tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85105975225307455442024-03-12T18:31:08.342-07:00Tandemaniatexasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-31489022601830823822013-07-08T21:28:00.001-07:002013-07-08T21:28:54.304-07:00Day 16 Mill Valley to the Golden Gate 6 miles (total miles 655)After yesterday's long ride left us 6 miles short of the Golden Gate, today we had to make the ceremonial finish to the grand journey and ride the bikes up onto the bridge itself. We had tried to find the closest normal hotel to the bridge itself and that put us in the Mill Valley Holiday Inn Express which turned out to actually be 6 miles away. <div><br></div><div>This time it was Maggie's turn to ride the tandem with Dad as Catalina had had her fill over the past 2 weeks and it was a change of pace for us. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KjS-U6BaTCo/UduRhL1FEUI/AAAAAAAABxQ/TbiVAPvZm5o/s640/blogger-image-1805929408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KjS-U6BaTCo/UduRhL1FEUI/AAAAAAAABxQ/TbiVAPvZm5o/s640/blogger-image-1805929408.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lRLA8dBf28o/UduRfI95uNI/AAAAAAAABxI/BTiQixefyMY/s640/blogger-image-1414752899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lRLA8dBf28o/UduRfI95uNI/AAAAAAAABxI/BTiQixefyMY/s640/blogger-image-1414752899.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_ObFjJEKi70/UduRY98LGRI/AAAAAAAABw4/ArmKfX_bemY/s640/blogger-image--1250454604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_ObFjJEKi70/UduRY98LGRI/AAAAAAAABw4/ArmKfX_bemY/s640/blogger-image--1250454604.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l5iZgg5mAMM/UduQttkQJZI/AAAAAAAABwQ/c8ddFxuhN7A/s640/blogger-image--1308991805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l5iZgg5mAMM/UduQttkQJZI/AAAAAAAABwQ/c8ddFxuhN7A/s640/blogger-image--1308991805.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Maggie has 2 speeds: Coasting and Turbo. Either she would pedal like mad or coast and make up codes to go with the bell that found its way onto the rear bars back in Fort Bragg: "Dad, if I go ring ringggggg ring it means I want to go fast. If I go ring ring ringgggggg it means I want to slow down. After we got the codes sorted out it was a pleasant ride on bike paths and on the surface streets of posh Sausalito. Until we reached the bridge itself and faced one final steep climb up to the bridge deck where we met the rest of the gang who had arrived by car. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tTTEJcHgDbs/UduRbkidFpI/AAAAAAAABxA/wtqVne0qH4o/s640/blogger-image--1282483421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tTTEJcHgDbs/UduRbkidFpI/AAAAAAAABxA/wtqVne0qH4o/s640/blogger-image--1282483421.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_XcVH5Fue-k/UduQyE7KmEI/AAAAAAAABwo/EeJzT0LvruQ/s640/blogger-image-2082611254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_XcVH5Fue-k/UduQyE7KmEI/AAAAAAAABwo/EeJzT0LvruQ/s640/blogger-image-2082611254.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yFtuY5DwY90/UduQvGuazqI/AAAAAAAABwY/BttfAdxxa7s/s640/blogger-image-2070431380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yFtuY5DwY90/UduQvGuazqI/AAAAAAAABwY/BttfAdxxa7s/s640/blogger-image-2070431380.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hJUqif1FKV4/UduRXuc0_II/AAAAAAAABww/iyQy4m1aR2I/s640/blogger-image-346770184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hJUqif1FKV4/UduRXuc0_II/AAAAAAAABww/iyQy4m1aR2I/s640/blogger-image-346770184.jpg"></a></div>Then Catalina hopped on the bike one last time as we cruised back to our hotel to load up the bikes and say goodbye to Grandpa and Grandma who were heading back north to Oregon while we are staying a few more days to see San Francisco before driving back to Texas. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qfGqGCoUTYw/UduQw51MRqI/AAAAAAAABwg/6_Pz5PBp0hk/s640/blogger-image--1784873492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qfGqGCoUTYw/UduQw51MRqI/AAAAAAAABwg/6_Pz5PBp0hk/s640/blogger-image--1784873492.jpg"></a></div>That is the adventure. There were a few times back on some steep long sections of highway that I started to wonder what I was doing on the road with my 10 year old daughter and 75 year old father. But we made it with really no mechanical or physical problems and are all much fitter and road wise. In the end, a very satisfying experience. </div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-85196695884382779072013-07-07T23:20:00.001-07:002013-07-07T23:20:50.198-07:00Day 15 Bodega Dunes to Mill Valley 64 miles (total miles 649)We broke camp early today and packed our bags one last time <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XsJUlSCAj1c/UdpaQPmitBI/AAAAAAAABwA/i8GU-J3oxfw/s640/blogger-image-107318013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XsJUlSCAj1c/UdpaQPmitBI/AAAAAAAABwA/i8GU-J3oxfw/s640/blogger-image-107318013.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XsJUlSCAj1c/UdpaQPmitBI/AAAAAAAABwA/i8GU-J3oxfw/s640/blogger-image-107318013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-arRU0lq88fU/UdpVKAHsjGI/AAAAAAAABvQ/aYlMLK8QGo0/s640/blogger-image--1775757488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-arRU0lq88fU/UdpVKAHsjGI/AAAAAAAABvQ/aYlMLK8QGo0/s640/blogger-image--1775757488.jpg"></a></div></div>for the ride into Mill Valley where we had our hotel waiting as close as we could find to the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge. Today was going to be the longest ride of the trip which was the price we paid for cutting our day short and grabbing a motel in Ocean Cove two days ago. <div><br></div><div>The morning ride was once again just endless ups and downs as Highway 1 veered away from the ocean at Bodega Bay and then eventually back again at Tomales Bay where we rode along the shoreline for about 20 miles<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0qqIIHmq_q8/UdpVJIqmajI/AAAAAAAABvI/8zigCLZlRQ8/s640/blogger-image--1318495490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0qqIIHmq_q8/UdpVJIqmajI/AAAAAAAABvI/8zigCLZlRQ8/s640/blogger-image--1318495490.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>It must be oyster season in Tomales Bay because every tiny town we passed was full of cars lined up to buy oysters at the docks or at little shack seafood places. We found one such place for lunch.... The Marshall Store where about the only thing on the menu for Catalina that wasn't seafood was a pork sandwich. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bM5W8qrY9Kw/UdpaOTuuUbI/AAAAAAAABvw/bQPdLA8KBms/s640/blogger-image--964294111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bM5W8qrY9Kw/UdpaOTuuUbI/AAAAAAAABvw/bQPdLA8KBms/s640/blogger-image--964294111.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Dl3eEzGmea0/UdpaNWOhv-I/AAAAAAAABvo/qS4ShrCRkpw/s640/blogger-image-468888107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Dl3eEzGmea0/UdpaNWOhv-I/AAAAAAAABvo/qS4ShrCRkpw/s640/blogger-image-468888107.jpg"></a></div>After lunch we finally left Highway 1 which we have been following since Leggett and veered inland following our biking guide maps which were good to have because we still had no cell coverage 30 miles from downtown San Francisco. We followed a series of small country roads across one final set of hills and through the redwoods of Samuel P Taylor State Park until finally breaking out into a series of upscale suburban Marin County towns where our route took us along suburban bike routes and bike paths. We had one final hill to climb before finally glimpsing San Francisco in the distance and descending into Mill Valley and our finish. I didn't take any pictures of the final ride through the suburbs because we were just tired and Catalina was driving us hard to beat her sisters to the finish line. </div></div><div><br></div><div>We finally made it to the hotel just moments ahead of the cars and after cleaning up in the first real showers in 2 days we had a nice reunion dinner at the hotel restaurant. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wAnwNZ0tQy4/UdpaPVMFLkI/AAAAAAAABv4/wbmyjPQLWNI/s640/blogger-image-1734740698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wAnwNZ0tQy4/UdpaPVMFLkI/AAAAAAAABv4/wbmyjPQLWNI/s640/blogger-image-1734740698.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Tomorrow we will bike the last few miles to the Golden Gate without packs or trailers. I don't even remember what it is like to ride without 60 lbs of gear and trailer hanging off the back. Then we will say good bye to Grandma and Grandpa and start our week-long family vacation in San Francisco before driving home to Texas. </div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-24180814860260330962013-07-06T17:27:00.001-07:002013-07-06T17:27:09.902-07:00Day 14 Ocean Cove to Bodega Dunes 27 miles (total miles 585)We got a late start from the Ocean Cove Lodge which turned out to be a hidden gem. The coffee and muffins from the lobby were great and Catalina was happy with her Sat morning cartoons. It was also a foggy morning and we thought it might burn off but never really did until we were almost at the campground. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1P3ykyMZS1w/Udi10wsqqXI/AAAAAAAABuo/HbZjLkdx1e0/s640/blogger-image-1898450938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1P3ykyMZS1w/Udi10wsqqXI/AAAAAAAABuo/HbZjLkdx1e0/s640/blogger-image-1898450938.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Here is our first morning rest stop in the fog. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T_HOpFUSmVE/Udi1yhnDTYI/AAAAAAAABuY/0OVEDQvXcLk/s640/blogger-image-1239890842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T_HOpFUSmVE/Udi1yhnDTYI/AAAAAAAABuY/0OVEDQvXcLk/s640/blogger-image-1239890842.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>One would expect Highway 1 to become wider and more developed as we approach San Francisco. But it has been the opposite. 10 miles into today's ride we were winding over mountains and clinging to cliffs on a tiny narrow mountain road. Cattle were grazing along the road and we crossed numerous cattle guards as we passed various ranches. This is some of what the scenery and highway looked like</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y6-kb0AHNuw/Udi118FNwmI/AAAAAAAABuw/_k8B-vUe_BQ/s640/blogger-image--2043749965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y6-kb0AHNuw/Udi118FNwmI/AAAAAAAABuw/_k8B-vUe_BQ/s640/blogger-image--2043749965.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZR6b0Ya6lpo/Udi1gmAj-oI/AAAAAAAABto/NLDbrs1cKoA/s640/blogger-image--1714394077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZR6b0Ya6lpo/Udi1gmAj-oI/AAAAAAAABto/NLDbrs1cKoA/s640/blogger-image--1714394077.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Qp5TDMRi0fs/Udi1u1dWhjI/AAAAAAAABt4/AQVo_0dpRTc/s640/blogger-image-1210102246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Qp5TDMRi0fs/Udi1u1dWhjI/AAAAAAAABt4/AQVo_0dpRTc/s640/blogger-image-1210102246.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zN9PNcIWTT4/Udi1v7noWCI/AAAAAAAABuA/22Gm0_zsSgM/s640/blogger-image-1294199899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zN9PNcIWTT4/Udi1v7noWCI/AAAAAAAABuA/22Gm0_zsSgM/s640/blogger-image-1294199899.jpg"></a></div>We had lunch at another country store in Jenner, another tiny coastal town. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9hKCJRNTPdA/Udi1hhg70eI/AAAAAAAABtw/fITXTiI1URI/s640/blogger-image-2048563954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9hKCJRNTPdA/Udi1hhg70eI/AAAAAAAABtw/fITXTiI1URI/s640/blogger-image-2048563954.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And we had our first chance to use our first aid kit as Grandpa scraped his leg on a guard rail and needed a band aid</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xEpgBOp2EdQ/Udi1w-zrAAI/AAAAAAAABuI/3b5461DRKGk/s640/blogger-image--427624929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xEpgBOp2EdQ/Udi1w-zrAAI/AAAAAAAABuI/3b5461DRKGk/s640/blogger-image--427624929.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Catalina spotted more seals on the beach. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QY-LCxcBQ_A/Udi1xtZVd0I/AAAAAAAABuQ/tIcbt7enLmY/s640/blogger-image--1471365888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QY-LCxcBQ_A/Udi1xtZVd0I/AAAAAAAABuQ/tIcbt7enLmY/s640/blogger-image--1471365888.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hPKR2_595AQ/Udi1fhUKcoI/AAAAAAAABtg/_yhPuC480IA/s640/blogger-image-1981670797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hPKR2_595AQ/Udi1fhUKcoI/AAAAAAAABtg/_yhPuC480IA/s640/blogger-image-1981670797.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The last 10 miles got increasingly crowded with cars as we started to finally encounter the weekend vacation traffic but we made it into our campground where they had another hiker biker site for us at an otherwise packed full campground. I asked the ranger if the ever turned away bikers because they were too full and she said no. Even on the 4th of July weekend you are good if you arrive by bike or foot. They have secret spillover spots they will open for bikers if necessary so that is good to know even though this is our last night camping. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dZPW1sxDcdQ/Udi124MimVI/AAAAAAAABu4/oKzZxhfKSf4/s640/blogger-image-33025262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dZPW1sxDcdQ/Udi124MimVI/AAAAAAAABu4/oKzZxhfKSf4/s640/blogger-image-33025262.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Catalina is ready to have her computer and internet connection back after 3 weeks on the road<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KuLE81NblK0/Udi1zni7LQI/AAAAAAAABug/nEHNzokqB5k/s640/blogger-image--368294828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KuLE81NblK0/Udi1zni7LQI/AAAAAAAABug/nEHNzokqB5k/s640/blogger-image--368294828.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow we have our final 58 mile ride into our hotel near the base of the Golden Gate. The road veers inland so it will be warmer to Catalina's delight and I think the last 15-20 miles are on suburban streets and bike paths. </div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-76146467941696319622013-07-05T18:25:00.001-07:002013-07-06T07:54:43.143-07:00Day 13 Manchester Beach to Ocean Cove 43 miles (total miles 558)Another beautiful day riding along the northern California coastline. After 2 days riding in Mendocino County we finally crossed into Sonoma County and only have Marin County left before reaching San Francisco. After today our destination at the base of the Golden Gate is just 87 miles away with 2 days of riding to go.<div><br></div><div>Seems like we are making slow progress but the terrain is just endlessly rugged. Barely a flat spot anywhere, just endless ups and downs. Our shifters are getting a workout as we are constantly shifting up and down for each hill. </div><div><br></div><div>Before leaving the KOA this morning we had to make one final tree climb</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H02uvREVXCk/Uddz2F-rTMI/AAAAAAAABtQ/hvYOQ8Q870A/s640/blogger-image-510710315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H02uvREVXCk/Uddz2F-rTMI/AAAAAAAABtQ/hvYOQ8Q870A/s640/blogger-image-510710315.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>A couple hours into the morning ride I heard a shout from Catalina as she had spotted a group of seals on the rocks far below. So it was as good of a place as any to make a morning rest break. Can you spot the seals? There are 13. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WwRXjkS-iyw/UddzsD9fqjI/AAAAAAAABsw/qV8j7KPcIs8/s640/blogger-image--1831610142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WwRXjkS-iyw/UddzsD9fqjI/AAAAAAAABsw/qV8j7KPcIs8/s640/blogger-image--1831610142.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EPvY8fHdGd4/Uddzw-ZAbJI/AAAAAAAABtA/ZQUUXxUcJqY/s640/blogger-image-459991605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EPvY8fHdGd4/Uddzw-ZAbJI/AAAAAAAABtA/ZQUUXxUcJqY/s640/blogger-image-459991605.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EPvY8fHdGd4/Uddzw-ZAbJI/AAAAAAAABtA/ZQUUXxUcJqY/s640/blogger-image-459991605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CzmBhaO4xmA/UddznNvhiYI/AAAAAAAABsg/YMosMJIT3Qg/s640/blogger-image-1859105035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CzmBhaO4xmA/UddznNvhiYI/AAAAAAAABsg/YMosMJIT3Qg/s640/blogger-image-1859105035.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>For lunch we rolled into the tiny town of Stewarts Point and had lunch at another tiny old general store. This one was built in 1861 and is still going strong. Plus it had a nice outdoor deck so no eating on the sidewalk or mill crates this time. Grandpa and I ordered Ruben sandwiches and they warmed up some meat loaf from the deli for Catalina. Food is generally excellent at these little stores. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zpEE6Ve0JpE/UddzzuTeZSI/AAAAAAAABtI/rZXZErkYG4k/s640/blogger-image-725927161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zpEE6Ve0JpE/UddzzuTeZSI/AAAAAAAABtI/rZXZErkYG4k/s640/blogger-image-725927161.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gfoGMpNj0Nc/Uddzpe7uzzI/AAAAAAAABso/Wrm0hSPRvig/s640/blogger-image-1367764348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gfoGMpNj0Nc/Uddzpe7uzzI/AAAAAAAABso/Wrm0hSPRvig/s640/blogger-image-1367764348.jpg"></a></div>We had planned to ride all the way to Bodega Dunes State Park today which would have been a 68 mile ride but by mid-afternoon we came across what is probably the only motel on the coast with vacancy on 4th of July weekend. Catalina is about done with the camping in the cold and wind, we probably all are. Evenings in the coastal campgrounds have been low 50s or high 40s with constant wind so just a bit chilly to be outside camping. </div><div><br></div><div>So we biked up and got a room at the Ocean Cove Lodge. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6KPsTPSOH4w/UddzkZxxhNI/AAAAAAAABsY/IJp1dgkjIrg/s640/blogger-image--278023042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6KPsTPSOH4w/UddzkZxxhNI/AAAAAAAABsY/IJp1dgkjIrg/s640/blogger-image--278023042.jpg"></a></div>It is an old style motel that the owner, an elderly guy named Tim just bought and re-opened after it had been closed for 10 years. Nice and adequate in an old motel sort of way. Apparently he isn't very internet savvy so he has no online presence and people just don't know about it yet until he gets on tripadvisor and the other online sites. But it was our luck he still had a few rooms at 3 in the afternoon. Here is the view from the front of the motel<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ceoobxz8bdo/UddzulGlqVI/AAAAAAAABs4/n0tOaP09hSI/s640/blogger-image-267159962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ceoobxz8bdo/UddzulGlqVI/AAAAAAAABs4/n0tOaP09hSI/s640/blogger-image-267159962.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Tomorrow we are going to bike the remaining 30 miles to Bodega Dunes and hope to arrive early enough to snag a hiker biker site. I expecting campground sites will be more and more precious the closer we get to SF this weekend. That will leave 58 miles for our final day to the Golden Gate on Sunday.</div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-1673470704936788892013-07-05T17:57:00.001-07:002013-07-05T17:57:34.559-07:00Day 12 Fort Bragg to Manchester Beach KOA 40 miles (total miles 515)<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We got kind of a late start today as it is tougher leaving a bed than a cold tent in the morning. Grandpa had the second small mechanical problem of the trip. A hose clamp that holds his seat to the frame broke but luckily there was an auto parts store next door to our motel that was open on the 4th so it was a quick cheap and easy fix and we didn't have to rig up something on the road with zip ties and wire.</div><div><br></div><div>The weather has been great for riding. Sunny skies and temps in the70s and the Mendocino coastline is just spectacular.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GaAz1wal8o0/UddrAmXUP-I/AAAAAAAABq4/8Va9qRAmXOQ/s640/blogger-image--2114503702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GaAz1wal8o0/UddrAmXUP-I/AAAAAAAABq4/8Va9qRAmXOQ/s640/blogger-image--2114503702.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lILwVGBDqo0/UddrFgsirFI/AAAAAAAABrA/MUv8-zau8jQ/s640/blogger-image-257509012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lILwVGBDqo0/UddrFgsirFI/AAAAAAAABrA/MUv8-zau8jQ/s640/blogger-image-257509012.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2AoSxziBE8A/UddrOxWMpjI/AAAAAAAABrY/kBjrETKF-2w/s640/blogger-image--1442945595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2AoSxziBE8A/UddrOxWMpjI/AAAAAAAABrY/kBjrETKF-2w/s640/blogger-image--1442945595.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WCVgLaKaDy8/Uddq11MHkVI/AAAAAAAABqg/PH47oXhcGSg/s640/blogger-image--1451662213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WCVgLaKaDy8/Uddq11MHkVI/AAAAAAAABqg/PH47oXhcGSg/s640/blogger-image--1451662213.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Also astonishingly undeveloped even compared to Oregon. Tiny little towns are scattered 10-20 miles apart and they are all tiny without much more than a few houses and general store. We had lunch in Albion<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OFQLJyKZpqU/UddrLQI1a0I/AAAAAAAABrQ/Rf2CfLrJKbo/s640/blogger-image--1802326178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OFQLJyKZpqU/UddrLQI1a0I/AAAAAAAABrQ/Rf2CfLrJKbo/s640/blogger-image--1802326178.jpg"></a></div> and an afternoon snack breaking Elk<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mtzPcDWXsZI/Uddrcec8pxI/AAAAAAAABsA/oBF7TfGtK10/s640/blogger-image--1623162382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mtzPcDWXsZI/Uddrcec8pxI/AAAAAAAABsA/oBF7TfGtK10/s640/blogger-image--1623162382.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B4sqcvLSDvU/UddrekGknUI/AAAAAAAABsI/IyDsjYOXzz4/s640/blogger-image--60656240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B4sqcvLSDvU/UddrekGknUI/AAAAAAAABsI/IyDsjYOXzz4/s640/blogger-image--60656240.jpg"></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E7eBRSWnvds/UddrVRAmfvI/AAAAAAAABro/vOfGAgPWi54/s640/blogger-image-1466596651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E7eBRSWnvds/UddrVRAmfvI/AAAAAAAABro/vOfGAgPWi54/s640/blogger-image-1466596651.jpg"></a></div>and we took one more break <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a1fyxyojqA8/UddrYFlDDNI/AAAAAAAABrw/QzWggOZ-w_4/s640/blogger-image-1501865932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a1fyxyojqA8/UddrYFlDDNI/AAAAAAAABrw/QzWggOZ-w_4/s640/blogger-image-1501865932.jpg"></a></div>Here is the view from our break spot</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-D_pouaysflk/UddraAGJMYI/AAAAAAAABr4/GHVEZN5pR6s/s640/blogger-image-2057271296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-D_pouaysflk/UddraAGJMYI/AAAAAAAABr4/GHVEZN5pR6s/s640/blogger-image-2057271296.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Before pedaling into the Manchester KOA. The KOA people were very nice to us. The campground was completely packed but I had called ahead the week before and the manager said she would find us a spot which she did as we were on bikes. The guy before me in line was kind of obnoxious demanding a spot with no reservations. She looked at him and said sorry no space but we have one delux cabin for $200 for 1 night only take it or leave it. He took it. It is the 4th of July weekend and we are now within 100 miles of San Francisco so every campground and hotel within 100 miles seems booked solid here on the coast which isn't surprising. The State Parks all have Hiker/Biker sections that are always available. They just squeeze you in if you arrive by bike but turn you away if you arrive by RV so we have been lucky. Here is our campsite. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jCgGfgpAgKE/UddrIAm9LQI/AAAAAAAABrI/eHB5cp7tpHw/s640/blogger-image--474858002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jCgGfgpAgKE/UddrIAm9LQI/AAAAAAAABrI/eHB5cp7tpHw/s640/blogger-image--474858002.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-STp0mWVGqSU/Uddq6EX2BmI/AAAAAAAABqo/sNlaE6Ft40I/s640/blogger-image--273662234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-STp0mWVGqSU/Uddq6EX2BmI/AAAAAAAABqo/sNlaE6Ft40I/s640/blogger-image--273662234.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div>While I did laundry Catalina learned how to play pool and made friends with an 11 year old kid named Diego who I am guessing was Argentinian after hearing him talk to his parents </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cdWcwsKgKsQ/UddrRvcIVUI/AAAAAAAABrg/ah6Csg2At-M/s640/blogger-image-2000001578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cdWcwsKgKsQ/UddrRvcIVUI/AAAAAAAABrg/ah6Csg2At-M/s640/blogger-image-2000001578.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ktgp5uZpUWk/Uddq8y5r1UI/AAAAAAAABqw/ABgrxYHeQn0/s640/blogger-image--1621016725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ktgp5uZpUWk/Uddq8y5r1UI/AAAAAAAABqw/ABgrxYHeQn0/s640/blogger-image--1621016725.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-19279785529258362372013-07-03T21:59:00.001-07:002013-07-03T21:59:09.519-07:00Day 11 Leggett to Fort Bragg 49 miles (total miles 475)Today was our toughest day of climbing yet. We left Leggett at 8 am to get a head start on the heat and the climb. The first climb of the morning was Leggett Pass which we hit in the first 5 miles of riding. Over 4 miles up at 7% grades that were even steeper around the switchbacks. We made it part way up until the legs gave out then worked our way to the summit taking breaks and walking in parts. Here we are at the summit. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X-qO2UXBQBc/UdUBE_x3MHI/AAAAAAAABqI/WHmeLrd6vms/s640/blogger-image-102993293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X-qO2UXBQBc/UdUBE_x3MHI/AAAAAAAABqI/WHmeLrd6vms/s640/blogger-image-102993293.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>This was the warning to trucks traveling back the way we came. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B45HGR0_ZdM/UdUA7VbQo-I/AAAAAAAABpg/kel_TIowk5w/s640/blogger-image--422236836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B45HGR0_ZdM/UdUA7VbQo-I/AAAAAAAABpg/kel_TIowk5w/s640/blogger-image--422236836.jpg"></a></div>Over the summit the heat from the inland valleys quickly gave way to cool coastal air as the temps dropped from the 90s to the 60s on our descent and we started to see mountain streams which made nice break spots. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Job9OrP2cjk/UdUBDWbGz_I/AAAAAAAABqA/8lUeBSA54Ro/s640/blogger-image-2059193663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Job9OrP2cjk/UdUBDWbGz_I/AAAAAAAABqA/8lUeBSA54Ro/s640/blogger-image-2059193663.jpg"></a></div> After screaming down over 2,000 ft of elevation we had another 1,000 ft pass to climb over before the highway broke out of the mountains to the Mendocino coast. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MyxnFLt1jyM/UdUBGwh_BDI/AAAAAAAABqQ/71j9cfyS5nY/s640/blogger-image--1480084762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MyxnFLt1jyM/UdUBGwh_BDI/AAAAAAAABqQ/71j9cfyS5nY/s640/blogger-image--1480084762.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y4WjSnodNsk/UdUAtVv95_I/AAAAAAAABpI/slM_m5is0ms/s640/blogger-image--1104275438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y4WjSnodNsk/UdUAtVv95_I/AAAAAAAABpI/slM_m5is0ms/s640/blogger-image--1104275438.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>After 2 days riding inland the coast has changed dramatically. We have left behind the forested coastline of Oregon and far Northern California. The coastline is now semi-arid grasslands broken up by groves of Eucalyptus and Cypress trees and yucca blooming along the roadside. It is also nice to be off busy highway 101 and on the much smaller CA-1. This section of coast is much more remote and wild than the Oregon coastline. It looks more like the Chilean coast south of La Serena. Very few towns or businesses. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gdaxxGzWp0Q/UdUA_SZrZUI/AAAAAAAABp4/96WJrpX23-k/s640/blogger-image--1904787363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gdaxxGzWp0Q/UdUA_SZrZUI/AAAAAAAABp4/96WJrpX23-k/s640/blogger-image--1904787363.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2IcvzqYGfLU/UdUA0K9wk8I/AAAAAAAABpQ/uO7gAe5Zqv4/s640/blogger-image-1197831711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2IcvzqYGfLU/UdUA0K9wk8I/AAAAAAAABpQ/uO7gAe5Zqv4/s640/blogger-image-1197831711.jpg"></a></div>We rode for 10 miles down the coast until we came across the first town tiny Westport where the only place to eat was the little general store. We sat outside on milk crates. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OZ2fEb4dgV8/UdUA-SxwHSI/AAAAAAAABpw/nf-x0bCkU9k/s640/blogger-image-1672037756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OZ2fEb4dgV8/UdUA-SxwHSI/AAAAAAAABpw/nf-x0bCkU9k/s640/blogger-image-1672037756.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BmFT3s52OdM/UdUA80UXYKI/AAAAAAAABpo/EFd_RoqV6Rk/s640/blogger-image-1104118553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BmFT3s52OdM/UdUA80UXYKI/AAAAAAAABpo/EFd_RoqV6Rk/s640/blogger-image-1104118553.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>After Westport it was a fairly easy final 15 mile ride into Fort Bragg where we had a room at the Surf Motel waiting. The rest of the evening was laundry, dinner, and grocery shopping. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EofaJna0N9A/UdUA5ZLo5BI/AAAAAAAABpY/04z9r3xF8ug/s640/blogger-image-1081925744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EofaJna0N9A/UdUA5ZLo5BI/AAAAAAAABpY/04z9r3xF8ug/s640/blogger-image-1081925744.jpg"></a></div></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-47869057843662475792013-07-03T19:43:00.001-07:002013-07-03T19:43:32.861-07:00Day 10 Burlington Campground to Leggett 42.5 miles (total miles 426)Brutal day on the bikes today. As we rode inland from the redwoods the temperature soared until it peaked in the afternoon between Garberville and Leggett at 98 degrees. Here is Catalina waiting for breakfast at the campground in the redwoods. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GEDoHaWJG7k/UdThOzLrf4I/AAAAAAAABoo/W5lE5I37FE0/s640/blogger-image-1088450075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GEDoHaWJG7k/UdThOzLrf4I/AAAAAAAABoo/W5lE5I37FE0/s640/blogger-image-1088450075.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>For the first 15 miles or so we were still on the Avenue of the Giants which looks like this. That is Grandpa up there. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sPpbCcb5H48/UdThRRUCneI/AAAAAAAABow/tVGDH4kdpbE/s640/blogger-image--2000712301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sPpbCcb5H48/UdThRRUCneI/AAAAAAAABow/tVGDH4kdpbE/s640/blogger-image--2000712301.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div><div>Lunch in Garberville. At an Italian cafe. Perhaps we found a happy medium between vegan sandwiches on nutty bread with sprouts and the Happy Meal. It was so hot all I could get down was a Salad and lots of ice tea. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Kk1yfxW46NA/UdThUPV-AdI/AAAAAAAABo4/TK6TBIG8Xhc/s640/blogger-image--1349670379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Kk1yfxW46NA/UdThUPV-AdI/AAAAAAAABo4/TK6TBIG8Xhc/s640/blogger-image--1349670379.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Popsicle stop with 10 miles to go in the 98 degree heat. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1PwntiT7r78/UdTQKU0cDAI/AAAAAAAABoY/FwvOSTXon7s/s640/blogger-image--886942445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1PwntiT7r78/UdTQKU0cDAI/AAAAAAAABoY/FwvOSTXon7s/s640/blogger-image--886942445.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>A bit further down the road we came across Confusion Hill... a throwback old tourist trap that sucked us in. That is supposed to be the worlds biggest freestanding wood carving. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KIUGnkkXFQU/UdOhvMQzUKI/AAAAAAAABng/EoXHVJ8kyDQ/s640/blogger-image--1516243159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KIUGnkkXFQU/UdOhvMQzUKI/AAAAAAAABng/EoXHVJ8kyDQ/s640/blogger-image--1516243159.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f7s0XLoHQLU/UdOh0EGZ6FI/AAAAAAAABnw/31f2zvxQsqY/s640/blogger-image-883353490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f7s0XLoHQLU/UdOh0EGZ6FI/AAAAAAAABnw/31f2zvxQsqY/s640/blogger-image-883353490.jpg"></a></div>With 5 more miles of hills we ran into a group of bikers from Fresno who we have crossed paths with and met over the past 3 days. They were riding without packs with some support pickups and were kind enough to haul our tired bones the last 5 miles with their truck. So we cheated a bit but still rode 42 miles mostly up hill in the heat. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FQw0vxSzatQ/UdTN8MpFXYI/AAAAAAAABoA/eXfpnCcSotQ/s640/blogger-image-1253812159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FQw0vxSzatQ/UdTN8MpFXYI/AAAAAAAABoA/eXfpnCcSotQ/s640/blogger-image-1253812159.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Our original campground is no longer a state park but turned over to Mendicino County and now run on a first come no reservation basis. Since every other campground has been full so far we thought it prudent to find alternate lodging. The only motel in 10 miles had one room left so we grabbed it and are happy crashing at the Stonegate Villas and old style motel that is perfectly adequate. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kkUcYtDVxU8/UdOhxS3o4AI/AAAAAAAABno/xFCtCPDdoSg/s640/blogger-image-1687509760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kkUcYtDVxU8/UdOhxS3o4AI/AAAAAAAABno/xFCtCPDdoSg/s640/blogger-image-1687509760.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yCabOdWuQz0/UdTQHyGFFiI/AAAAAAAABoQ/xsYQ75YIuAI/s640/blogger-image--801651807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yCabOdWuQz0/UdTQHyGFFiI/AAAAAAAABoQ/xsYQ75YIuAI/s640/blogger-image--801651807.jpg"></a></div>Tomorrow brings the two final big mountain passes as we cross back over the coast range to the ocean on CA highway 1 which will take us the rest of the way down the coast to San Francisco. We are still on schedule to reach the Golden Gate on Sunday July 7. </div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-43451542441069465412013-07-02T13:19:00.001-07:002013-07-02T13:19:39.907-07:00Day 9 Eureka to Burlington Campground 54 miles (total miles 383.5)Somewhere today the little Canon camera vanished. Probably fell out of my handlebar bag when the bike tipped over at a rest break and I didn't notice. Regardless it is gone so I will only be taking iPhone photos from here on and will be doing shorter posts if I have to type on the phone. I think the iPhone pictures are better than what the blogger iPhone app posts. It just shrinks them a lot.<div><br></div><div>In any event we had nice riding for the morning out of Eureka with a tailwind and pulled into Fortuna for lunch. Catalina was happier with today's choices!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uzJWudq8fHc/UdM10g7XGgI/AAAAAAAABmo/5fpCJkeAbdU/s640/blogger-image--1631807698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uzJWudq8fHc/UdM10g7XGgI/AAAAAAAABmo/5fpCJkeAbdU/s640/blogger-image--1631807698.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Soon after Fortuna we pulled off Highway 101 to ride through the redwoods. The old highway is now called Avenue of the Giants and runs parallel but through redwood groves. My pictures of the redwood groves are gone but here are some of our campground. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-764zBvIU7NY/UdM12To_RcI/AAAAAAAABm4/CiP8bsbNl3A/s640/blogger-image--845370310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-764zBvIU7NY/UdM12To_RcI/AAAAAAAABm4/CiP8bsbNl3A/s640/blogger-image--845370310.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IL0k2wQbelg/UdM11Wx68NI/AAAAAAAABmw/Co5le6d3bPo/s640/blogger-image-346820694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IL0k2wQbelg/UdM11Wx68NI/AAAAAAAABmw/Co5le6d3bPo/s640/blogger-image-346820694.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-43852027687603400212013-06-30T21:42:00.001-07:002013-06-30T21:58:31.658-07:00Day 8 Elk Prairie to Eureka KOA 48.5 miles (total miles 329.5)We awoke to a misty morning in Elk Prairie and were on the way at 9 am after saying goodbye to the elk that were blocking the path to the bathroom and showers this morning.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-y7TcYebaz08/UdEIjuodFaI/AAAAAAAABk4/1QNwNfhYaxo/s640/blogger-image-1113792275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-y7TcYebaz08/UdEIjuodFaI/AAAAAAAABk4/1QNwNfhYaxo/s640/blogger-image-1113792275.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>No big mountains today but lots of little ones as the rolling terrain brought us back to the coast where we had our mid-morning apple snack along side a coastal lagoon.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZNu7YAQAG4k/UdEIqzuaqSI/AAAAAAAABlQ/s-2pUCDKrSU/s640/blogger-image--260463978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZNu7YAQAG4k/UdEIqzuaqSI/AAAAAAAABlQ/s-2pUCDKrSU/s640/blogger-image--260463978.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PHfwfSMju50/UdELxrSOTII/AAAAAAAABmA/v4P7-jhzizo/s640/blogger-image--1751412423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PHfwfSMju50/UdELxrSOTII/AAAAAAAABmA/v4P7-jhzizo/s640/blogger-image--1751412423.jpg"></a></div>It was pleasant riding for the most part. My Adventure Cycling map which is usually reliable took us on a variety of side roads away from busy highway 101 that were much hillier but with nearly no traffic. Some of the views of the ocean were quite spectacular. This is near the small town of Trinidad where we had lunch. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nuRJoCIw1KI/UdEIyVnGCeI/AAAAAAAABlg/FvgxWF8Jbi8/s640/blogger-image-934803377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nuRJoCIw1KI/UdEIyVnGCeI/AAAAAAAABlg/FvgxWF8Jbi8/s640/blogger-image-934803377.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Catalina was not particularly happy with the healthy lunch options available at the little vegan cafe we found in Trinidad. Next time she won't be so quick to demand "just stop at the first place we get to. I'm so hungry even my back aches!"</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JIzjq2VsfrY/UdELy5iPWoI/AAAAAAAABmI/95Az5B-XMxs/s640/blogger-image--1986367448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JIzjq2VsfrY/UdELy5iPWoI/AAAAAAAABmI/95Az5B-XMxs/s640/blogger-image--1986367448.jpg"></a></div>Back on road after Trinidad the map guided us off the highway again to a bike path north of McKinleyville which was supposed to take us along the dunes and coastline through McKinleyville to Arcata. For the first 5 miles we had a beautiful paved bike path along the dunes until....whoops? Where did the bike path go? This looks more like a horse trail or mountain bike trail not something for a tandem and trailer.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OrB3OPKfuLg/UdEImNO_RAI/AAAAAAAABlA/LvtTfctcwwE/s640/blogger-image--90215166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OrB3OPKfuLg/UdEImNO_RAI/AAAAAAAABlA/LvtTfctcwwE/s640/blogger-image--90215166.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Doesn't look like it but this is at least a 10% grade....nothing to do but push the heavy rig up.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZktmBon01Sw/UdEIpBjzIZI/AAAAAAAABlI/KEQVBWBobQA/s640/blogger-image--202553768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZktmBon01Sw/UdEIpBjzIZI/AAAAAAAABlI/KEQVBWBobQA/s640/blogger-image--202553768.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>A mile later....whew, we got our bike path back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9rAeJfdkmds/UdEItEeFpsI/AAAAAAAABlY/VOklqQU9G7E/s640/blogger-image-1082101886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9rAeJfdkmds/UdEItEeFpsI/AAAAAAAABlY/VOklqQU9G7E/s640/blogger-image-1082101886.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>The map took us through deserted country roads into Arcata where we bought groceries and rode another 4 miles down the road to the Eureka KOA. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UBu0rSWUDfY/UdELz8lMPQI/AAAAAAAABmQ/Uz4eflP9I8o/s640/blogger-image--1677734833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UBu0rSWUDfY/UdELz8lMPQI/AAAAAAAABmQ/Uz4eflP9I8o/s640/blogger-image--1677734833.jpg"></a></div></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-73718933905956260472013-06-30T21:34:00.001-07:002013-06-30T21:56:40.678-07:00Day 7 Crescent City to Elk Prairie Campground 35 miles (total miles 281)Today was a tough day in the mountains. Riding out of Crescent City we hit hour first mountain almost immediately. It was a good 4-5 miles to the summit at what the signs said were 6% grades so about an hour of solid endless climbing except that over the summit there were to more summits to cross. I kept hearing Phil Liggett in my ear announcing "and the elastic band is stretching...oh, he's cracked!" Here we are taking some rest breaks part way up. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_aHueZwOURY/UdEFJRTbqNI/AAAAAAAABjg/vdYjmVdF9xk/s640/blogger-image--1125729540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_aHueZwOURY/UdEFJRTbqNI/AAAAAAAABjg/vdYjmVdF9xk/s640/blogger-image--1125729540.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3eLEoP611go/UdEG6qhXYxI/AAAAAAAABko/O2LvO6Yqx3I/s640/blogger-image-2102225670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3eLEoP611go/UdEG6qhXYxI/AAAAAAAABko/O2LvO6Yqx3I/s640/blogger-image-2102225670.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>And a view back at Crescent City and Crescent Beach from the road</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tLZDaYaIMZg/UdEF2BctboI/AAAAAAAABkQ/nTNADpTz1nQ/s640/blogger-image--240305063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tLZDaYaIMZg/UdEF2BctboI/AAAAAAAABkQ/nTNADpTz1nQ/s640/blogger-image--240305063.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>First Redwood!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ShD2-cQ88cI/UdEMBkkBkBI/AAAAAAAABmY/CYI6r80zuuw/s640/blogger-image-1368590056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ShD2-cQ88cI/UdEMBkkBkBI/AAAAAAAABmY/CYI6r80zuuw/s640/blogger-image-1368590056.jpg"></a></div>The higher we climbed the more we were riding in the shade of giant redwoods so there was that. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Finally after the third summit we descended off the mountain to see the ocean again<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5UJ8N-vcKJQ/UdEG3vvHR4I/AAAAAAAABkg/VKbZL2eqz6Y/s640/blogger-image-1073940448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5UJ8N-vcKJQ/UdEG3vvHR4I/AAAAAAAABkg/VKbZL2eqz6Y/s640/blogger-image-1073940448.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QNzxDg-z8Rw/UdEFvGy9arI/AAAAAAAABkA/dpnsH2u8fsQ/s640/blogger-image--1992861004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QNzxDg-z8Rw/UdEFvGy9arI/AAAAAAAABkA/dpnsH2u8fsQ/s640/blogger-image--1992861004.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">The arrived at the tourist trap called Trees of Mystery where we had lunch and found a 60' talking Paul Bunyon.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8sxR-NcvT5E/UdEFByIWoeI/AAAAAAAABjY/58qdmVplniE/s640/blogger-image-1730904824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8sxR-NcvT5E/UdEFByIWoeI/AAAAAAAABjY/58qdmVplniE/s640/blogger-image-1730904824.jpg"></a></div></span><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5u6ICOpXJi0/UdEKagi6JAI/AAAAAAAABlw/sHfBlb1w5ec/s640/blogger-image--2005175086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5u6ICOpXJi0/UdEKagi6JAI/AAAAAAAABlw/sHfBlb1w5ec/s640/blogger-image--2005175086.jpg"></a></div>Leaving Trees of Mystery we had two more mountains to cross until we finally left highway 101 to descend into the Redwoods National Park where we found our campground called Elk Prairie for good reason. Arriving at the campground the signs all said "campground full" which one would expect on a summer weekend but they had plenty of room in the hiker/biker section at the rear which was nicer than most of the regular spots We camped among the redwoods out of cell phone range of anything and didn't ride back into coverage until the middle of the next morning when my phone started beeping like crazy with all the stored up texts and emails. Here are some photos of Elk Prairie Campground in Redwoods National Park. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Tgbvkjd1k8/UdEFMXuIfFI/AAAAAAAABjo/UML1Ff51p5s/s640/blogger-image--1678453181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Tgbvkjd1k8/UdEFMXuIfFI/AAAAAAAABjo/UML1Ff51p5s/s640/blogger-image--1678453181.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FfbIgvBiFe4/UdEFoy15L2I/AAAAAAAABj4/L6DhshFs5YE/s640/blogger-image-231997900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FfbIgvBiFe4/UdEFoy15L2I/AAAAAAAABj4/L6DhshFs5YE/s640/blogger-image-231997900.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div id="CUSTOM_ID" class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M5ZecNlvJ3o/UdEFXEOphCI/AAAAAAAABjw/nyVxrLsG-A0/s640/blogger-image--1758076139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M5ZecNlvJ3o/UdEFXEOphCI/AAAAAAAABjw/nyVxrLsG-A0/s640/blogger-image--1758076139.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s-264eV9ZbA/UdEF0PvJ7PI/AAAAAAAABkI/xJ8PC7lTeBo/s640/blogger-image--1013705062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s-264eV9ZbA/UdEF0PvJ7PI/AAAAAAAABkI/xJ8PC7lTeBo/s640/blogger-image--1013705062.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mWzeVTky2ag/UdEE_Iqi55I/AAAAAAAABjQ/dX_9NewsGuU/s640/blogger-image-1809711434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mWzeVTky2ag/UdEE_Iqi55I/AAAAAAAABjQ/dX_9NewsGuU/s640/blogger-image-1809711434.jpg"></a></div></div></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-61968236282267500642013-06-28T18:16:00.001-07:002013-06-28T18:24:51.452-07:00Day 6 Harris Beach to Crescent City 31 miles (total miles 246)Today was an easy day of riding compared to yesterday and compared to the mountains in the redwoods of Northern California yet to come. We had nice sunny weather as we rode through the town of Brookings Oregon, our last town in Oregon until we reached the California border. Two college girls were there taking pictures and took ours for us but from too far back so I took another of Catalina.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A-mwFWTkYus/Uc41bLkKcfI/AAAAAAAABiY/zYxtXWV6Vew/s640/blogger-image-1505373741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A-mwFWTkYus/Uc41bLkKcfI/AAAAAAAABiY/zYxtXWV6Vew/s640/blogger-image-1505373741.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gRq1FnKIqiw/Uc41cypk8oI/AAAAAAAABio/jUekstaSrgQ/s640/blogger-image-1951736800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gRq1FnKIqiw/Uc41cypk8oI/AAAAAAAABio/jUekstaSrgQ/s640/blogger-image-1951736800.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>After crossing into CA the bike route took us off the main highway onto back roads along mostly farm land. We rode for about 20 miles through rolling terrain until we found the little town of Fort Dick and had lunch at the Fort Dick Market which looks exactly like any small town Texas market. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LOA8B4uSn3c/Uc4y8KUkBuI/AAAAAAAABho/TBVipudlxX4/s640/blogger-image-958742907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LOA8B4uSn3c/Uc4y8KUkBuI/AAAAAAAABho/TBVipudlxX4/s640/blogger-image-958742907.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zBk3snPg5x8/Uc4y9zp9kmI/AAAAAAAABhw/GWR1Xq11bB0/s640/blogger-image--895287504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zBk3snPg5x8/Uc4y9zp9kmI/AAAAAAAABhw/GWR1Xq11bB0/s640/blogger-image--895287504.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Just past Fort Dick we passed Pelican Bay Supermax Prison which is somewhat famous as being the most maximum security prison in the country where all the prisoners are in solitary lockup. Didn't look like much from the outside. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P7yDYKyk1ww/Uc41e2AExII/AAAAAAAABi4/CnfsrHMhqEk/s640/blogger-image-1561210087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P7yDYKyk1ww/Uc41e2AExII/AAAAAAAABi4/CnfsrHMhqEk/s640/blogger-image-1561210087.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>After that we rode the final 9 miles into Crescent City. We had planned to stay at the one campground in town that accommodated bikers....the rest are just gravel and cement RV parking lots. But after considering the choice of paying $35 for a patch of grass next to a sea of RVs vs another $20 to get a "suite" at the Penny Saver Inn, the cheapest hotel in Crescent City, we went for the room after checking it out first. Not bad, they have wifi to make Catalina happy and let me post to the blog as it takes forever to post via 3G on this old iPad. At least it is clean. Lots of motorcycles out front so I guess we are with that crowd for a change instead of the RV set we see at the campgrounds.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VOUooOg10yI/Uc41fqNgylI/AAAAAAAABjA/V3TzmprIzNQ/s640/blogger-image--1968799729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VOUooOg10yI/Uc41fqNgylI/AAAAAAAABjA/V3TzmprIzNQ/s640/blogger-image--1968799729.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TgMEi40_wP0/Uc41dzECJBI/AAAAAAAABiw/iGXaKfKQxl8/s640/blogger-image--1786495956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TgMEi40_wP0/Uc41dzECJBI/AAAAAAAABiw/iGXaKfKQxl8/s640/blogger-image--1786495956.jpg"></a></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">One advantage to older style motels with outside entrances when you are biking is that you can get a first floor room and wheel the bikes right inside. It is somewhat more conspicuous to wheel a tandem and trailer into a new style Holiday Inn Express past the front desk and down the hall to the elevator. I haven't tried that yet!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--yTzWe0EQ5A/Uc4y6XLBDOI/AAAAAAAABhg/ca3vcZoS9Ew/s640/blogger-image--397775799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--yTzWe0EQ5A/Uc4y6XLBDOI/AAAAAAAABhg/ca3vcZoS9Ew/s640/blogger-image--397775799.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OqRLswzA4PU/Uc4zDPuX3FI/AAAAAAAABh4/p_Mk7SHpyUc/s640/blogger-image--729915192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OqRLswzA4PU/Uc4zDPuX3FI/AAAAAAAABh4/p_Mk7SHpyUc/s640/blogger-image--729915192.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Since we arrived pretty early....around 3 pm it has been a chance to do laundry at the laundromat a block away. I think it has been 30 years since I have been inside a coin-op laundry. Prices have gone up. It now takes 12 quarters to wash.</div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow we are making an early start as we have two big mountains to climb. The biggest so far on this trip. Will be a chance to see if I am riding myself into shape or not. If we make it over the mountains without dying we will be camping among the big trees tomorrow night in Redwoods National Park a few miles north of the town of Orick. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2s4cSF9zmro/Uc41bxtKLBI/AAAAAAAABig/z_dbHWUYnrQ/s640/blogger-image--2092650403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2s4cSF9zmro/Uc41bxtKLBI/AAAAAAAABig/z_dbHWUYnrQ/s640/blogger-image--2092650403.jpg"></a></div></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-7861261109143807082013-06-27T21:18:00.001-07:002013-06-27T21:19:59.504-07:00Day 5 Humbug Mountain to Harris Beach 52 miles (total miles 215)Today was our longest and toughest day yet so we got a relatively early start, breaking camp at 8:30 am and had a nice morning ride of 23 miles into the little town of Gold Beach. We had sun and rolling hills and unlike yesterday we were following the shoreline so we had lots of nice views. Here we are taking a mid-morning breakfast of fruit and granola bars as all we had for breakfast was coffee and hot chocolate and some morning views of the coastline. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-j562BCjNrgc/Uc0LksHBsPI/AAAAAAAABgY/pNNoViaudts/s640/blogger-image--7715706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-j562BCjNrgc/Uc0LksHBsPI/AAAAAAAABgY/pNNoViaudts/s640/blogger-image--7715706.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GwFCv9fKD3E/Uc0OkeTT4VI/AAAAAAAABhI/z1YhKoVCiEg/s640/blogger-image--1178461632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GwFCv9fKD3E/Uc0OkeTT4VI/AAAAAAAABhI/z1YhKoVCiEg/s640/blogger-image--1178461632.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GwFCv9fKD3E/Uc0OkeTT4VI/AAAAAAAABhI/z1YhKoVCiEg/s640/blogger-image--1178461632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jAfxwefenzw/Uc0O7IH_3FI/AAAAAAAABhQ/HCKX5tMr4Bc/s640/blogger-image-907595828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jAfxwefenzw/Uc0O7IH_3FI/AAAAAAAABhQ/HCKX5tMr4Bc/s640/blogger-image-907595828.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div>We had lunch in Gold Beach which is the only town we passed through in our 52 miles of riding today. Most of the terrain was wilderness parks with scattered small farms wherever the terrain flattened enough. Crossing the Rogue River into Gold Beach was a bit stressful as we had a narrow sidewalk to navigate over a long bridge, but we made it in time for lunch. Hey! They have wifi!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oEfsWCJSXJA/Uc0MgW0l9oI/AAAAAAAABgo/Pnn2OxCtAIk/s640/blogger-image-911523202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oEfsWCJSXJA/Uc0MgW0l9oI/AAAAAAAABgo/Pnn2OxCtAIk/s640/blogger-image-911523202.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>First thing after lunch we encountered a steep mountain climb over Cape Sebastian. The road wound straight up for over 3 miles and when you are grinding along at 3-4 mph that amounts to about an hour of chugging up hill with a 50 lb. trailer and 80 lb. girl on the back. Hop on a stairmaster for an hour after riding 30 miles and you'll get the same effect. The plunge back down to sea level after cresting the 1000 ft summit was a screamer. My hands got numb from the constant braking and the disc rotors on the tandem got red hot to the point that the metal is now discolored. With all that weight in back the bike really wants to go on downhills. </div><div><br></div><div>The last 20 miles or so into Harris Beach State Park were just one up and down after another. No sooner would we make it down one hill then the next would start. No really high passes but just constant hills. And the afternoon fog had rolled in so we couldn't see much. We could hear the ocean crashing on the rocks below for most of the ride and we passed a dozen scenic viewpoints but all was shrouded in fog. Yes there is an ocean down there!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-igMnjltKUb0/Uc0Oc_YjMwI/AAAAAAAABg4/bTiwZcGgGhg/s640/blogger-image-857242751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-igMnjltKUb0/Uc0Oc_YjMwI/AAAAAAAABg4/bTiwZcGgGhg/s640/blogger-image-857242751.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Finally in camp, and this is a very nice campground by the way, after a dinner of instant potato soup, cheese, crackers, and baby carrots it is time to crash and read. On this trip we seem to be climbing into our tents at 9 pm and waking up with the birds at dawn around 5:30 am. Except for Catalina who usually crawls out around 8 when breakfast is ready. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xtW8lEebgWE/Uc0OgdJMNMI/AAAAAAAABhA/S29C1tM6Ic8/s640/blogger-image-1173702928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xtW8lEebgWE/Uc0OgdJMNMI/AAAAAAAABhA/S29C1tM6Ic8/s640/blogger-image-1173702928.jpg"></a></div></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-54919703132651215602013-06-27T11:52:00.001-07:002013-06-27T11:53:21.823-07:00Day 4 Bandon to Humbug Mountain State Park 38 miles (total miles 163)We are finally on the road again after a few days of hiding out from the rain. We left The Danish Shipbuilders House around 9 am and found the first 30 miles of riding from Bandon to Port Orford to be rather boring rolling countryside as the highway veered inland. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i2s_vqLtkJI/UcyJvRoXsMI/AAAAAAAABfY/tfA9CP21pCI/s640/blogger-image--1816598943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i2s_vqLtkJI/UcyJvRoXsMI/AAAAAAAABfY/tfA9CP21pCI/s640/blogger-image--1816598943.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Skies were overcast and somewhat foggy but we saw no rain finally. We caught our first glimpse of the Pacific again as we entered the little town of Port Orford where we had lunch at the Crazy Norwegian Cafe which had a 95% positive rating on urban spoon. Even these little towns have lots of urban spoon ratings for most of the restaurants. Lots of travelers with iPhones pass through here I guess.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JGQfPttlVGc/UcyJosL6r0I/AAAAAAAABfI/7qspl3avydQ/s640/blogger-image-448348464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JGQfPttlVGc/UcyJosL6r0I/AAAAAAAABfI/7qspl3avydQ/s640/blogger-image-448348464.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>After a satisfying lunch of clam chowder and pie it was back on the bikes for the final 7 miles to our campground on Humbug Mountain. Here is a view of the Pacific from the Highway between Port Orford and Humbug Mountain.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5Wl5nQ8aR6s/UcyJ_f-142I/AAAAAAAABgI/41eM7GCkRAQ/s640/blogger-image-413167951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5Wl5nQ8aR6s/UcyJ_f-142I/AAAAAAAABgI/41eM7GCkRAQ/s640/blogger-image-413167951.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div>And here is Humbug Mountain itself shrouded in mist. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Uc6H9X_NZxs/UcyJwyoCzHI/AAAAAAAABfo/iJ5KtNPCMZI/s640/blogger-image-540476565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Uc6H9X_NZxs/UcyJwyoCzHI/AAAAAAAABfo/iJ5KtNPCMZI/s640/blogger-image-540476565.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div>This is our campsite at the base of the mountain.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b6FV54TpVCc/UcyJwE2Ob2I/AAAAAAAABfg/xrkeuBqHec4/s640/blogger-image--1089321558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b6FV54TpVCc/UcyJwE2Ob2I/AAAAAAAABfg/xrkeuBqHec4/s640/blogger-image--1089321558.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow we have 50 miles to our next campsite at Harris Beach State Park outside of the city of Brookings. But first we have to climb over Humbug Mountain in the morning. </div></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-57327650080631985412013-06-25T10:57:00.001-07:002013-06-25T11:16:23.066-07:00Stormy day in BandonWe decided to spend one more day hiding out from the weather before resuming our bike journey. But to avoid falling behind schedule we decided to drive from Newport to Bandon where we used VRBO.com to find an interesting old house to rent on the Cocquille River about 3 miles outside Bandon. There is a small cluster of historic old houses along the river that a woman has been buying up and restoring to make into vacation rentals. She has four of them. We are in the 1895 Danish Shipbuilders House. It is full of antiques and even has an old player piano. And is much cheaper than the traditional beach rental because we are a few miles from the beach. Grandma had to return to Salem this morning for an appointment so it is just the 3 of us here. <div><br></div><div>It rained a bunch this morning and is now mostly misty and windy outside. Tomorrow is supposed to be the end of this long storm front off the Pacific and after that the forecast is for nothing but sunny days as we head into California. Tomorrow morning we will be back on the road rain or shine as we have no more rest days on the schedule. We will be biking to Humbug Mountain State Park south of Port Orford which is about 40 miles from here. </div><div><br></div><div>Here are some pictures of yesterday's stormy weather at the beach in Bandon where it was blowing more than 40 mph and some pictures of the Danish Shipbuilders House, the Coquille River in front, and the forest behind that I took this morning during a break in the rain. Note: I changed the blogger settings to post full size pictures as an experiment. I think it will still show the smaller picture in the blog but will allow you to click to enlarge. Let me know if these pictures are harder to load and I'll change the settings back. I only have an ipad so I don't know now things look on a PC.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5dxOkanx85c/Ucnc6bkSg2I/AAAAAAAABeQ/0bPAeD4CrW8/s640/blogger-image--710242474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5dxOkanx85c/Ucnc6bkSg2I/AAAAAAAABeQ/0bPAeD4CrW8/s640/blogger-image--710242474.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nQ9-cWvxbEM/Ucncmbu5MAI/AAAAAAAABeE/kBv2WHXM94M/s640/blogger-image-1941617915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nQ9-cWvxbEM/Ucncmbu5MAI/AAAAAAAABeE/kBv2WHXM94M/s640/blogger-image-1941617915.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nQ9-cWvxbEM/Ucncmbu5MAI/AAAAAAAABeE/kBv2WHXM94M/s640/blogger-image-1941617915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SIlvOzwEFIw/UcnciTBTV8I/AAAAAAAABd8/BpEi0ETiXmI/s640/blogger-image-1252126183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SIlvOzwEFIw/UcnciTBTV8I/AAAAAAAABd8/BpEi0ETiXmI/s640/blogger-image-1252126183.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EtnVEPK0WaE/UcndCzFZRhI/AAAAAAAABeg/Q5AnH4bvcs0/s640/blogger-image-1604059882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EtnVEPK0WaE/UcndCzFZRhI/AAAAAAAABeg/Q5AnH4bvcs0/s640/blogger-image-1604059882.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h_SvfGlrmLk/Ucnc-EY8ISI/AAAAAAAABeY/Zde0lNxtRZY/s640/blogger-image-1202945497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h_SvfGlrmLk/Ucnc-EY8ISI/AAAAAAAABeY/Zde0lNxtRZY/s640/blogger-image-1202945497.jpg"></a></div></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-28125728930757130282013-06-24T07:41:00.001-07:002013-06-24T07:45:38.340-07:00Rain rain go away!Still raining her in Newport but the weather forecasts are slowly getting better. I think we will hunker down and stay off the road for another day or two until the weather clears and then resume our journey and blogging. We may take the car down to Bandon and resume our ride from there which would allow us to skip a nasty tunnel between here and Florence and a long bridge with narrow shoulders over Coos Bay. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-grKjAWz0ERA/UchbkFxUfBI/AAAAAAAABds/f4fvQSR2mkM/s640/blogger-image-804768971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-grKjAWz0ERA/UchbkFxUfBI/AAAAAAAABds/f4fvQSR2mkM/s640/blogger-image-804768971.jpg"></a></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-32586664485517459522013-06-23T10:20:00.001-07:002013-06-23T12:07:06.557-07:00Shedding gear and weightAfter 3 days of riding over steep mountains the gear and clothing we are not using is coming out of the packs and going back in the car. We should be dropping a couple of pounds of gear. Here is the stuff that is staying behind. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kPaVHUawTK4/UcdHWBgORZI/AAAAAAAABdc/K4GgqmjYTCc/s640/blogger-image-1408883940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kPaVHUawTK4/UcdHWBgORZI/AAAAAAAABdc/K4GgqmjYTCc/s640/blogger-image-1408883940.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com0Newport Newport44.626961 -124.049679tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-33745825162751037302013-06-22T20:18:00.001-07:002013-06-22T20:37:57.925-07:00Rest day in Newport<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today is our first scheduled rest day in Newport. Grandma drove out to meet us at the little condo we have rented right under the Newport bridge. We are not on the beach but rather the harbor. It is about a mile walk down the jetty to Newport's South Beach Park. We spent the morning at the beach and the afternoon visiting the Oregon Coast Aquarium with a quick visit to the local bike shop in between. Frankly we were rather underwhelmed with the Aquarium. We last visited 12 years ago and didn't see a single change or new exhibit. I think the Cameron Park Zoo in is actually nicer and has some excellent aquarium and river exhibits. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CoaIPdSLpu8/UcZpC2DneSI/AAAAAAAABcU/1VYmpRxmrvI/s640/blogger-image-1917504253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CoaIPdSLpu8/UcZpC2DneSI/AAAAAAAABcU/1VYmpRxmrvI/s640/blogger-image-1917504253.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WAV8rSG9iqg/UcZpBrKYwGI/AAAAAAAABcE/c2UBLaBV38Q/s640/blogger-image-1133197313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WAV8rSG9iqg/UcZpBrKYwGI/AAAAAAAABcE/c2UBLaBV38Q/s640/blogger-image-1133197313.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5EsAVI3LlRo/UcZpCS3CNaI/AAAAAAAABcM/UStmTpT-ctw/s640/blogger-image-1765378579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5EsAVI3LlRo/UcZpCS3CNaI/AAAAAAAABcM/UStmTpT-ctw/s640/blogger-image-1765378579.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>Here are some iphone shots from the aquarium as I forgot to bring the Canon<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BFiiiNAFdg8/UcZtlCMA_OI/AAAAAAAABc8/nI-yUsAHGls/s640/blogger-image--213073486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BFiiiNAFdg8/UcZtlCMA_OI/AAAAAAAABc8/nI-yUsAHGls/s640/blogger-image--213073486.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MuAN6hN0ICo/UcZtkYrAkjI/AAAAAAAABc0/9az6Nc8qEdI/s640/blogger-image--1958610299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MuAN6hN0ICo/UcZtkYrAkjI/AAAAAAAABc0/9az6Nc8qEdI/s640/blogger-image--1958610299.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We are currently watching the weather closely. A big storm front is rolling in off the Pacific and is forecast to bring us 2-3 days of heavy rain before the sunny days return. We may decide to just hunker down in a room to wait out the worst of the rain before returning to the road. Riding in the rain is one thing. We do have rain gear. But camping in the rain is a different matter. No fun just sitting in a campground watching the rain from your tent. </div><div><br></div><div>Here comes the rain</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aunlFLQMNfU/UcZsaDQ6wSI/AAAAAAAABck/pgAOd0BJY8s/s640/blogger-image-390440651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aunlFLQMNfU/UcZsaDQ6wSI/AAAAAAAABck/pgAOd0BJY8s/s640/blogger-image-390440651.jpg"></a></div><br></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-49220233540649463742013-06-21T22:41:00.001-07:002013-06-23T10:41:01.760-07:00Day 3. Cape Lookout to Lincoln City. 41 miles (total miles 125)Last night we slept well at Cape Lookout State Park campground. The Synmat inflatable sleeping pads we bought for the trip are great. The trick to a comfortable night is to leave them a little loose and not inflate them too tight. We had a long day planned today, intending to ride 65 miles to Newport to meet Grandma at a rental condo. <div><br></div><div>When I awoke at about 5:30 am to the birds and sunrise it was overcast and misty. I walked to the campground bathroom wondering what the day's weather would be and during the 5 minutes I was there brushing my teeth it started to rain. Oh no. Nothing else to do but jump back in the tent and do some reading. The rain finally ended about 7:30 am and I climbed out to make breakfast of instant oatmeal with hot chocolate for Catalina and Nescafe for Grandpa and me. By the time we broke camp and were on our way it was 9:30 am and the sun was starting to break through the clouds. Perfect riding weather but so much for our idea of making an early start to reach Newport. </div><div><br></div><div>The climb out of Cape Lookout was just brutal. 10% grades the sign said. May not sound like much but that is very steep for biking with a heavy load. Or biking with no load for that matter. We made it almost to the top and then took a break and walked the bikes up to the summit. My bike computer says 2.5 mph walking and 3.5 mph when we are struggling up a steep grade in the lowest gear so not much difference. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BWZuMDTyIOk/UcU47J5XeSI/AAAAAAAABb0/VqTI71-rkCw/s640/blogger-image-688019309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BWZuMDTyIOk/UcU47J5XeSI/AAAAAAAABb0/VqTI71-rkCw/s640/blogger-image-688019309.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FYjpV3tkMxY/UcU45LsL9aI/AAAAAAAABbc/sTMSBzhBrBw/s640/blogger-image-517001862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FYjpV3tkMxY/UcU45LsL9aI/AAAAAAAABbc/sTMSBzhBrBw/s640/blogger-image-517001862.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>After a fast descent off the mountain giving the tandem's disc brakes a good workout we pedaled for an hour or so into the little town of Pacific City where the first restaurant we found was the Pelican Brewhouse and Pub. It looked like a likely place to find clam chowder so we went in. By the way, clam chowder on the Oregon coast is basically the same thing as BBQ in Texas. There are hundreds of little seafood joints serving clam chowder according to their secret recipes. Always New England style, never Manhattan style...shudder. Other seafood is popular. Dungeness crab, oysters, steamer clams, mussels, and assorted fish...mostly rockfish and salmon are what is caught and served locally. If you order shrimp it probably came frozen from Thailand. But clam chowder is what everyone seems to focus on. The place was packed and they had row after row of medals on the wall from various brewing competitions so the beer must be good. But I was too hot and dehydrated and we had too many miles to go to be having beer for lunch. Service was slow for which I was actually thankful for once because there was no hurry getting back on the bikes after the morning's climb. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rvTloqAv5v4/UcU42QtF-xI/AAAAAAAABbE/rnNucFmNApk/s640/blogger-image-1646048978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rvTloqAv5v4/UcU42QtF-xI/AAAAAAAABbE/rnNucFmNApk/s640/blogger-image-1646048978.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>After lunch we rode for an hour or so along US 101 which is the main coastal highway we have been following until our map brought us to a detour around Pacific Head on the old US highway 101 which added a few extra miles and lots of climbing but it was a welcome change from the traffic. In 10 miles we only met 5 cars on the road. Just at the top of the long climb over Pacific Head we had our first mechanical problem of the trip. Grandpa's rear tire went flat. Looked like an old patch was starting to fail so we put on a new tube and were on our way again. Changing a rear tire on a recumbent is a bit tricky because the brakes are under the bike and hard to reach or see....especially with packs on the bike. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2mLIjQrJFaY/UcU43G05JLI/AAAAAAAABbM/K2_TqFLLjns/s640/blogger-image-1003596012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2mLIjQrJFaY/UcU43G05JLI/AAAAAAAABbM/K2_TqFLLjns/s640/blogger-image-1003596012.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IcdLvMtzgEI/UcU43g5qIxI/AAAAAAAABbU/XI-xeejsquo/s640/blogger-image--1526279837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IcdLvMtzgEI/UcU43g5qIxI/AAAAAAAABbU/XI-xeejsquo/s640/blogger-image--1526279837.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KEBix2Gzdek/UcU458-iyLI/AAAAAAAABbk/7YYFom3zTgU/s640/blogger-image--1807300013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KEBix2Gzdek/UcU458-iyLI/AAAAAAAABbk/7YYFom3zTgU/s640/blogger-image--1807300013.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>By the time we made it off the mountain after our second long climb of the day and rode into Lincoln City we had 41 miles under our belts and a good 8 hours on the saddle. It was also 6 pm and although we could have probably made it the last 20 miles to Newport before dark we were tired and decided to call Grandma who was waiting in the rental condo in Newport to come get us with the van. Were I riding solo I would have just gone for it but the 10 year old in back was more inclined to have an ice cream sunday at McDonalds and wait for Grandma. Our first McDonalds since leaving Astoria. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LBiF5DNIcLQ/UcU46gQLuEI/AAAAAAAABbs/6gmemBOPnWo/s640/blogger-image--337114685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LBiF5DNIcLQ/UcU46gQLuEI/AAAAAAAABbs/6gmemBOPnWo/s640/blogger-image--337114685.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-76545207640983704722013-06-21T12:47:00.001-07:002013-06-21T22:42:12.443-07:00Day 2 Nehalem Bay to Cape Lookout 40.5 miles (total miles 84)<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gFJ4MmsBMrc/UcStxub1CxI/AAAAAAAABas/B36xyh_aMmI/s640/blogger-image--180247356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gFJ4MmsBMrc/UcStxub1CxI/AAAAAAAABas/B36xyh_aMmI/s640/blogger-image--180247356.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9CHuk0zR4UM/UcStqVuSItI/AAAAAAAABaU/9mAWmaHBewc/s640/blogger-image-1134153779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9CHuk0zR4UM/UcStqVuSItI/AAAAAAAABaU/9mAWmaHBewc/s640/blogger-image-1134153779.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lnS8XYfKshU/UcStsn8SO_I/AAAAAAAABac/8ySSsae8oA8/s640/blogger-image--1730799709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lnS8XYfKshU/UcStsn8SO_I/AAAAAAAABac/8ySSsae8oA8/s640/blogger-image--1730799709.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HkjYAkNbOog/UcSt0l0nl9I/AAAAAAAABa0/okZXtiFcDsw/s640/blogger-image--2095894598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HkjYAkNbOog/UcSt0l0nl9I/AAAAAAAABa0/okZXtiFcDsw/s640/blogger-image--2095894598.jpg"></a></div>Not as many hills as yesterday. It rained last night but by morning the sun was out and our tents kept us completely dry. Today's route took us from Nehalem Bay along the coast and around Tillamook Bay. We had lunch in the little town of Garabaldi along the shore of Tillamook Bay. Catalina had a grilled cheese and I had a large bowl of clam chowder. After lunch we passed through Tillamook deciding not to stop at the giant tourist trap that is the Tillamook Cheese Factory but we stopped at a giant Fred Meyer store (the Northwest answer to Walmart) to load up on Tillamook Cheese, apples, and carrots. <div><br></div><div>After Tillamook we left the main highway and rode on quiet side roads over one mountain pass to get to Cape Lookout State Park, arriving about 5 with plenty of time to visit the beach. Tomorrow is the summer solstice so days are as long as they will get here in the Northern Hemisphere. Here at about 45 degrees north latitude it doesn't start getting dark until about 9 pm and isn't really dark u nt after 10 pm. </div><div><br></div><div>The beach at Cape Lookout was nearly deserted. We had a good time exploring and making sand castles before cooking up some chicken noodle soup for dinner and going to bed. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VMn0YMwhjf4/UcStv3I8VKI/AAAAAAAABak/mjhYD6dGg5c/s640/blogger-image-130488491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VMn0YMwhjf4/UcStv3I8VKI/AAAAAAAABak/mjhYD6dGg5c/s640/blogger-image-130488491.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OKi_k1b6qI4/UcStdSKz3rI/AAAAAAAABaM/pu9drodmzL0/s640/blogger-image--1950208675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OKi_k1b6qI4/UcStdSKz3rI/AAAAAAAABaM/pu9drodmzL0/s640/blogger-image--1950208675.jpg"></a></div><br></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-26737617723938437712013-06-20T13:42:00.001-07:002013-06-20T13:42:25.962-07:00Day 1 iPhone photos.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JKEpZ6PASMA/UcNpHL9TgAI/AAAAAAAABY8/oLkfhB2qrNM/s640/blogger-image-748317511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JKEpZ6PASMA/UcNpHL9TgAI/AAAAAAAABY8/oLkfhB2qrNM/s640/blogger-image-748317511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1rryMlxh2ns/UcNpKf4Vv1I/AAAAAAAABZk/C-htf1hRWnk/s640/blogger-image-483859230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1rryMlxh2ns/UcNpKf4Vv1I/AAAAAAAABZk/C-htf1hRWnk/s640/blogger-image-483859230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4aN8waoiifo/UcNpIFnMTfI/AAAAAAAABZE/tG-4loYmMNw/s640/blogger-image-2118632226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4aN8waoiifo/UcNpIFnMTfI/AAAAAAAABZE/tG-4loYmMNw/s640/blogger-image-2118632226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YU9KMn05ClM/UcNpIgC70UI/AAAAAAAABZM/H0XFiJn6yug/s640/blogger-image-1901435119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YU9KMn05ClM/UcNpIgC70UI/AAAAAAAABZM/H0XFiJn6yug/s640/blogger-image-1901435119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-odOx8HnpPj4/UcNpMMz0y3I/AAAAAAAABZ8/NrSzTBpyQMo/s640/blogger-image-2001149684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-odOx8HnpPj4/UcNpMMz0y3I/AAAAAAAABZ8/NrSzTBpyQMo/s640/blogger-image-2001149684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b3mgwIDZvpg/UcNpJSXe1gI/AAAAAAAABZU/CNLk07fT_OI/s640/blogger-image--13269810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b3mgwIDZvpg/UcNpJSXe1gI/AAAAAAAABZU/CNLk07fT_OI/s640/blogger-image--13269810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PWyN6nQcZD0/UcNpJ_UZHWI/AAAAAAAABZc/Ea_A6DQGQNk/s640/blogger-image-354564643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PWyN6nQcZD0/UcNpJ_UZHWI/AAAAAAAABZc/Ea_A6DQGQNk/s640/blogger-image-354564643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4lVPHT7VWjA/UcNpLB_lRjI/AAAAAAAABZs/kkCzM5_bkWA/s640/blogger-image-424782053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4lVPHT7VWjA/UcNpLB_lRjI/AAAAAAAABZs/kkCzM5_bkWA/s640/blogger-image-424782053.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PWyN6nQcZD0/UcNpJ_UZHWI/AAAAAAAABZc/Ea_A6DQGQNk/s640/blogger-image-354564643.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b3mgwIDZvpg/UcNpJSXe1gI/AAAAAAAABZU/CNLk07fT_OI/s640/blogger-image--13269810.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-odOx8HnpPj4/UcNpMMz0y3I/AAAAAAAABZ8/NrSzTBpyQMo/s640/blogger-image-2001149684.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YU9KMn05ClM/UcNpIgC70UI/AAAAAAAABZM/H0XFiJn6yug/s640/blogger-image-1901435119.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4aN8waoiifo/UcNpIFnMTfI/AAAAAAAABZE/tG-4loYmMNw/s640/blogger-image-2118632226.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1rryMlxh2ns/UcNpKf4Vv1I/AAAAAAAABZk/C-htf1hRWnk/s640/blogger-image-483859230.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JKEpZ6PASMA/UcNpHL9TgAI/AAAAAAAABY8/oLkfhB2qrNM/s640/blogger-image-748317511.jpg"></div>I'm using a Canon SX280 and an iPhone. The longer Day 1 post had the Canon photos. These are some iPhone shots. For blogging I'm not sure how much better the Canon photos are. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kTuIyTlJvXE/UcNpLm9iHsI/AAAAAAAABZ0/b5_mdFpGr4s/s640/blogger-image--1534344611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kTuIyTlJvXE/UcNpLm9iHsI/AAAAAAAABZ0/b5_mdFpGr4s/s640/blogger-image--1534344611.jpg"></a></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-33516244306447223162013-06-20T13:37:00.001-07:002013-06-20T13:37:49.939-07:00Riding Profile first two daysThe don't make hills like this in Texas. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hmAOxBYK2c0/UcNoHDMde9I/AAAAAAAABYs/BYxw3YjAsNg/s640/blogger-image--825877466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hmAOxBYK2c0/UcNoHDMde9I/AAAAAAAABYs/BYxw3YjAsNg/s640/blogger-image--825877466.jpg"></a></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-22768160283966095522013-06-20T13:31:00.001-07:002013-06-20T13:31:18.895-07:00Day 1 Astoria to Nehalem Bay State Park: 43.5 milesWe left Salem at 6 am today to beat the Portland traffic and drove north to Longview and then took Highway 30 to Astoria. The GPS routed us through an industrial section of Longview where we got stuck behind a long line of trucks waiting to enter the port. In Astoria we found a park with space to unload our bikes and were on the road by 10:30 am. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tWuVb80XsoQ/UcNmaFS2iPI/AAAAAAAABXk/AMbpwCOCUis/s640/blogger-image-793595714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tWuVb80XsoQ/UcNmaFS2iPI/AAAAAAAABXk/AMbpwCOCUis/s640/blogger-image-793595714.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hpnCBlZDW-Y/UcNmWx9AfUI/AAAAAAAABXU/nFA2FIaNIkI/s640/blogger-image--1017536585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hpnCBlZDW-Y/UcNmWx9AfUI/AAAAAAAABXU/nFA2FIaNIkI/s640/blogger-image--1017536585.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rfAmHxmc2Dc/UcNmQYS4MyI/AAAAAAAABW0/xzaoO9y4Pf0/s640/blogger-image-1823955846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rfAmHxmc2Dc/UcNmQYS4MyI/AAAAAAAABW0/xzaoO9y4Pf0/s640/blogger-image-1823955846.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Pg4y1AyZcqE/UcNmYiRkdZI/AAAAAAAABXc/dIsZuQJCPMg/s640/blogger-image-1258067415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Pg4y1AyZcqE/UcNmYiRkdZI/AAAAAAAABXc/dIsZuQJCPMg/s640/blogger-image-1258067415.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>After riding 2 hours on some windy hilly back roads we finally made it to our lunch spot of Seaside Oregon which is where we first found the beach. The weight of our bags and the hills make riding quite a bit more challenging than in Texas but we just poke along and make it. Catalina is doing great for a 10 year old and Grandpa Lind is just cruising along great for a 75 year old. Our group spans 65 years which is pretty amazing I think. We see other riders on the road but no other 75 year olds are making this trip. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6tOdVbJ_fEI/UcNmiFHQM6I/AAAAAAAABYM/zGVxpVm_NDw/s640/blogger-image-121148970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6tOdVbJ_fEI/UcNmiFHQM6I/AAAAAAAABYM/zGVxpVm_NDw/s640/blogger-image-121148970.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LM-5IXTQMDw/UcNmdpeJTfI/AAAAAAAABX0/7ctb-pglEU4/s640/blogger-image--1535616964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LM-5IXTQMDw/UcNmdpeJTfI/AAAAAAAABX0/7ctb-pglEU4/s640/blogger-image--1535616964.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qd6iK62wwkQ/UcNmlHiJ--I/AAAAAAAABYc/ajIETszUMGo/s640/blogger-image--2018468068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qd6iK62wwkQ/UcNmlHiJ--I/AAAAAAAABYc/ajIETszUMGo/s640/blogger-image--2018468068.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mYK7mjtC8_c/UcNmVoKKddI/AAAAAAAABXM/sRFn0MhDNkk/s640/blogger-image-458135343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mYK7mjtC8_c/UcNmVoKKddI/AAAAAAAABXM/sRFn0MhDNkk/s640/blogger-image-458135343.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OtVY2uTJgxA/UcNmUfF-s8I/AAAAAAAABXE/_Eno-XEUC9s/s640/blogger-image--988490300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OtVY2uTJgxA/UcNmUfF-s8I/AAAAAAAABXE/_Eno-XEUC9s/s640/blogger-image--988490300.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dqxBnCbW7A0/UcNmgg8nFFI/AAAAAAAABYE/HNbNZIQEYwg/s640/blogger-image--1532040601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dqxBnCbW7A0/UcNmgg8nFFI/AAAAAAAABYE/HNbNZIQEYwg/s640/blogger-image--1532040601.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The afternoon ride from Seaside to Nehalem Bay was just brutal. Three big hills to go over with the biggest saved for last before we descended into Manzanita and Nehalem Bay State Park. We were expecting some rain but we had sun and scattered clouds all day. However we did get a nice rainstorm At night after we were in bed and the tents did great. Kept us dry and cozy. Nehalem Bay is a great park and one to return to with a camper. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Gd4hGaexo1E/UcNmfV5pARI/AAAAAAAABX8/PxMHNDgecr4/s640/blogger-image-417611083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Gd4hGaexo1E/UcNmfV5pARI/AAAAAAAABX8/PxMHNDgecr4/s640/blogger-image-417611083.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7Va1qMGqTp4/UcNmTFMxM1I/AAAAAAAABW8/IN9c3PqFE9Q/s640/blogger-image--2030287463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7Va1qMGqTp4/UcNmTFMxM1I/AAAAAAAABW8/IN9c3PqFE9Q/s640/blogger-image--2030287463.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-isNTfBVk65Y/UcNmb52bU7I/AAAAAAAABXs/cx4-7yL_17k/s640/blogger-image-1997905740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-isNTfBVk65Y/UcNmb52bU7I/AAAAAAAABXs/cx4-7yL_17k/s640/blogger-image-1997905740.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8JzlQU4UW2g/UcNmjsBML0I/AAAAAAAABYU/069FTNhomS0/s640/blogger-image--564942191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8JzlQU4UW2g/UcNmjsBML0I/AAAAAAAABYU/069FTNhomS0/s640/blogger-image--564942191.jpg"></a></div></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-76878640831054899302013-06-17T21:49:00.001-07:002013-06-17T21:49:35.934-07:00Counting down!Today we did lots of running around Salem and Portland doing last minute shopping for gear and getting the bikes ready. We will be leaving for Astoria in the car early morning on Wednesday June 19 to start our ride from the Oregon/Washington border. Here is a photo of all the gear and clothing we will be taking. It does all fit into our packs and trailer. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ni6cvwNOaBw/Ub_m3asFBnI/AAAAAAAABWg/V8p3rKMZD08/s640/blogger-image-1531225304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ni6cvwNOaBw/Ub_m3asFBnI/AAAAAAAABWg/V8p3rKMZD08/s640/blogger-image-1531225304.jpg"></a></div>texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-60523846314799015102013-05-10T18:39:00.001-07:002013-05-11T12:52:25.446-07:00Getting readyThe past month Catalina and I have been busy riding our new Co-Motion Periscope Tandem and getting our gear ready for the big trip. We will be driving out to Oregon with the Tandem in the Toyota Sienna and parking it in Salem. Three weeks later my wife Isabel and our other 2 daughters will be flying out to Oregon to drive the car down to San Francisco to meet us. Here are a few photos riding around Waco.<br />
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<br />texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8510597522530745544.post-78122379073484338802013-03-11T00:55:00.000-07:002013-05-10T18:30:15.607-07:0027 years agoMy daughter Catalina and I are planning a tandem tour with my father from Astoria Oregon to San Francisco California in June 2013. I made this trip in 1986 riding solo in 8 days after graduating from college. Here I am on the right with two other cyclists that I picked up near San Francisco. Hard to believe this photo was taken 27 years ago. I did the ride on my old Raleigh International with toe clips, tennis shoes, and ordinary hiking shorts averaging about 100 miles per day and mostly stealth camping when I wasn't near a hiker biker campground in the evening.<br />
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<br />texasdiverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605819759406259965noreply@blogger.com0