Ride Report: Sunrise Coffee at Ricky Point, 12 March 2014

I don’t participate in the Sunrise Coffee Club as much as I should. Don’t get me wrong, I love the concept. It’s just I’m not a morning person. I’ve tried to become one, but at this point in my life I realize that my body is set a certain way. I still wish I was one of those perky people who naturally wake up at/before sunrise, and I do appreciate the times I do get up early and “see the world wake up”, but I do it grudgingly.

And I woke up grudgingly at 6 am on Wednesday morning for this Sunrise Coffee Club adventure. I fought the urge to turn off my alarm and turn over in bed, but I was leading this ride so there wouldn’t be any getting out of it. And yeah it hurt to wake up (probably not enough sleep.) But I got out the door, hopped on the Raleigh Wayfarer, and headed towards the Expo Center MAX station.

Cruising through North Portland in pre-dawn I realized how perfect the weather was for a Sunrise Coffee Club in March. It was cold, but not arctic cold: around 35F/2C, some frost on cars and grass. And there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was hoping for this. Before I went to bed the forecast warned of a chance of patchy fog and/or maybe some wind out of the east, but the air was still.

The only person waiting for me at Expo Center was Josh. We waited around until 6:50 am and then head out for Ricky Point. While I-5 was bustling, the roads on Hayden/Tomahawk Island were mellow. We got to Ricky Point just after 7 am. I set up my Trangia to boil water for coffee, then cooked some Irish oatmeal, while watching the sky grow brighter in the east. Josh brought a thermos of coffee.

Sunrise was just a little after 7:30 am. It’s been awhile since I’ve had such a great sunrise experience. Ricky Point gives a great view of Mount Hood to the east, and the rising sun reflected over the mighty Columbia. Ricky Point was bathed in golden light.

We hung out until 8 am, packed up our things, and headed home. It was a good morning. I don’t do Sunrise Coffee that often, but when I do, it’s a good thing.

Making oatmeal on the Trangia.

Departure time.

Expo Center MAX station.

Arriving at Ricky Point.

Mount Hood, pre sunrise.

Igniting the Trangia.

Growing lighter by the minute.

Josh contemplates.

Descending towards PDX.

First rays.

Sunrise.

Josh captures the moment.

Bathed in glowing light.

New day rising.