WEST COAST TOUR SEP 2010

GOLD BEACH TO CRESCENT CITY

60 Miles

Sep 15, 2010

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Fairly easy ride today into California. We have ridden the Oregon Coast and I would recommend it to anyone. BUT, take it easy and stop alot. Keep the daily distances shorter than you would ordinarily due to the climbing and you will really enjoy it. We had a quartering head wind most of the way, but that was really not a factor.

Ron heading into his home state. He was raised in

Redding California

Much more pastoral here.

Our first red wood stump. Doesn't look too big until you

look at the yellow house behind it.

Light house in Crescent City. You're right, not

working. They have a horn sound that occurs

every 10 seconds. Very comforting at night when

your window is open

The sea. Mesmerising. The tide is coming in. I watched

it overcome the small black rock in front of me over the

next 30 minutes.

WEST COAST SEP 2010

BANDON TO GOLD BEACH

60 miles

Sep 14, 2010

Of course, alot of up and down, but more rollers today than real climbs. Less work but not as spectacular. Wonderful nevertheless, except for the never ending quartering head wind. This is known here as a winter wind. The summer winds are north west.

The oldest birthday I could find was 1836. Died 1906

Yes, that is the sea right behind

Always looking for a treat. This one really liked paydays

In a few places the beach looked similar to that seen
on the east coast.

One of the many signs along the route. Some more PC

than others.

Also saw swamps in a few place. All beautiful and full

of birds. They wouldn't hold still so I could take their

picture.

WEST COAST SEP 2010

FLORENCE TO BANDON

79 Miles

Sep 13, 2010

Mile legs are toast. You wouldn't think 3800 ft of climbing could do you in, but I guess the over all effect of the last 5 days is getting to me. I spent 11 hours in bed after this ride.

I have been informed the rock formations are called

sea stacks. Sure are amazing

Great fried oysters for lunch

Behold, a WORKING light house
Supposed to be visible 19 miles out
to sea.

Coast guard rescue boat from the 1930's

One of the many small beautiful marinas we passed.

Now for another climb

WEST COAST SEP 2010

Lincoln City to Florence

80 miles

12 Sep 2010

Lots of climbing again. Up and down and around the craigs and creek beds. Hard work but well worth it. The views are spectacular

Another beautiful setting for a non working lighthouse

The coast looking south into the head wind. (mild)

We climb up here, then zoom down to the town so we

can climb up the next one

The bridges were a great adventure. Many times we pushed

a button to cause flashing lights to let motorists know

there were bicyclists on the bridge Then we pedel like hell

The gang at a look out



Boiler Bay
Questions?

WEST COAST TRIP SEP 2010

TILLAMOOK TO LINCOLN CITY

62 Miles

Big STEEP (up to 16%) Hills

Tillamook bay in the evening.

Crows Nest ; best seafood dinner I have ever had.

Oyster stew and Halibut

Tillamook Bay in the morning

Lots of fishermen out this gloious day

Not a cloud in the sky

The sea shore from Cape Maeres. Horrendous climb

up here. Not too long (2 mi) but very steep in places


Cape Maeres Light house. Not working

Behold, a virgin forest. It was wonderful and

somewhat spooky. Trees so high you couldn't

easily determine top of them

WEST COAST TRIP SEP 2010

SEA SIDE TO TILLIMOOK

Moderate Hills

50 Miles

Our first real look at the beach.

Doc and Ron enjoy the view

Monoliths

Located all along the Oregon beaches

Haystack Monolith. Really a giant
Look at those ants (I mean people around it)

Doc and the Coast from a look out

Yep. That's and Alpe d Huez vest on the old man

WEST COAST TRIP 2010

THE START

Tom and I ready to leave his house in Denver on Sep 7, 2010

to drive to Portland, Or to pick up the other 3 riders.

Our first look at the northwest. The Columbia river near

the Dalles dam

Loading the "Black Widow" as the Navigator came to be known
Note that Tracy (owner of CrossRoads) is doing all the work
while Jim and Ron watch.


All the unindited co-conspirators. Doc, Ron, Tom (Tour
Director) Tracy and Jim at our Sea Side, Or hotel
Our Starting Point


We took a 33 mile warmup loop the day we arrived and got
our second look at the Columbia River right at its mouth
to the Pacific Ocean. Actually the foregroud is an estuary of.
the River. Excited to go the next day