Day 5 - Woodland -> Portland -> Blue River (Oregon)

Driving Day

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
We checked out of the hotel at 9.00am and didn't bother to eat anything at the Motel as the food was pretty dire. Today was going to be a shopping day for us to take advantage of the fact there is no Sales tax in Oregon. Our first stop was at Jantzen Beach Center where we went to a couple of shops. Driving route Woodland to Blue River - Click to Enlarge
Best Western Woodland - Click to Enlarge The Hotel room had been clean, and fairly new, but the corridors smelled of cigarette smoke, and the breakfast selection was rubbish. Best Western Woodland - Click to Enlarge
On the road to Portland, Orgeon - Click to Enlarge On the road to Portland, Orgeon - Click to Enlarge On the road to Portland, Orgeon - Click to Enlarge
On the road to Portland, Orgeon - Click to Enlarge We drove into Portland to see Snake at where he worked to swap Photos from our Mt St Helens ride. We both had great Breakfast Bagels while we waited for him to finish his shift. We then swapped photos and we bought some provisions from the organic supermarket. On the road to Portland, Orgeon - Click to Enlarge
On the road to Portland, Orgeon - Click to Enlarge On the road to Portland, Orgeon - Click to Enlarge On the road to Portland, Orgeon - Click to Enlarge
We then headed into Portland and went to Universal Cycles where I picked up a load of bike bits I had ordered over the internet prior to coming on Holiday. I had ordered Fox Forks, Chris King Headsets, Gravity dropper seat post etc as they worked out to be half the price they would have been in England 8-). We then drove into downtown Portland and went to a REI and some other shops. We also drove to a Performance bikes and I bought even more bike bits and pieces in their 15% of sale. And finally we went to a Washington Square Mall where I bought my self a new pair of Oakley Radars @ half the price they would have been in the UK. Here's a garmin GPS file with waypoints for the places we went shopping waypoints. On the road to Portland, Orgeon - Click to Enlarge
Mckenzie River Cottages, Mckenzie River Cottages, Mckenzie River Cottages,
Mckenzie River Cottages

We then drove straight to Mckenzie River from Portland arriving at about 6.30pm. I had pre booked the Honeymoon Cottage at Mckenzie River Cottages, the cottage was right on the river with a verandah right on the river. It was a great place to stay - quite expensive but I have to treat Clare to nice places to stay as I drag her round Mountain Biking 8-).

Mckenzie River Cottages,
We went out to the local store / garage and bought Fired Chicken & ice cream and we ate it on the verandah, as the sun went down. I then got in touch with another contact I'd made on MTBR to confirm that he was still ok to set up a shuttle for the Mckenzie river trail. Mckenzie River Cottages, Mckenzie River Cottages,

DAY 6