as Sherars Bridge Highway which turned out to be a really great ride. The route started as we left Grass Valley where the road was very straight and rather boring, but before long as we approached the Deschutes River the road was winding with no guardrails and 400' drop-offs. Additionally there was no other cars in sight. All too soon we had descended down to the river and rode along side it before crossing, and following it on the other side for a short time before breaking away and stopping at White River Falls. The Falls sit within a nice state park and there was a fair number of people there including what looked like people spending the night. At the base of the Falls there are remnants of a hydroelectric power plant that was built in 1910 and provided the surrounding counties with power until The Dalles Dam was built in 1960. The route up to the Columbia River and I-84 was also pretty good. After gassing up we jumped on the interstate for a couple of miles before exiting and running on old US30. This was a great ride and I was kicking myself for not riding this when we were here in 2017. The original road is known as Columbia River Highway and we rode it from The Dalles to Mosier where it is separated from I-84. This portion was completed in 1922 and was considered an engineering marvel at the time. It was refurbished in 2006 to its 1920s appearance and it is a joy to ride. We really didn't ride all that fast as we were just enjoying the scenery including the detail of the guardrails. We reached the top where the Rowena Crest Viewpoint beckoned us to stop for a view. This is a truly a can't miss stop with breathtaking views of the Columbia and Klickitat Rivers and all the hills surrounding the Columbia River basin. It was quite windy and a little late in the day but we stayed for some time before deciding we needed to move on. We rode over the historic Dry Canyon bridge and had planned to stop but we didn't see a good place so we continued on. About 20 minutes later we made our final stop at a little area overlooking Memaloose Island. Once in Mosier we got back on I-84 and rode into Hood River. We rode directly to the hotel hoping to arrive in time to eat at the sushi restaurant next door but we were about 15 minutes too late. Oh well……I would stop again as we did on the way in. We went and washed the bikes off, and decided to park at the hotel and walk into town which was not very far. Not much was open in town so we decided to hit Double Mountain Brewery but they were not seating anyone and didn't know how long it would take. They were not very organized at all and after a pint we decided to move and find another place. We ended up at Trillium Cafe which was not very good at all for food as everything was deep fried, but the beer selection was good and the service was very friendly. We walked back to the hotel and it called it a night but not before Steve rode a big fish.
