Day 6 – Cycling from Veronia to Forest Grove

On our way

Christy arrived at 9am to collect us for the drive to the beginning of our three day and nearly 200 kilometre bike ride. It was drizzling lightly when we left and joined the commuter rush on the motorway. On the way we went through a deluge so all was not positive on the weather front – rain had been predicted.

However, when we got to Veronia the rain had cleared away although it was still a little misty. After a compulsory coffee at a local café we headed onto the trail. It followed, for the most part, an old railway line which was nicely paved. It climbed up into the hills for about 10 kilometres with one section of a grunty switchback which had both of us puffing, before it levelled off for a few kilometres. A wind and rain storm had been through that morning before we arrived so the path was littered with leaves and small branches, making for small hazards. It was a beautiful ride as it was for the most part through a forest of douglas firs which lined each side of the trail.

Bev didn't realise some hard climbing was next

About half way along the trail we came across a tree that had fallen across it. After lifting the bikes across we tried to move the small tree but to no avail. While we were doing that we could hear this tapping. Looking up we located what had to be a woodpecker pecking away at the tree. It was very cute. Finally after about eight kilometres the trail left a park and flattened out whereupon we passed through more pastoral countryside. It was just as this was happening we came across a box beside the trail which had fresh grapes to eat. Very nice they were!

About five kilometres from the end of the bike trail we had to portage our bikes over an even bigger tree. We emerged at a small village called Banks where we encountered a couple of Park Rangers whom asked about the state of the trail and we were able to let them know approximately where the trees were. They were very happy to have a little project to keep them busy.

Just had lunch at Banks

We had a late lunch at a little café in Banks. The food was actually quite good much to my surprise.

The final 16 kilometres of the ride was on the back roads of the Tualatin valley. There was a lot cropping of one sort or another. Hazelnuts are grown in this area, and I found out later that most of US hazelnuts are grown here. We came across one farm and literally it looked like they had nuked the ground with a herbicide as there was not a blade of grass or anything else underneath the trees.

Finally, we were in Forest Grove, a small town (probably similar in size to Blenheim) where there is a university and a Wednesday market. We were staying in the only accommodation in town at an old a Masonic Lodge retirement home that had been repurposed as a hotel.

How very American

After checking in we went downstairs for a beer to celebrate 52 kilometres of our adventure. While we were sitting down we began talking to these two Oregonians who played rugby. So we heard from Billy and Bobby all about their adventures and of Bobby’s fun in Wellington where his team got annihilated by the Wellington B team. However, he had a great time doing a pub crawl with the Wellington team. Billy was a truck driver who was clearly a climate change denier. Clearly a bone of contention between them.

Dinner was huge, and we had fish and chips but the fish was slightly overcooked with the best part being the coleslaw.

It was the end of memorable day where we managed to ride and not get drenched again.