"Cape" Really Means UP! And ... STUDLY BIKER CHICKS to the rescue! - Day 4 - Newport to Florence

With another good ride behind us, we are playing in the cute town of Florence. In a lot ways, it resembles Newport, with bridge on the way out of town and all those shops down below the bridge on the north side, but Florence is more decorative with better restaurants. It is not the fishing community Newport is, so its not stinky or dirty like that.

We started out today with breakfast-a-La Quinta, strong and fast and stayed that way until Haceta head at least 40 miles up the road. We dipped into every wayside viewpoint for pictures or just to have a look. That's how we came upon Justin and his breakfast-cooking female, from Estacada, this morning at a beautiful viewpoint. What a splendid place for breakfast! He took our picture there and we were on our way after Bonnie checked either the breakfast or the girl; I wasn't sure which. ;)

We've met a couple groups of people going on the same kind of trip, with various start and end points, and they resurface from time to time along the route. When they pass us long after we're settled somewhere I must say we get a little smug about it ... But they are past us now, so we'll return the favor and come up from behind while they are playing or eating I suppose.

We went through the ever-so-cute towns of Waldport and Yahats too early for lunch so we kept on traveling. Hitting a beach for a while sounded good, but we didn't really want sand on our bikes so we passed on several options, settling for the view. We ducked into several viewpoints including Seal Rocks State Park and Haceta Head, going up it seemed, much more than down. We took in the sights at Haceta Cape and Cape Perpetua - really nice. It was almost noon FOREVER and I was ready to stop. Bonnie was ahead and I felt like a kid in the back of the station wagon when I felt like calling out "are we there yet". Luckily for me, Bonnie was ready to stop as well. We eyed the down-sloping entrance to Haceta Beach suspiciously, knowing we would pay for our departure on the way back up. Bonnie inquired to some motorcycle guys at the entrance, who as it turns out, were pondering a trip down there as carefully as if they were pedaling, I thought. I mean they had a gas tank after all. As they turn to go downhill, one of those guys tipped over his great big Harley entrapping his left leg at an odd angle. His buddy was on uneven ground as well and was unable to assist as he had his own bike to steady. But ... NEVER FEAR! STUDLY BIKER CHICKS ARE HERE! Bonnie first, then me, lifted it, much to his embarrassment, LOL! They were yet another group from Canada, and took our pictures a little later for their own memoirs and we chatted a bit, aye.

Resting and enjoying the sun there, we walked up to the Haceta Head Lighthouse, refueled with fruit snacks (which we now call LIFESAVERS because they're such a great re-energizer), and headed out and straight up, but the rest was well worth it.

Soon we were at the sights hinted of Florence and we rode through, looking for a bike shop for a few small repairs. We passed rode into Bicycles 101; a joint bicycle/guitar shop. I bought a jersey next to a woman purchasing drumsticks, while another searched through sheet music and helmets nestled next to one another. Bicycles and guitars were found alternatingly throughout the store. Oddly, it seemed to work as there were plenty of shoppers for an early Monday afternoon, I thought.

Our place in Florence was just passed the bridge again, as it was Newport, and we were ready to settle in and walk to town for dinner.

Dahlia-ing Along - more of day 3

Our trip into Otis was spectacular enough to think it could get no better, but as luck would have it, the ENTIRE day was unparalleled! Special nods go to the Otter Crest Loop; fantastic views, almost no traffic and the most perfect weather anyone could hope for in any month on the Oregon coast. We stopped everywhere. I patronized a roadside stand in the middle of nowhere and bought dahlias and daisies putting them in my trunk bag and decorating my bike handsomely in summer Sunday style. We cruised in at Salishan taking in the outdoor patio and fireplace there. In Depot Bay, my secret whale watching place came through with instantaneous results ... As usual. Gray whales so close you could nearly hear them breathe. :) Yaquina Head was birdwatching and harbor seal territory, and Nye beach served us up a tasty lunch at Quimby's. They locked me in however, so do use the restroom cautiously if you're there nearing 3pm when they close until dinner at 5. A girl could be confined to the place for 2 hours if shes not careful!!
Off to our place in Newport for a comfortable stay in the La Quinta there ... Always happy to support businesses that LOVE OUR DOGGIES, even when they aren't there. We still had lots of time to hang out in Newport, walking the bridge ... To the north bay front and walking that as well catching a bite to eat ... The only chips and salsa we could find, and then to Saffron Salmon for dessert. Ride, eat, ride, eat, ride, eat, walk. That's just about how its been going! Hoping for just as good a day tomorrow!

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Otis Heaven - Day 3 - Neskowin to Newport

After falling asleep VERY early the night before, I woke up at 5:15. Not wanting to awaken Bonnie, I preped myself for coastal drizzle and headed out the door. With nowhere to go - everything was closed. I sat myself down with my palm and answered emails for an hour and a half on the bench outside the Neskowin store until it opened. They have the best hot chocolate this side of Australia, no kidding!
Bonnie was soon up and we were out by 830 expecting cold, foggy, drizzle like I got used to yesterday and the weather report predicted for today, but it cleared up just 15 min. into our ride. Who knew?
Happy Birthday to me!! Woo hoo!
We took the old scenic hwy 101 all the way to Otis, which was about the best ride you could ever hope to experience; up hill for a loooong way - about 5 miles, but a much gentler slope than yesterday and then an equally breathtaking downhill that I rode like Meg Ryan in the movie City of Angels, for the other 5 down to Otis. The cafe there is known in cycling circles as a great place to stop. There was a wait, but it was worth it. One half order of German potatoes, 2eggs, fresh veggies, a load of "white" cheese, and a piece of fresh baked bread with blackberry jam on a platter-sized plate. Yum yum. Quite a departure from yesterday, which I didn't tell you about yet, because I was too tired.

Lost on the 3 Capes - Day 2 - Garibaldi to Neskowin

Well, we left Garibaldi for Tillamook and then planned to ride seperately for an hour or two - I was to take the 3 capes scenic route, while Bonnie decided on the more direct route with a little less hills. We were to meet in Sand Lake but when I didn't arrive there after 3 1/2 hours, Bonnie left word at the cafe there that she would meet me in Pacific City thinking I had missed the cut off. We finally made cell phone contact at 3pm ... 5 hours after we split in Tillamook and agreed she should continue to Neskowin and I'd meet her there. I arrived at about 5:30 tired and cold from a day of scenic vistas of nothing but fog. There were a couple ass-kicking hills that had me searching for more low gears, but mostly I went slow and steady. I showered and ate and went to bed at 730. Wow. It was a hard day ... AND IT'S ONLY DAY TWO!!!

Oregon Coast trip - Day 1- Washington to Garibaldi

We are done with our first day, pulling in to Garibaldi (Port Of Garibaldi picture at right) at about 4:30 in the warmth of the September sun.
It didn't start that way. Although the weather looked promising at home, the closer we got to the beach, the more cloudy it became. It figures. We reached our start at a rest area appropriately named Dismal Nitch, a mile from the Astoria bridge, at 9:30 am, with a heavy grey sky and a light mist to greet us. The only bright spot there was a lovely grounds keeper named Theresa. She took our pictures and sent us on our way with a story of the naming of Dismal Nitch. Unfortunately, I missed ithe talk because I had to go back to the car for my helmet, of all things. With my head warmer on, I didn't immediately notice I didn't have it on.

Ellen had decided to ride both ways across the ASTORIA BRIDGE! This is no small feat. It is a very busy bridge with logging trucks blowing by .... and she doesn't regularly ride a bike. In fact, she doesn't even have one ... she used one of mine for this adventure. Go Ellen! We parted company in Astoria and Ellen headed back to Dismal Nitch and the car alone.

We took our time as the morning wore on taking pictures as necessary and chatting with our fellow beach wanderers. We stopped at the cute little town of Manzanita for lunch on the bright patio of the seafood restaurant recommended by our new best friends at the pie shop after 2 pm, just as the weather was clearing. We got to ride the last of our cycling day in the luxury of shirt-sleeves without our flashing safety vests or coat.

The altitude map for this trip is not encouraging. We gain and loose altitude so rapidly and often it looks like v-tach, LOL. The day's biggest challenges were after lunch.
Now in Garibaldi, challenge over, it was a piece of cake. We ate a dinner of fish and chips with all the local fishermen who caught them. This is a working town. Their boats are their livelihood, not their luxury. If they don't fish they work at the lumber mill. Everywhere you hear the sound of people busy.

Getting on the road

I guess we are really going! Only 2 days away, and this trip is just now seeming real to me. Bonnie gets all the credit for starting the bike rolling, so to speak. It was her brain-child early last winter. She put out an email invite to the 10 folks who went to Moab last year to join in. Seems nothing could compare to Moab ... there were no takers ... well, except me.
So, we decided to do it!
We are set to depart from Portland at 7:30am. My SUPER friend ELLEN will take us to the otherwise unknown town of McGowan, Washington, which can only be known as the spot ... and I mean SPOT ... at the north side of the Astoria Bridge.
We are not yet sure how we will get across and have Ellen arrive back at the car, we are planning on taking her riding with us across that awesome and expansive bridge. I guess she might trek back across alone, if she's comfortable doing that; it takes a strong cyclist to siddle up next to the fast paced traffic there. Alone would be harder yet. Bonnie and I will be anxious to move on down the trail, but I wouldn't mind dropping Ellen and Bonnie at the Washinton side, driving to the Oregon side and riding the bridge myself to our starting point where they would be waiting. In fact I think that's what I will advocate.
Today I still have to get ready. I not only have things to pack, but I have a garden and yard that need more tending before I go. So much to do ...