Dear Cycling Enthusiasts, |
|
Included is a luxurious 8-day / 7-night cruise on the American Empress. Owned by the American Queen Steamboat Company, the American Empress is the Pacific Northwest's largest and most luxurious paddle-wheeler.
|
|
A bit smaller than the steamboats we've used on the Mississippi, this newer floating resort travels the Columbia, Willamette, and Snake Rivers to allow a full week of rides in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. As Santana's friends have come to expect, Jan and I thumbed our nose at the normal list of port-stops, and instead specified special landings to support superior cycling. |
|
Every day has a range of options. Stronger riders will enjoy long climbs for great views. A selection of easier daily routes follow river valleys, and aren't appreciably tougher than rides along the Mississippi. You will not need to be thin, fast, or young to enjoy this tour. Additionally, if you've been off the bike for a while, you have two seasons to prepare for this August 2024 adventure. |
|
Day 1: Our first ride explores the trendy side of Portland, crosses into Washington, and visits historic sights in Vancouver before reaching the Empress.
|
|
Soon after cast-off, a welcoming wine-sampling reception on the open-air aft deck occurs as we cruise the Columbia and Willamette Rivers through the very center of downtown Portland---where our paddlewheeler's impressive size is guaranteed to bring cars, trucks and trains to a complete stop when the city's lift-, swing- and draw-bridges open to allow our passage. FUN. |
|
Day 2: After an overnight cruise down the Columbia we'll offload on the Washington side. From there our ride traces the final miles of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to reach America's Pacific Shore.
|
|
You'll cycle the wide Pacific Coast Highway to reach the colorful waterfront of Astoria, Oregon---the American West's oldest settlement. |
|
Day 3: As on all of Santana's cycling cruises, the American Empress allows successive days of incomparable cycling by traveling 100 or more miles while we sleep. On Wednesday, we wake up at the foot of Mount St Helens.
|
|
After breakfast we'll use buses and trucks to reach an inland summit that's nearly a mile higher than the day’s Columbia River finish line. |
|
All ride options cycle the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway to visit the Mount St Helens Interpretive Center. |
|
Day 4: A highlight of this tour is a pair of days within the Columbia Gorge.
|
|
Both days we'll cycle recently completed bike paths that link historic segments of the Columbia Gorge Scenic Parkway---a depression-era WPA project that was chopped apart and largely abandoned during the construction of Interstate I-84. |
|
On Thursday, our closed-to-cars route starts from The Dalles and passes through the Parkway's historic Moser Tunnels to reach Hood River, where energetic riders will experience the best parts of Oregon’s famed Fruit Loop cycling circuit. |
|
This evening we'll dine on the Empress' rear view-deck while passing down through the Bonneville Locks to preview tomorrow’s ride past Multnomah Falls.
|
|
Day 5: Our second full day in the Columbia River Gorge includes the region's remaining prime attractions.
|
|
Starting near Vista Point, we'll cycle through dense forests of fir and a dozen waterfalls on our way to the Multnomah Falls Lodge. |
|
Other mid-ride stops on this day include the Bonneville Dam and fish ladder, Cascade Locks, Bridge of the Gods, and the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. |
|
Day 6: Cowboys and Cactus? The Columbia is America's only river that passes through the volcanically-formed Cascades, an otherwise impenetrable range of tall mountains that stretch from California to British Columbia.
|
|
On the west end of the Gorge prevailing winds condense against the tall Cascades to wring out moisture that feeds fern forests. On the opposite slope the suddenly dry wind creates a parched desert landscape. The scenery is a lot like Arizona, except cool enough for a day of August cycling. |
|
Today's ride options include an insightful exploration of Pendleton; a wild-west town famous for its cowboy heritage, subterranean chinatown, rodeo, and woolen mills. |
|
Soon after we re-board the Empress she'll turn onto the narrower Snake River, and climb through four additional locks to reach Idaho.
|
|
Day 7: Our final ride starts 25-miles short of Idaho. From here we'll race the Empress upriver to the twin towns of Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington. After a week of conditioning, stronger riders will be ready to climb through the 64 curves of Idaho's famously panoramic Old Spiral Highway.
|
|
After an onboard lunch there's time for bike packing and a jet-boat excursion through Hell's Canyon, which is 10 times narrower and 2,000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon. |
|
Day 8: On disembark morning, optional shuttles conveniently reach airports in Lewiston, Spokane, or Portland. If you fly to Portland, the cost of this tour includes empty bike case transport to the finish line. If you drive to Portland, the tour price includes blanket-wrapped bike transport back to the secure indoor parking facility adjacent to embark. If you're concerned about flying with your bike (you shouldn't be as Delta, UA, and AA recently decided to waive excess-baggage fees for the biggest bike cases), another option will be discounted single-bike and tandem shipping.
|
|
Ship & Stateroom Info Tomorrow! |
|
Dates & Pricing on Wednesday! |
|
Your personal invitation to Reserve a Suite or Balcony Stateroom will arrive on Thursday at 10am Pacific! |
|
If you'd like to forward this email to your friends, send them this link:
|
|
If you received this email from a friend, feel free to sign-up
for all the updates on our cycling cruise here:
|
|
Did you miss our previous emails highlighting the same itinerary?
Please take a look!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
