Sauvie Island Hoe-down

Thursday after work, I met up with 3 other dads for another Dads Ride Out event, put together from cycling fathers of Mia's school. We rode up NW Lovejoy and in to the West hills of Portland. I haven't been up hills much recently (not many at all since my first-and-only century ride for Reach the Beach back in May), so I was sucking wind most of the way. Once we reached Skyline, it was a fast ride down Newberry and then out to Kruger Farms on Sauvie Island. We all met up with our respective families there for the live music and good old fashioned hoe-down.

The scene was something else. Hundreds of families all there enjoying the sun, blankets on the lawn, listening to music, drinking, and talking. They had the field right next to the music area set up with sprinklers running, so the kids were going nuts out there playing. They had a beer & wine gazebo, farmers market, and barbecue going. The music was a local Irish band, so that was a treat too. It was all just perfect.

We picked up some fresh fruit from the market, got some beers, and then sat down with some other folks to enjoy the lot. The band played on to nearly 9pm, and then just as they finished, the thunder started. Warm rain poured down, and we threw the blanket over ourselves as we headed to the car. I loaded the bike on to the carrier, and we were off. The girls watched for lightning in the sky on the way home, and when we pulled in to the driveway, we sat there for 10 minutes watching and enjoying the lightning we so rarely get in Oregon. It was a perfect end to a great day.

We're totally hooked on going out to Kruger Farms on Thursday nights now.