It’s all good in the Hood

The town of Hood River, Ore. is nestled along the Columbia River, tiptoeing the border between Washington and Oregon like a cautious toddler approaching water for the first time.

The shores of the Columbia River along Hood River's waterfront

As we entered the town on a blustery Sunday evening, it was impossible not to recognize the fervor this town had for the outdoors. It seemed as if every other shop was devoted to one sport or another, from water sports like wind surfing and kite boarding, to rock climbing and mountain biking. The town is a harmonious balance of efficient and creative citizens and a plethora of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The winds along the Columbia Gorge provide one of the premier venues for kiteboarding and wind surfing the world has to offer.

After nearly 300 miles of biking to get to Hood River, the past three days have proven to be a much-needed rest for Dan, Will and me. The adventure outfitters in the Columbia Gorge have been very excited by the prospect of teaming up with SWAE.

Will was able to sign rafting guides Wet Planet Whitewater and All Adventures Rafting, while Dan met with Kite the Gorge kiteboarding school, Columbia Gorge Kayaking School, and Brian’s Windsurfing.

Clear blue skies and gusts of wind attract hundreds of adventure junkies to the waters of the Columbia River

Our work in town is less strenuous on the body than our long-mileage bike rides to visit the next group of adventure outfitters. As I work on this post on Wednesday at 8 a.m., I am greeted by warm rays from the rising sun and sip freshly ground local coffee from a wide-rimmed mug. A cool breeze pushes through the main drag of Oak Street, as the town begins to shake the sleep from its eyes and people begin to start their daily routines. What a job, what a life.

I’m reassured and excited by the locals, as they have been as friendly and generous as those we had met in towns throughout Washington. We had spent the last two nights in an expansive yard of an older gentleman by the name of Ted Wells. The smell of pink, red and white roses and fresh basil in Wells’ garden were a treat to wake up to each morning under a bright blue sky.

Today, Dan and Will have an interview with Adam Lapierre from Hood River News, a weekly newspaper in town, in order to talk about their adventure and the concept of collaborating with the outdoor adventure industry in Hood River County. Aside from an article in The Northern Light, a weekly newspaper in Dan’s hometown of Blaine, Wash., this will be the first interview the guys have had with local press on this trip. The article will be published on Saturday, July 11.

My days in Hood River have been spent taking photos and figuring out how to fix my dented back wheel on my bike. No luck on the wheel, but an afternoon on the waterfront proved  a great opportunity to snap some shots of hundreds of surfers harnessing the winds on the waters of the Columbia.

Kite boarders getting ready to catch some thermals along Hood River's waterfront

This afternoon, we will ride 60 miles south, out of Hood River to the town of Maupin, where Will and Dan will spend the day meeting with a ridiculous number of rafting and flyfishing guides. After a day in Maupin, we will ride 90 miles to Bend, where a wide range of adventure outfitters are primed and ready to hear the story of SWAE Sports.

To all who are following this blog, a photo slideshow of my first week with the team is getting put together as we speak! As we say good bye to our first ciy in Oregon, we will wave a fond farewell and remember, “It’s all good in the Hood.”