(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)
Back in April we shared a post from BikePortland subscriber Tom Howe on how to plan a bike trip to see the total solar eclipse. With the Big Day — August 21st — just eight weeks away, it’s time to get serious if you want to make something happen.
If you’re looking for a bit more support and a guide to help you find your way to a viewing spot by bike, I’ve got some great news: Two trusted bike tour operators have just made tickets available for (nearly) all-inclusive experiences that will get you to a prime location, under your own power, and with all the comforts you could want.
Treo Bike Tours in eastern Oregon (just outside Heppner) has 10 spots available for their eclipse package. Here’s more from company owner Phil Carlson:
“We are offering a 3 day 2 night All-Inclusive cycling package to observe the Eclipse. This will be August 20, 21, and 22 (Sunday through Tuesday). This is for 10 people round-trip from Portland. This gravel/paved road combination will be the highlight of the year. Three epic rides in Eastern Oregon, 60+ miles each, and all catered by Phil and the Treo staff. To top it all off, the second day will include the Solar Eclipse viewed on private land in the mountains close to the center route of the total eclipse. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event that you can enjoy on bicycles and everything will be taken care of for you. All you need is your clothing and bicycle, Treo takes care of everything else.”
Treo’s trip is $545.00 per person based on all 10 spots getting filled. I’ve been out to Treo’s 3,200 square foot guest lodge several times and the riding and hospitality is second-to-none. If interested in this trip, give Phil and Kathy a ring at (541) 676-5840.
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A bit closer to home, two organized ride experts have come together for a trip south to Salem. Komorebi Cycling Team (known for their bikepacking adventures) and Friends on Bikes will lead a “weekend bike tour and celestial celebration of the total solar eclipse of the sun”. The ride will leave Portland on Saturday the 19th and return on Monday the 21st.
On Saturday Jocelyn Quarrell and Molly Sugar will lead a 73-mile self-supported ride from Portland to the private base camp at Illahe Nursery and Gardens in Salem.
Here’s more from the official ride announcement:
“The eclipse’s path of totality pass right through Salem, Oregon — lucky us! What better way to enjoy the event than with a weekend of bike camping with good friends, good food and good views?
Your experience will include:
— Guided bike ride from Portland to Salem and back
— Private camping at Illahe Nursery and Gardens
— Farm to table dinner on Sunday night at Illahe
— Mimosa brunch Monday morning at Crosby Family Christmas Tree Farm
— Beer from Basecamp Brewing and coffee from Ristretto Roasters
— Games and activities on the farm, including corn hole, disc golf, basketball, projection screen movie and more…
— Eclipse glasses for safely viewing the eclipse
— Limited edition iron-on Total Solar Eclipse patch designed by Molly Sugar and produced by Falls Creek Outfitters
This trip costs $250 per person and is limited to 40 people. For tickets and more details, check out the website.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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What scares me are the out of state eclipse tourists who will get rental cars at the airport and race through the gravel roads of eastern oregon looking for a good spot to view the phenomenon. Many of them never having been off the boulevards of LA or Miami will blast through the wilds of Deschutes and Crook country leaving mayhem in their wake.
Having ridden all over the US, what scares me are all the PNW folks getting into their cars, along with their pot and booze, and driving to view the eclipse. If I ride on the day of the eclipse, it will be to go away from it and towards a place that might have a bit of morning fog.
Good ride >> eclipse viewing. YMMV.
Yes, why would anyone be crazy enough to experience a once or twice in a lifetime natural phenomenon when they can just go do the same thing they do every day instead?
I noticed that you said the same thing on the last article. You seem weirdly obsessed with this thing that you supposedly don’t care to experience.
This is a major issue, and it is why all of the rental car agencies in Hawaii tell people they can’t take cars on certain roads. Many people don’t have experience with gravel roads, soft shoulders, steep descents, etc. I’ve participated in a central Oregon relay race for the past few years, and every year a few vans get stuck in the soft shoulder and have to be towed out.
I think you can pretty much guarantee that the gravel roads, if they are as smooth as those in the picture, will be absolutely clogged with cars. It is going to be ugly. I’ve had friends come up from Cali, rent a 10 person condo for $4000, already scout dirt roads in Central Oregon, all in anticipation of a few minutes of darkness. Luckily, I live a half-hour bike ride from totality.
I’m more worried about the eclipse tourists jamming the roads between Portland and Marion County.
Not so, lots of publicity over here in Bend of new sites opening almost daily; tent camping for thousands is still available.
Tent camping for thousands where?
Paulina, the rodeo grounds, on and on. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon.
Paulina won’t be very many, and the more staying in Sisters, Redmond and south, the quicker 97 turns into a parking lot. I’d research a gravel ride that gets you to Madras latitude.
Is there an eclipse soon? 😉
John Day Fossil Beds says they expect 10,000 visitors all trying to get to the same place at the same time. Sounds like mayhem and hours (days?) of queuing up in traffic. No thanks.
On the bright side (and rekindling some fond memories for us old folks who enjoyed the prior bike boom and gas lines) ODOT is warning of a gas shortage that weekend.
You mean you don’t think 50,000 people can fill up their rental cars in Madras and Maupin for the drive back to Portland? Sounds like the Eclipse will be followed by an impromptu version of Burning Man.
Fingers crossed it won’t be cloudy in the valley that day, or we’ll get to see a zillion drivers try to get over the mountain at the same time.