Seattle to Portland - Through the "Backdoor" Tour

[modernfuturist]

Hey all!

I don't usually share my blog posts here, but I just finished up the last of my ride reports about our tour from Seattle to Portland.

Short version is, we were inspired by Jan Heine's Through the Backdoor Route (http://janheine.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/seattle-to-portland-through-the-backdoor/), which included a lot of mixed terrain roads, planned a tour around that route, and visited a bunch of cool people and shops in Seattle and Portland. The route was about 320 miles, spread out over 5 days. Highly recommend it if you get the chance to take a week and a half or two off and explore both cities!

Anyways you can read the individual ride reports below and make sure to check out the video if words aren't your thing:

Day 0 (http://www.boyzonthehoods.com/?p=2428)
Day 1 (http://www.boyzonthehoods.com/?p=2464)
Day 2 (http://www.boyzonthehoods.com/?p=2521)
Day 3 (http://www.boyzonthehoods.com/?p=2559)
Day 4 (http://www.boyzonthehoods.com/?p=2592)
Day 5 (http://www.boyzonthehoods.com/?p=2622)

Video Recap (https://vimeo.com/107529742)

[bironi]

Thank you. Your video was fun. I may have to do some reading now. Very cool route. Look out STP.
Byron

[guido]

Great report! You guys sure know how to have fun in that beautiful countryside out there.

[bironi]

Thanks again. I just finished reading your report. Great stuff, I'll pass it along to friends. BTW - where is that park with the High Wheel steel sculptures?
I've ridden most of your route, excepting the Columbia River section.
Byron

[modernfuturist]

BTW - where is that park with the High Wheel steel sculptures?

Daniel Klennert's "Ex-Nihilo" sculpture park (http://www.danielklennert.com/) in Ashford, WA.

[bironi]

Thanks. I've ridden the Paradise road many times and never stopped there. I will next time. BTW, next time you're in Ashford, try the Skate Creek Road to Packwood. Then ride up Stevens Canyon and down Paradise - ~80 miles.
Byron

[modernfuturist]

Ugh, Skate Creek was the other road that I wanted to check out but after mapping and routing out our days, it made more sense to do Paradise.

Will put it on the map if I'm ever back in the area though!

[paredown]

Nice ride report and great route...

Years ago we rode Seattle to Portland, but went out to the coast through Olympia and Aberdeen, crossed the Columbia at Astoria and followed the river into Portland.

I'd love to try your route--makes me homesick to see those lovely PNW vistas.

[buckfifty]

Awesome video! Looked like a lot of fun

[modernfuturist]

Years ago we rode Seattle to Portland, but went out to the coast through Olympia and Aberdeen, crossed the Columbia at Astoria and followed the river into Portland.


Yeah we had a few friends do that same route (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157645792566345/) a few weeks before we departed for our tour. They had tons of fun as well but ended up getting soaked along the coast. Us on the other hand, we were melting up in the mountains.

[cnighbor1]

I did a similar route
Day 1 North Bend I -90 to Ellensburg
Day 2 Ellensburg to Yakima using road that follow the river
Day 3 Highway 12 to were you turned south into the Gifford National forest
Day 4 followed your route the Columbia river
Day 5 Columbia River to North Portland climbing up the falls on the south side of the river back to the river and bike path to a RV Park
Charles