Last Sunday (May 4th) the weather was perfect in the Northwest. The temperature was in the mid-70’s and hardly a cloud in the sky. The group quickly rallied together and met up for an afternoon ride. We all met up at Paradise HD and then headed South. We decided to take in the rural and scenic farmland of the Willamette Valley. The only freeway travel as we rode was I-5S toward Wilsonville. We took the SW Stafford Road exit off I-205 N and then took SW Mountain Road past the Sandelie Golf Course to the Canby Ferry. The map “pin” indicates the location of the Ferry
The Canby Ferry carries vehicles and their passengers across the Willamette River just North of Canby. It crosses the scenic Willamette River between Canby and Wilsonville. The service started back in 1914 when the Ferry was purchased in Newberg by Canby Mayor W.H. Bair and by Harry B. Evans, representing the Canby Business Men’s Club. In those days it was propelled by a splashboard driven by the river current and held on course by a cable. It’s been upgraded a lot since then. The cost to ride the Ferry for a motorcycle is $0.50.
After a less than 10 minute ride we exited the Ferry and headed straight on N. Locust Street until the road dead-ended in Canby. We navigated our way back on to 99E and headed West until we got to Barlow Road. On Barlow we rode South toward Monitor. We took Meridian Road South out of Monitor and then headed West on E Marquam Street which brought us in the back way to Mt. Angel.
In Mt. Angel you can visit a German Benedictine Monastery or stop in the Brewing Company. The town is famous for it’s version of the “Old World” Oktoberfest and people come from all over to this small community for ethnic foods and traditional Biergarten. Unfortunately the Brewing Company was closed and we had to hit a local “haunt” for some cool refreshments. We rode out of Mt. Angel on W. Church Street past the Evergreen Golf Course. This is a quick way back to I-5 if you want to avoid all the Woodburn traffic.
This ride may not be the sport bike-haven that you get in the mountains, but we were on “heavy” cruisers and there were plenty of curves to go around not to mention how those of us without hay fever were treated to the wonderful spring sights and smells of the agriculture.
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