Made it to Wilsonville

It often looks like our bike trip is all about food. There is no doubt that food is a big part but not the most important. The actual biking and seeing the countryside have been the best things. I rarely order eggs Benedict and if I do, it is always a half order. No such thing as half orders here in the US. We looked on line for the number one place to have breakfast in Salem and amazingly it was a half a block from our motel, the Word of Mouth Bistro. Norm had blueberry pancakes and I ordered the Spinach and Tomato Eggs Benedict. And not just two eggs on the English muffin but THREE eggs! I gave one to Norm.

It was all extremely good. We recommend for anyone to eat at Word of Mouth Bistro.

We looked briefly at the lumberjack at top of the State Capitol, with a big double-bitted axe. Who knew that was on top, Norm did.

Out of town, we followed the Willamette River looking for the green WV symbol, indicating the Willamette Valley path for bikes. We've seen many of the little square signs since starting from Eugene. The roads here, just north of Salem, were again not busy and rarely we had to climb any hills. This time there were fields of hops and many hazelnut trees. And of course some unusual sites.

Why comes to mind? (It's the bottom half of a store mannequin, but does look realistic.) The owner of this property has a sense of humour -- the driveway gate was studded with a dozen yellow Tonka dump trucks.

Keizer is known as the iris capital of Oregon, but mostly we saw blooming lots of lilies.

Norm found the Willamette Mission State Park for lunch again along the Willamette River. We ate under filbert (hazelnut) trees. Orange chain gang guys doing gardening work here but no shackles this time. 

One must-see in the park was the biggest black cottonwood in the US. You can see it in the background. Yellow Bunny was impressed with the size. And then we had to look for the ghost houses

The "ghost houses," or metal skeletons, showed where the original mission structures were built in 1830s. It was a tough life for Jason Lee, the missionary here who lasted a decade, buried two wives and a child, then headed back to upstate Vermont where he died a year after his return.

The day was getting hotter and hotter, no clouds. Along the way we saw cherry trees being picked. Quiet fascinating. They shake the tree, cherries fall into a canvas area and then on to a conveyor. 

Lots of cherries! 

We crossed the I-5 a couple of times today. Norm counted 20 trucks passing by in just one minute. This is why we don't travel on the I-5. Well not often.

So to get to our final destination, Wilsonville, we found ourselves on the wrong side of the Willamette River and we would have had to bike an extra seven or eight miles to catch a ferry that may or may not be running. OR we could enter the freeway and bike only one mile, getting across the river (again) and take the first exit to Wilsonville. I voted for the I-5. It was so noisy and the debris on the side of the road was worse than the regular highway. I hit a hub cap and Norm biked over a circular piece of wire. Plus his back tire was now almost flat! We made it to Wilsonville but by now Norm had to push his bike. After a few missed turns we found the Best Western only to be told they had no rooms left. While trying to find another motel, someone cancelled and we were in! Yeah! 

This the classy neat side and this is what happens when we move in.

We showered and were ready to do a walk about to find out where we catch the train tomorrow to Beaverton, outskirts of Portland. Good thing we have some time off from biking so we can get the tire fixed. 

We ate at Rams where Norm tried a sample of the Buttface beer, not a winner. Dinner was okay.

That is a blackened salmon taco that broke when I picked up. Spicy mango avocado salsa with a bite. Norm had a turkey, bacon, cheese grilled sandwich with coleslaw and a beer. 

Tomorrow Portland and the Friendly Bicycle House for a respite from pedalling for three days. And to get the flat tire fixed. On to the Rose City!