The last day in Oregon

October 20

62 miles. Port orford to Harris beach state park

We woke up this morning to clear skies and a twinkling blue ocean. I wasn't feeling great this morning but I knew it couldn't be a bad day when it started with seeing whales. The road today was right along the ocean and the views were amazing. 

The Oregon coast has been spectacular, even more beautiful than I remember it. Tomorrow we enter California, the road picks up traffic and pulls away from the coast. So many more people near the coast of California. Oregon, you are a gem. 

10 miles in the rain is plenty

October 19 

10 miles.  cape black state park to port orford 

I woke up to rain and totally stuffed up. We rode 10 miles to the nearest town and called it a day. I called my mom and told her I wanted to go home. That's how I know I was really feeling awful. 

When I told my mom over the winter I was going on this trip she told me that I would call her crying and wanting to go home, it took 7 months! I almost made it!

Day 6 on the Oregon coast

10/18

62 miles sunset bay state park to cape blanco state park

We did a little extra exploring today and t was well worth the effort. Both last nights campground and tonight's were about 5 miles off the main route, but they have amazing ocean views. Between the two parks and the cute town of Bandon, we had a lot of good sights to see today. 

Sunset bay in the morning 

Clay made a friend

A not so scenic but much needed snack break

Coast along the most adorable Bandon

Unexpected sunshine

October 17

57 miles Florence to sunset bay state park

The weather called for rain all day and we didn't recieve a drop. The weather was a lot nicer than yesterday which was supposed to be dry but was a chilly super foggy drizzle. I keep thinking back to when I toured this section of the coast, was it 4 years ago, with my friends Ryan and Mary. When we biked this same section it was rainy and cold. Crossing the bridge into Coos Bay my hands were numb, the traffic was awful, and someone was yelling at us out of a pickup truck window. This time we rode the sidewalk and the sun was shining. 

The ride today wasn't special. We were just far enough from the coast where you can't see or hear the ocean. Sand dunes separate the road from the sea and sounds of waves are replaced by dune buggies and fast traffic. 

A cold fog and bike probs

October 16

45 miles. South beach state park to Florence

I used my disc brakes to cleave off the metal hook of a bungee cord. Not only was this very surprising and slightly scary but it bent the shit out of my brake rotor. Clay loosened my brakes to reduce brake rubbing and braking capabilities. I bought and installed a new rotor in Florence and my brakes are good as new. If I ever tour somewhere remote I'll have I carry a rotor. Since we started in Washington both clay and I have had to replace one. 

Bike Oregon. Day 3

October 15.

62 miles. Cape kiwanda to south beach state park, just south of Newport. 

The day started late with another trip to the beach this morning. It's just so pretty! 

The weather for most of our bike trip has been unbelievably good. It's been sunny and warm and I rode most of the days in shorts and t-shirt. I'm not sure if that will happen for us again. 

A cold fog rolled in this afternoon, it was bone chilling. We plugged along it for the whole afternoon ending up in the cute town of Newport. The beachy side streets were adorable with shops and restaurants. We left the bike path for the main trip to find a grocery store and it was no longer cute at all. 

We crossed a big bridge and camped at south bend state park where I took a long hot free shower. 

The beautiful Oregon coast. Day 2

October 14.

53ish miles. Nehalem bay state park to Cape kiwanda/ pacific city

We were able to get off the 101 today, the main road running the length of the coast. It's not an interstate but it's a busy road so it's great to get off of it. We rode quite ocean side roads for most of the afternoon after stopping for lunch at the tillamook cheese factory. It's a surprisingly good time learning about cheese. 

We biked into cape kiwanda mid to late afternoon. It's the kind if place that would be hard to pass by. We watched surfers till sunset while drinking beer on the beach.  You can't do that on the pct!

Bald eagle!

Between the meat sticks and the cheese, my stomach was unhappy

A campground full of curious bun buns

A little beach riding at cape kiwanda

October 13. Astoria to nehalem state park

October 13. Astoria to nehalem state park

47 miles

We got into Astoria late yesterday after traveling from Denver and found a hotel for the night. This morning we walked to the bike shop to pick up our bikes and start heading back down the coast. We are glad to be back. Our trip to Denver was great, it was wonderful to spend time with family and wear jeans and flip flops but that doesn't really feel like us. We are stinky and on the go. 

From Astoria we went south on 101 to Lewis and Clark road. It was a quite and scenic ride along wooded paths which later have way to logging operations. At seaside we rejoined the 101 after riding down the beachside bike path and stopping for lunch. Seaside and Cannon beach are cute coastal towns. 

We rode along the ocean for much of the day with sunny ocean views. 

Astoria, walking to the bike shop 

Seaside

Riding down to Oswald west beach

Oregon, Denver and a wedding

October 12

Last week we finished biking Washington, hooray! I think overall we biked about 340 miles from Bellingham, Washington to Astoria, Oregon in the very northwest corner of the state. 

We got ourselves to Oregon just in time to travel to Portland and then Colorado for clays sister's, sierra's, wedding. We left our bikes in an Astoria bike shop to get tuned up then took a very interesting public bus ride to Portland. 

The next 5-6 days were a whirl wind of family good times. My mom happened to be in Colorado at the same time so we hung out for a day. The rest of the time was spent with clays family celebrating his sisters wedding, it was a great trip. 

The last day of Washington. Cape disappointment state park. 

20 miles into Astoria including this super long not so fun bridge over the massive Columbia river. 

Botanical gardens with mom and clay

October 4- Twin Harbor SP to Cape Disappointment SP

10/4

80 miles

We had super nice Sunday morning riding today. Way less of my thoughts today were worries about getting hit by cars than usual. The roads were super calm and flat, with beautiful views of bays with an occasional open ocean glimpse. 

Tomorrow we have a short ride into Astoria, Oregon. That's right, we just biked Washington. What took weeks to walk only took 6 days to bike. 

We are going to try to find a place to leave our bikes in Astoria as we bus to Portland then fly to Denver for clays sisters wedding.