If Vancouver needed any more fuel for its Portland, Ore. envy engines, look no further than this Sunday, when our whimsical, Cascadian neighbours to the south celebrate the “Worst Day of the Year.”
For the 17th year in a row, the Worst Day of the Year community bike ride marks both the coldest and wettest date in Oregon history (-54 F, Ukiah, 1933) and (26-inches of rain in four days, Coastal range, 1996).
The first ride was in 2001, attracting 200 participants. More than 3,000 showed up for the event’s 10th anniversary.
In addition to a costume contest, the Worst Day of the Year Ride, which benefits the city’s Community Cycling Center, includes several bike routes (a 15-mile urban route, a 42-mile challenge route and a four-mile family route), breakfast, lunch, refreshments and rest-stops that include tamales and beer. Sweet, delicious beer.
The event takes place regardless of the weather, although it has been cancelled once due to a crippling winter storm dubbed "Snowpocalypse." Incidentally, the forecast for Portland this Sunday is cloudy with a chance of rain.
If you want to venture south and take part or just ogle the event’s website and wonder why Vancouver is such a stick in the mud, go to worstdayride.com.
