Good morning,
It’s only 57 degrees in the Columbia River right now, and your body isn’t designed for that. Promotion wetsuits are. With thousands of wetsuits in stock and all sorts of not-so-stock sizes (and alterations on site), you’re going to find the perfect suit if you stop by. Promotion isn’t just wetsuits: it’s rashguards, booties, hoods, beanies, shorts, vests and PFDs. Cold water suits are on sale now. Protect yourself from the chilly river the local way: Promotion, based here since 1985. Two short-sleeve rashguards are up for grabs. If you’re interested in winning, sign up for the email with a donation of $10 or more and you’ll have a chance to win.
Somehow I managed to sleep through an hour of my alarm this morning. I must have been tired from doing nothing all day yesterday. As you might have noticed, it’s still raining outside. We didn’t set a record yesterday, but with over half an inch of rain yesterday, we came close. It looks like we’ll see sprinkles through midday today, with the rain tapering off this afternoon and coming back with a vengeance sometime Thursday.
All of that allows me to say that the wind forecast is complicated. It’s been blowing 25-30 in the eastern Gorge all morning, with clouds and rain. Near Hood River, we’ll have 15-18 early, rising to 21-24 when it clears up. East of Mosier, the wind will pick up to 28-32, possibly a bit more, starting around 11am.
We’ll be in leftover land tomorrow morning, with westerlies at 23-26 in the eastern Gorge and 15-18 in the western Gorge, fading away to 15-18 everywhere in the afternoon. On Thursday, another storm system swings up the coast for more rain, lots more rain, and west wind at 17-21.
For you bikers, coming up tonight, the fabulous Val Vanderpool teaches a girls-only bike repair clinic at Discover Bikes at 6pm. If you want to learn to change a flat or do other basic repairs on your bike, this is for you! It’s free, and it’s going to be lots of fun, and if nothing else, you’ll meet lots of cool bike girls. In other mountain bike news, 8-Mile trail is now open.Oh, and Mitchell, if you’re reading this, you’re having a Pinot and Pinot tomorrow and a Pint and Pint on Thursday, rather than a Post and Pint if this forecast holds up. Same goes for all of you wanting to ride mountain bikes: Too muddy! (and ps. The snow level is around 4500′ and dropping this morning).
Since the weather is wet and cold, there are a couple of cool movies this week you should know about: At Columbia Center for the arts on Thursday, a movie about a group of Oregon climbers mountain climbing in Nepal to raise money for local health care clinics (in Nepal, duh, not local clinics here), and also on Thursday an award-winning, not-for-the-squeamish, movie about Lyme Disease, playing for one night only at Andrews. They’re both at 7pm, so you’re going to have to pick.
Coming up this weekend, more than I can mention. A quick rundown: The trailbuilder appreciation dinner, Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, the Black Dog Dual Sport, a family-friendly bike campout in Cascade Locks, a work party at Doug’s Beach and Cascade Locks’ easyCLIMB trail, and the Tour de Hood. Oh yeah, and surfer and shaper extraordinaire Gerry Lopez at Big Winds on Saturday.
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
p.s. If you find this report useful, entertaining, or just want to recognize all the hard work that goes into it, please take the time to make a donation by clicking on the link below. For a suggested donation of $10, I’ll add you to the email version of this list for a year, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors during the summer season (and the winter if I get off my bum and get some!). If you don’t PayPal, you can send a donation to PO Box 841 in Hood River, 97031.
