After a stop to let Sora, play in a patch of snow still remaining from the winter snowpack near the top, we pedaled the last few miles to the peak. Cyclists ditched their bikes next to the volcanic rock lining the road and climbed the steps to the top of the observatory to soak in 360° views of the Three Sisters, Mt. Hood, Mt. Washington, Black Butte, and Mt. Jefferson. After traveling across Europe and South America for two years, we decided it was high time that we explore our own beloved state of Oregon. Sure, we’ve driven hundreds of miles across the state in all directions, but as we learned on our bicycle tour, to become truly intimate with a place, one must discover the untouched corners. Our journey would take us in a triangle that followed three Scenic Bikeway routes. We began in Portland and made our way toward Eugene via the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway. From there, we traveled to the town of McKenzie Bridge where we rode along the bikeway with the same namesake to Bend. The last leg took us along the roaring waters of the Cascading Rivers Scenic Bikeway in Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory and eventually back home to Portland. While we enjoyed traveling along all three of the well-curated scenic bikeways, McKenzie Pass delivered a combination of car-free riding, epic mountain views, and long climbs and descents. It was the flock of fellow cyclists, however, that made this our favorite ride from the Oregon Rode Trip.