5/15 Roll on Columbia: In Republic

We continue Roll on Columbia by NOT ROLLIN ON today; it is a rest day. So it's a good time to consider the river.

The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It stretches from British Columbia through Washington state, forming much of the border between Washington and Oregon before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The river is 1,243 miles (2,000 km) long, and measured by the volume of its flow, the it is the largest river flowing into the Pacific from North America and is the fourth-largest river in the U.S. The river's heavy flow, and its large elevation drop over a relatively short distance, give it tremendous potential for the generation of electricity. It is the largest hydroelectric power producing river in North America with fourteen hydroelectric dams in the U.S. and Canada, and many more on various tributaries.

In 1996, I did a ride from Kalispall, Mt to Jasper, Alberta called "Canadian Rockies". On this ride, we went through the Columbia Ice Fields, near the beginning of the Columbia. The ride we're currently on is centered on the Columbia in central Washington. And next month, I'll begin my cross country ride in Astoria, Oregon where the Columbia flows into the Pacific Ocean. For someone who grew up near the small Brazos River as it flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, this association with the Columbia seems strange.

On our rest day, we're catching up on email, I've ordered a few things for my cross-country ride over the internet, made a doctor's appointment; we're do laundry and I'll clean the bikes; Brenda is reading and intends to take a walk. Tomorrow is another 80+ mile ride as we go into British Columbia.