<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/2644729530/in/album-72157606018708840/" title="Aufderheide Scenic Byway"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/3265/2644729530_d613e81c11_b.jpg" alt="Aufderheide Scenic Byway"/></a> [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/albums/72157606018708840/) This report is from my first non-trivial biking trip in the USA: a 150 mile roundtrip from Eugene to Blue River along the McKenzie river, then to Cougar Lake and the Aufderheide Scenic Byway, and then back to Eugene over the 58 highway. The trip was very beautiful. I was in particular surprised by the beauty of the trip along the McKenzie river, which I at first regarded to be just a necessity to get to the Aufderheide Scenic Byway. I left at 5:30am in the morning on Sunday, and the 126 highway along the McKenzie river was almost deserted. The views of the river are very beautiful, and I would even recommend this track for a gentle ride (there is not much climbing). The Aufderheide Scenic Byway was extremely beautiful, probably the most beautiful road I've ever biked. The view of Cougar Lake, and the rivers along the road are marvellous. Don't expect much of a view on the nearby high mountains though: the mountains next to the road are too high, so the big ones hide behind them. The road back to Eugene over the 58 was not a great experience, for a few reasons: 1) the trip turned out the 150 miles instead of 140 miles 2) I bumped into an unexpectedly strong wind all the way back to Eugene 3) Traffic is really uncomfortably heavy on this road. I noticed in particular that truck drivers don't care much about your presence on the road. Average speed: 15.5 m/h. Should be improved, but I'm happy with this first experiment in long mountain trips. <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/2639273193/in/album-72157606018708840" title="In doubt ..."><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/3092/2639273193_44d75e6554_b.jpg" alt="In doubt ..."/></a> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/2643871455/in/album-72157606018708840/" title="My Koga road bike"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/3275/2643871455_78348eac1d_b.jpg" alt="My Koga road bike"/></a> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/2644729506/in/album-72157606018708840/" title="Water pump at Frissell Crossing (Aufderheide)"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/3129/2644729506_f8b23d8c77_b.jpg" alt="Water pump at Frissell Crossing (Aufderheide)"/></a> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/2644729700/in/album-72157606018708840/" title="Lowell Covered Bridge"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/3101/2644729700_ed079bcaf7_b.jpg" alt="Lowell Covered Bridge"/></a>