LONG BEACH WASHINGTON TO HARRIS BEACH OREGON LOG

DAY 15 LONG BEACH ILWACO to SEASIDE OREGON 56.23 KM MAY 14/01 MONDAY

well what to say about this day. Started out with rain most of the night, but we were dry in my North Face Kestel. It was blowing a gail off the ocean, but we were in a protected site for hiker/bikers. I had a great idea to head to the washrooms with our stuff so we could pack up in a dry environment. I had trouble going forward pushing my bike across the park!. This worked out for a short while then the day got a little tougher.. the septic tank decided to back up due to the fierce storm happening. We vacated there very rapidly and finished our packing outside. We headed out to Ilwaco in pelting rain. Started off towards the Astoria bridge with high expectations that we might outrun the storm. Not so!! First surprise was a tunnel, which we knew was there, but you activate a warning light to say "Bikes in the tunnel" No shoulder, 2 way traffic but luckly not too long. Went on winding our way beside the Columbia River with narrow shoulder and lots of wind, but still tolerable. The town of Chinook is amply named! Warm 45 MPH winds. Then you see it.... THE BRIDGE! spanning across the river. Ken was sure it was no longer than the Okanagan Bridge.... he has no sense of distance....4 miles later I was walking! The cross winds were so fierce that I was being blown out of the 2 foot shoulder into the traffic. Ken yelled "I cann't hear a thing your saying" Thank goodness he couldn't hear what I was yelling.. to myself!! Fortunately most of the cars were attentive. We made it to the lift span area which was just too steep with the winds... NO SHAME IN WALKING was Jessie and my motto and it sure fit here! Walked 1km to the off ramp and noted OH NO ! another bridge ahead! We stopped at a gas station and they were kind enough to allow use of their bathroom by Non customers and a hot chocolate later we decided to brave the next stretch over Youngs Bay. Could you believe it was worse! More traffic, wind and tired legs... but fortunately not as far. We survived! I don't intend to pass over this area ever again... I'll call a CAB!!

We set off in the pelting rain for the town of Seaside where a International Hostel awaited us. It is a very nice hostel with the beautiful Necanicun River in the back yard. The rain continues but the wind has died off. We have a nice private room with a "chinese-laundry" of clothes and eqipment drying everywhere. They have washers/dryers so we are able to do our wash... which is very aromatic! The shower was so so welcome and pizza out was great!

The forcast is for more rain, but hopefully without the wind!

Short day in KM 56.23 4hr29min ride time M45.1 A12.5 TD 1084.71 KM
Oh my.... look at that bridge!!
Seaside Hostel
view from hostel

DAY 16 SEASIDE OREGON TO ROCKAWAY BEACH 57.91 KM MAY 15/01 TUESDAY

We had a slow start today, after repacking and Safeway we headed out at 1030. It was just misty rain, with plenty of uphill to keep us warm. The view could be fabulous on a sunny day! The second tunnel of Oregon is uphill, dark and very very noisy. Pedal as fast as possible is the only way to get thru it. Learned today the there is a ferry 30miles up the Columbia we could have used instead of the bridge. I definitely would do that another time if was stormy weather. Lots of up hill and sharp downs today. The rain became more pelting by lunch and we were once again very damp. We bypassed Nehalem Bay State Park and stopped at a Motel in Rockaway. Ken made great veggie burgers and I finally did some of my needle work Jessie!

We hope to try for camping at Cape Lookout State Park or to stay in a Yurt tomorrow.

Short day in KM 57.91 4hr20min ride time M41.7 A13.3 TD 1142.62KM
view just past Cannon Beach
very very wet out

DAY 17 ROCKAWAY BEACH CAPE LOOKOUT STATE PARK 65.33 KM MAY 16/01 WEDNESDAY

We seem to take longer to get going every day. Tried to leave at 10 but stopped at Kristi's Cyber Cafe to upload. This is the first internet cafe we have gone to and we were able to plug our laptop directly into their network. So we really didn't get going until 11 am. Skies cleared and the day looked promising. We left with dry equipment since the motel was well setup for drying wet beachcombers.

The ride to Tillamook was very scenic along the ocean. We took the 3 Capes's route and stopped at the 1st cape (Meares). Their is a lighthouse located at Cape Meares so we took a short side trip to see it. We encountered some hills before getting to Cape Lookout State park. (good for keeping in shape). There are getting to be more and more expensive homes along the shore. We were going to try a yurt cabin but the evening was so nice we put up our tent.

Short day in KM 65.33 4hr16min ride time M40.7 A15.2 TD 1207.95KM
Kristi's Cyber Cafe
Lunch at Cape Meares
View back over Tillamook Bay
View from Cape Meares Lighthouse
Cape Meares Lighthouse
View from camp site at Cape Lookout
Sunset at Cape Lookout

DAY 18 CAPE LOOKOUT STATE PARK TO BEVERLY BEACH SP. 94.19 KM MAY 17/01 THURSDAY

Got out of camp at 9. The Rhododendrums are growing wild in the woods. Only pink ones. The march is on of the tent catipillars as they are starting out on the roads too! Hope we don't get them like at the lake some years where the roads are a sea of crawling cats. There were 3 mega hills today...long, steep and no repreve. But lots of rolling terrain also. The sky is mostly clear but only 47F so still a cool wind. The last 10K is off 101 on the old road (now Otter Crest Road) closed to traffic. Wonderful along the edge of the ocean (up above) with large trees and lots of birds singing. The road had washed out at some time and they replaced it up higher. Very pleasant and I think the climb was a little more gradual. Wonderful walk on the beach after camp set up. Another sign that the 101 hwy is disintegrating. The bridge here has a temporary detour bridge that will be replaced in 3-5 years.

KM 94.19 5 hr57min ride time M44.3 A15.7 TD 1302.14 KM
Okay what are they?
Can you see your Dad surfing?
Dream home
Rhododendron's in the wild
More ocean
Beach dead wood!

DAY 19 BEVERLY BEACH TO JESSIE HONEYMAN SP. 101.24 KM MAY 18/01 FRIDAY

Up to sunny skies. All alone in the hiker/biker camp once more. Grassy sites and they have put up large posts to lock your bike to. BIking rolling hills in the morning. Views terrific. Crashing waves. Boats fishing I presume just out from shore look so cute, smell so bad up close!

We decided to stop for lunch at a bakery in Waldport. What a great choise. Waldport 101 Bakery and Deli if you want a great veggie sandwich and home made veggie soup. Reasonable too. Lots of light houses along this route for obvious reason. Non manned anymore. All automated. We did not go down into the sea lion caves as it is a once in a life time experience and we did it before with the boys. (you think a farm is smelly) The tunnel after Devils Elbow (Cape Creek Tunnel) is as the others "scary, dark and noisy!" The blinking light to signal moterist is questionably a bonus. I think it is just to give the cyclist false sense of confidence.

We went on to camp with no difficulties planning to meet Duncan (my brother) for the night. The quads are every where. We will be glad to leave in the morning. surprisingly the other campers were very quiet. Duncan arrived and we had a great visit. He brought FULL SIZED TOWELS for us to shower with. What a sweet heart!

KM 101.24 5hr49min ride time M46.9 A17.3 TD 1403.38KM
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Old Yaquina House Lighthouse
Yaquina Bay Bridge
??? Skunk Cabbage
View back to Waldport
Chainsaw carving

DAY 20 JESSIE HONEYMAN TO COOS BAY 93.75 KM MAY 19/01 SATURDAY

Duncan set off for Coos Bay at 5am so he would have most of the day to do yard work !! We set off with the wind at our back if the road would only go straight south. It's the twists that make the wind seem like it is changing directions every few km. "Passing lane ahead" is usually seen as a relief to drivers, but a bad sign to cyclist. (indicates UPHILL) My hands are getting numb more today again. Any suggestions as to how to avoid ulnar nerve pressure?

Tried riding on the narrow sidewalk across the Reedsport bridge. Not really recommended. Ken didn't feel too secure, but I liked it better than in the traffic with only one lane (no shoulder) going south. They will not stop behind you, but just go on by at rapid speed! The bridge into North Bend (Coos Bay) we decided to walk across as it is a city ordinance that you are not allowed to slow up traffic on the bridge and the side walk was just too scary to ride. It is always windy here! I had trouble even pushing my bike over the bridge as the wind tried to push me off the walkway. Coos Bay is a very quiet town for a Saturday. Everyone is at the beach with their quad machine. It's like skidooing to us I quess. (not being a skidooer) We headed out to Duncans a little unsure of the route, but had no difficulty finding his gorgeous home away from home on the Coos River. Absolutely a lovely spot. The house is just what I am looking for, just in the wrong country! Will need to copy the design for one up in our neck of the woods. Great windows to let in the scenery and low maintenence interior. Not so for the exterior. ~9 acres of hillside with fruit trees, blackberries (to weed out), fab roses and a little grass to mow. We went on the tour of the area after a great pig out at the local smorg. The Sunset Bay campsite we would have stayed at is a beautiful site. We saw sea lions barking at sunset and me without my camera! The area is a little economically depressed at this time. Logging is down, fishing poor and little other industry to sustain the economy. High tech industry is just coming to this area.

KM 93.75 5hr31min ride time M46.7 A16.9 TD 1497.13 KM
Gardiner house
Umpqua lighthouse
Coos Bay bridge
Duncans view at Coos Bay
Poison Oak

DAY 21 COOS BAY to BULLARD BEACH SP 48.79 KM MAY 20/01 SUNDAY

Well today was to be a rest day. We started by getting up at 6am. to have our breakfast in the fog out in the yard. The fog burned off to a very hot day. Remember those beautiful windows? Well after taking all the spider webs off the house (I didn't know there were that many spiders!) I washed all those windows inside and out. (the dead flies brought back memories of Sandy Lake Campbell's Corner in the spring) I don't promise no streaks! I'm really glad he didn't have a extention ladder for the upper ones (remember I'm the one afraid of hieghts). He has an open great room to the second story and the master bedroom has windows looking down into this area that open. Gorgeous, but hard to wash with these short arms!! Ken, of course, spent most of the day working on a customers problem. The acreage is gorgeous: rain forest by the creek, lots of black berry vines he has been eradicating, fruit trees and roses. Too much work for me, but no weeds! I think he has a bit of Aunt Thalia in him! Talasman orange roses spectacular display! Duncan has put a lot of love into this place.

Duncan worked out in the hot sun on the yard all day. We set off at 1630 to go south of Coos Bay for the night. It's was a good visit. Very hilly 3 hour ride south to hot supper/showers and bed. Long day filled with a good time! Would have liked to stay longer just to enjoy the area. The Coos river is boardered by farms and acreages and "tidal flats" that apparently flood every few years.

KM 48.79 2hr44min ride time M41.9 A17.7 TD 1545.92 KM 5002.7odo
Farmer and House
Duncan's price Roses
Coos Bay
Forest View
Forest in Bloom
Two old crows

DAY 22 BULLARD BEACH SP TO HUMBUG MTN SP. 65.36 KM MAY 21/01 MONDAY

Awoke to sunny +18C.... I think we hit summer! Temp increased quickly to +30C... if that isn't hot riding up hill!! Mostly rolling hills, some steep. Short day as distance to next State Park almost in California. Anyway we cycled last evening part of todays. Stinging neetle in bloom! More and more hot weather plants... few palms, tall ?swamp grass, etc. Myrtle wood? What is it? Well I finally stopped at my first "tourist trap" . Went in to find out what Myrtle wood is and why so many shops. It is a harder wood tree than Oak and is used to make stuff... salad bowls, etc. It is only able to grow in Oregon on the coast!

Veggies are getting cheaper... must be closer to the source. Duncan said most people don't bother with a garden as the veggies are so cheap in the store. I wrote this log 30 feet above the tide line first time in my bikini...white!! The waves are very inviting...but very cold. Ken is busy working (that dreaded word) in camp to solve his programing bug. His loss! Why do we need to go to Hawaii... this is heaven! Cross Stitching on the beach.. will need dry cleaning before framing. I am amazed it is day 22 and we are able to keep up the pace. I think I'm hooked!

KM 65.36 3hr40min ride time M49.9 A17.7 TD 1611.28 KM
Breakfast at Marina
Table Rock
View back to Port Orford
Sunset at Humbug

DAY 23 HUMBUG MTN SP TO HARRIS BEACH SP 86.74 KM MAY 22/01 TUESDAY

Left camp early to miss the heat... off at 0710. Up up Humbug Mtn and rolling hills to Gold Beach where we spent an hour trying to get on the internet to upload. Frustrating AOL!! Went on to the dreaded Cape Sebastian... turned out not to be so bad. Must be getting soft in the head! Not in the thighs though! Met some kids in camp last night that are headed our way so may meet up with them again. They of course, were much younger!

Stopped for lunch to watch some kids from Wisconsin who were kiyak surfing. Looked like a blast! They were sure having fun in the waves... in dry suits of course! We continued on to camp, set up and headed to town to try to upload unsuccessfully once more! We are very happy with the Libraries as they are very nice and let us use the internet to check our email at least. We are really enjoying everyones mail and trying to answer promtly. Was not as hot today riding, although I did get down to that risque ? top Brenda gave me! for part of the uphills! Well I can hardly stand the smell of myself ( or is it Ken sitting beside me?) so we are off to get a sub and back to camp! Another day behind us. Jesse and Sandy could you use a calculator and check the addition of the KM total to date? as my math isn't what it used to be. Lov ya!

KM 86.74 5hr35min ride time M43.5 A15.5 TD 1698.02 KM
Red Clover
Peddling butt off
Wisconsin Kiyaker
3 kiyakers
Flower of the day; Canterbury Bells
3 nite views
Fog at nite