Finally, a beautiful and warm day, for late February. This ride covers the 2016 ALS 50-mile route. Chose to start at Mt. Angel Abbey instead of downtown Mt. Angel. It adds another 2 miles and 250 feet of climbing. The first 7 miles heads south into Silverton, followed by a lot of climbing. The route gets on Eureka Ave. in Silverton, which becomes Victor Point Rd. At mile 11.4 (4.4 miles of climbing) the route continues climbing on Drift Creek Rd. The main climbing ends at mile 16, followed by 2.5 miles of mostly downhill to the Highway 214 junction. The next few miles heads west on 214 toward Shaw. Victor Point Farms is at mile 23.8 and makes for a nice rest stop. Continue west on 214 into Shaw and then north to Howell Prairie Rd. Typically, the next 15 or so miles has headwind (north) but not today. Meander through Macleay and through Fruitland, eventually reaching the Willamette Pie Company (mile 39) for another rest stop. The final 14 miles goes by farms with a 5.5 mile stretch back on Howell Prairie Rd to Waypark Rd. There was a Road Closed sign on Waypark Rd due to high water. Upon reaching the gate, opted to continue on because there were no signs of flooding. There had been flooding, but the water had receded. Of course it was the Pudding River, a notoriously slow-responding stream. The final 3 miles went through Mt. Angel and back up the hill to Mt. Angel Abbey.