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FALL 2018 ISSUE 02 / VOL . 03
Emerging from a dark tunnel of trees on the West Cascades Scenic Byway , I found the perfect sunny spot to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Clackamas River .
enters a deep , narrow valley as it climbs up into the Cascades , where the Clackamas flows wild and free . The Tracer and I were in a groove , experiencing this road together for the first time — bends , kinks , dips , rises , bridges , blind corners , fleeting views of the river , the contours of which give the road its character .
With the low-fuel light on , I pulled into Detroit , a crossroads on the shore of Detroit Lake . Folks were starting their summer weekend early . Subarus laden with kayaks and pickups overflowing with camping gear were parked in lots , coolers were being filled with ice and beer . I refueled and scarfed an egg salad sandwich in the shadow of Rivers Run Deli , trying to stay cool while enjoying a view of the marina and the lake ’ s milky blue water . When traveling solo and covering a lot of miles in just a few days , I rarely stop for long . Just a few minutes here and there , then I ’ m back in the saddle , trying to cram 10 pounds of riding into a 5-pound sack .
From Detroit to Chemult — south , zig west , zag east , back over the Cascades — all I