Ride on, Highway Cat !!

Monday, August 6, 2012

A Bridge Too Far ...

Day 3, Manzanita - Cape Disappointment State Park
Dist., 97.75 km., Avg 18.8 km/hr., Saddle Time 5:12, HR. 110, 2185 Cal.
07 18 2012,
Started the day with a big omelet @ Wave Cafe on 101. Had to scrape the unwanted sauce off said omelet. Why put sauce on eggs anyway ? Yuk.
Anyway, it's chilly and overcast again. Lots of climbing, so I guess that it's good cycling weather, but poor tourist weather. I stopped for calories at a Subway about 5 km from the bridge to Washington. I like the American Subways. There are different cheese options and they have spinach as a veggie add on. I love spinach in case you were wondering. Broccoli too, but wouldn't want it on a sub. I didn't do any research on this part of my trip as I wasn't sure where I would end up. As I got closer to the bridge to Washington, I thought, "Hmmmm, I didn't know that I had to cross a bridge" As I got closer still, the full view of the bridge soon came into view. "Holy Crap !" this bridge is a Bridge to Hell ! or maybe "Too Far"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bridge_Too_Far_(film)
There was maintenance crews on the bridge, so traffic was held up a lot. I was stuck with cars for a while, then I had mad dash scenario with cars, then a huge gap of time with zero cars. (very cool). Then a barrage of traffic again. Crazy bridge crossing was the longest I've ever
experienced.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria–Megler_Bridge
I found out later that it is the longest bridge in North America. A big part was the "floating Bridge " portion though. "The "Confederation Bridge" is still the most impressive by a long shot.
After crossing the bridge, I had a tunnel to get through. There was a cyclist warning light system available, but it didn't work. The traffic was angry from the bridge delays, so I decided to walk Shirley across via the west sidewalk through the tunnel. I came to a crossroads of sorts and wasn't sure where to go. I didn't want to do 44 miles to Raymond. I hummed and hawed for a bit, then, after talking to a beast of a man at an Ilwaco auto garage/hunting hang out place ? I decided to check out the "Loop 100". Was a great idea, as I got a site at a Hike/Bike Camp area near "Cape Disappointment"
I hade the small field to myself, although many mosquitoes crashed my party. I was surprised to find a small camp store nearby (In a State Park, not same as a National Park ?) Not complaining as I was able to purchase bug spray, firewood and BEER ! OMG... Only in America.
I checked out the beach... Amazing. I checked out the shower facility, amazing. I also found out that there are at least 180 camp sites here. They are hidden and spread out, I had no idea how big this place was. Just when I thought that I had seen it all, there was a sandwich/ice cream truck parked near the comfort station. They had pizza also. I didn't bow to my cravings, but was blown away at it's sight. It was here where I met "The Traveller". A groovy bearded dude who rolled in with a very personalized Surly Mountain Bike. He had popped in to use the shower, but refused to pay for camping. I talked for a bit with "Sparticus"(I forgot his name, but this seemed appropriate). He has bin 'Riding' for 15 years. Says that his home is Arizona, and has ridden Australia, Europe, China. not sure about Africa, and forgot to ask about Canada. Anyway, he is not too fond of Americans. I enjoyed chatting and wished that I could have offered him a site. Oh well, he seemed cool with motoring on.
Very cool to dial in a camp fire (borrowed an axe from a friendly camper) Then formed awesome kindling with my "Swiss Army Knife" to combat the Evil Mosquito !

Wow, I'm very glad to have ventured onto this strange route #100 Loop.

Very cool spot indeed.

Somebody's step mother

I see a bridge yonder...

Mixing it up ...

Crazy Bridge across the Colorado R

Hey. No cars

A bizarre moment, or several minutes, La dee dah hmm lay dee...

Strange to see this sign after the bridge. I guess the border is not where I thought it was.

Anyway, I miss Oregon already.

A meager display of signage.

Tunnel of Love -Bruce. not exactly

Highwaycat doing her part. Alas, flashing lights were nowhere to be seen.

A cool distraction...

Some amazing vistas

Check'in it all out

Cape Disappointment campground. Not disappointing at all

Just us Highwaycatters...

and Mosquitos ...

The Beach

Lots of driftwood to play with

Shades of grey

An odd world that might have been ...

SPARTICUS

"I don't pay to camp"

Funky cyclist on a Surly Mountain Bike

Mosquito repellant...

Dinner bell !

Some people shouldn't play with knives.

FIRE GOOD !

Bear-proof bin. In this case, Racoon. Sweet.

Factoid explaining these huge rocks that would otherwise have no meaning to me. I love Factoids.

Mmmmm... factoidsss....or message boards, mmm...

More Facts

Amazing Jetty (obviously, this pic doesn't respect the magnitude of the structure)

I love Jetties

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Sunday, August 5, 2012

BEE IN

DAY 2, Lincoln City-Manzanita, OR
Dist. 123 km., 18.4 km/hr., 57km/hr max., Saddle 6:25, Hr., 116 avg., 3581 cal.
07 17 2012,
More overcast and cool temperatures, apparently that's normal here. We found our first great views of the coast today. Stuck primarily to the 101 until Pacific City where I picked up a scenic route through Sandlake and Cape Lookout. Tons of big climbs reminds me of Ontario a bit. Found myself in a head-on collision with a bee. He hit me right between the eyes. It was an epic hit, but splatter free mind you. During the hit, I'm sad to say that a stinger was used to it's full value. Holy crap that hurt. The nagging pain stuck with me for the rest of my ride.
Was going to visit "Netarts", but diverted off the scenic drive @ #131. then back on 101 to Manzanita.
I guess that I was sweating more than I thought. Got some nasty diaper rash. Owww. Sorry, too much information eh?. I was really looking forward to stopping in Nehalem, but there was nothing available. Arrgghh. Found a crappy motel in touristy Manzanita. Expensive, but cool sea-side small town.
The owner was an older heavy man with a limp. The motel office was filled with all sorts of old pictures, doo dads and older items that one might find at a thrift store perhaps. There was a wall of old VCR tapes available for borrowing. For some reason, he asked if I like beer. Told me about the local pub. Somehow, I think that he would have been disappointed if I (Sean, a Scot/Irishman) said no, I don't like beer. Nice 'OL man.
I thought for a moment that the room may come with free beer. Ha ha, sigh...

Colliding with a bee was not helping my journey. Damn painful. I was going to include pics of the swelling that grew, but it was too sketchy.

Nice roads here. Lots of climbing, reminds me of some Ontario hills.

Pee break with the chicks. (there was a porta-pottie available for me, not the chicks)

Sand and rock. Very cool spot. There was a coffee shop and other shops across the highway.

Warning board. ("Signs,signs, everywhere signs...) Sand everywhere too. HWC didn't like it in her fuzz.

"Head out on the Highway... looking for adventure..." Steppenwolf

Lunch break in sand dune ville. The sand extended for as far as the eye can see. (the eye without sand in it of coarse)

Lots of Tsunami warning signage along the 101

Ya. This will do. Hope momma's got a room. Highwaycat would prefer someplace with a stronger Egyptian cat themed community.

San Dune Inn, Manzanita OR

I got a strange version of a clubhouse sandwich and a very "Heady" local brew which was a challenge to get down. Was cool to see, hear and smell the local and tourist vibe anyway.

Looking back at the small tourist town of Manizanita from the massive beach

I was standing on a 21 square mile sheet of glass. Notice how my coffee waited patiently

while the nice fellow tourist took my picture.

7 miles of huge beach here, reminds me of the Vancouver Island West Coast near Tofino, sigh....

Beach rules... What about walking with I Phones ?

Some creative wall treatment within the community. Nice

More casual riding brought me to this fine abode.

Is the Hobbit home ?

A fine ride indeed
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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

SURLY, SURLY EVERYWHERE !!

Reset :
Day 1, Corvallis OR - Lincoln City OR
Dist. 126 km. Avg.18.8 km/hr, Saddle 6:49, Avg. Heart Rate 123 bpm., 4163 calories
July 16, 2012.
My first day without the Marshall Clan. I hope that they have a safe enjoyable drive back to North Vancouver. I however, will ride to the Oregon Coast and follow the 101 along the coast, then inland a bit as I pick up Port Angeles, then Victoria, Vancouver Island and finish in North Vancouver BC. A slightly shorter trip than last years Victoria BC to St John's NL, but a "must do" nonetheless.
After leaving "Towne House Motor Inn", I headed through the town of Philometh which was where we saw the parade 2 days earlier. I turned west on route # 20 and enjoyed a pretty decent road for an hour or so. Lucky for me, the weather was great, because the road conditions changed drastically, and not in a good way. I lost any hint of a shoulder, in fact, there was a ditch cut on the right edge of the white line. Also, occasionally, there were tree limbs littering the side of the road. To make things worse, traffic picked up and much of this traffic consisted of trucks. Despite passing a sign depicting a Bicycle sharing the road with cars, a motorist in a pickup truck travelling the opposite direction screamed "IDIOT" as he passed me in the other lane. I'm not feeling too welcome here in "Bike friendly Oregon"
I was getting tired as the stress accumulated. FINALLY I came to a spot where I could stop and take a break. (several hours later) Up until this point, I had no place to stop or simply relax for a moment or two, it has been steady stress for a few hours. I finally arrived at the coast highway in Newport. I rode into a Starbucks and had a nice break, Christ that was a hellish ride for sure, one of my worse to date, white knuckle indeed.
After my Dark Grande with a drop of half cream and some banana loaf, I was good to go.
FELT AWESOME to be off that hellish road and onto the 101 ! I pedalled on to Lincoln City, where I dialled in a bike friendly camp called "Devil's Lake" There were 2 areas for bikes. A small treed field near the entrance and a small field above that was accessible by a steep trail. I set up in a corner where a fence was available for me to hang some clothes. At $6.00, this is fantastic. BC has so much to learn from Oregon. The group site filled up with all kinds of cyclists. There was a retired couple with "Surly" bikes like my Shirley. They were pulling BOB trailers and were headed to Mexico from Vancouver. Very interesting couple. Another couple that set up beside me were in there late 20's or early 30's and were doing the same ride. They have been "leapfrogging" with the older couple since Vancouver. They were riding Surlys too, interesting. Surly is a brand name that is popular with bicycle touring.
It was cool to hear stories from these riders as well as a world traveller thats bin riding for a few years.
So much to learn.... HWC was dumbfounded by the whole day.