Here we go again: 16 days to cycle 1700 lumpy miles solo & unsupported from Seattle to San Diego. Hoping to raise funds for the Royal British Legion & Bloodwise: wheels turn on September 10th...please help these great causes!
Saddled-up bang-on 7am (you may well have heard the whimper, hah-hah!) and headed out to my breakfast stop at Port Orford. No McDs, but I was just grateful that anywhere was open serving: this stretch ain't well served, service-wise.
Quick selfie before leaving Bandon.
OR to CA today! There's a bit of flat in there somewhere...
It was just a case of a Clif Bar and one of those ropey honey'n'oat monstrosities to keep me going until my bacon, egg and hash-brown burrito. Yes!
Tessa Wyatt decided on a new direction.
Appreciate the heads-up.
I should've stopped here: bet they do a mean fry-up er, porridge...
After breakfast there was a little forest nonsense again before we were guided back to the beautiful coastline...
Found Scaramanga's lair.
Photos do not do it justice. Especially not mine!
Then it was a cheeky body-swerve back inland a little and the chance to add-on some elevation, i.e. more climbing'n'sweating.
Especially significant nowadays. No smoke seen today, thankfully.
What warning signs?
Sure enough, the road snaked back out to the coast and before too long I was passed by a pair headed south: these gals were steaming along and shouted across that it was okay if I wanted to hop-on. It took me a good hour to realise that I should have gone full 'Kenneth Connor' and told the lady in question to reverse the roles...
As fast as...
I did my best to take a turn before gracefully steeping aside lest I should impede their progress. In other words, that was all I could do as they were motorin'!
I towed them for all of 200 yards before risking imminent coronary trauma. Worth it though.
I saw more cyclists of all shapes and on various contraptions out today which was terrific: it gives some sort of lift to realise that you aren't the only fool around, hah-hah! No matter, as the scenery continued to astound- it's all you can do not to stop at every cove or vista. I'd be here until December if I did, though.
And a message *for* one of our beneficiaries!
I can promise you that this is no jolly and the stats would bear that out (not to mention the knackered legs, hah-hah!). Despite the wonderful scenery, every incline is a fight to some extent and I'm very grateful for the usually generous shoulder. Good on you, OR!
What? Dylan fans on the council...excellent.
Great Pyramid of Giza and Colossus of Rhodes, you better up your game!
I really would love to: from the little that I've seen, this is a beautiful area.
No offence OR, but this was good to see!
From there it was the usual trudge into town and then try to find your motel: cunningly my Travelodge had been taken-over and renamed. Still they couldn't shake me off the scent. Literally...
My aperitif. Cheers Ears!
Guess what? Yeah, you know what...the usual polite plea is coming-up: if you can spare a couple of Shekels for two great causes then please click HERE!
Up, up and away a little later again at 7.14am: this is how the slide starts so let's knock that on the head, please! It only took about an hour for the scenery to make you laugh out loud...still plenty chilly in the shade though.
Bit of a stretch getting up here, but well worth it.
Menu du jour, Rodney!
Forgotten the name of the bridge already. Old age, innit. Turns out it's Cook Chasm. Cheers Greg!
Immaculate surface and a shoulder! Oh, and there's some view or other...
Do. Not. Look. Right.
Fresh as!
At my breakfast stop, another couple of cyclists arrived: a pair of siblings from Austin. I asked the older one where he'd ridden; only from Texas to the East Coast, then through to Seattle, and then down the coast and then back to Austin!
He asked me what I was doing: I got nuthin', hah-hah!
Today's route shadowed the coastline but you only ever got rare glimpses of the surf as you were riding just slightly inland beside the dunes, and sometimes climbing up and down through forests. There wasn't much time when the road wasn't either going up or down.
So would you be too, if people kept slating your millinery and reliance on FX pedals...
Immaculate!
Not quite as immaculate but it'll do...
Ocean is just over that sandcastle.
Tried to offer myself up there: got knocked-back, hah-hah!
The very sign that signifies sweating'n'swearing ahead...
I certainly felt the last 10 miles or so: at least until the relatively flat run-in to Bandon when I spied an 'America By Bicycle' van pulled over. I did likewise and said hello to one of their Tour staff, Pam.
These are the guys who took me across the US in 2011, and coincidentally they started their 2017 West Coast tour the same day as me, but about 160 miles south. Later on, we did meet-up for a beer and pizza and it was great to catch-up, literally.
Pam, Dan, Mike, Karen, dunno and Pam. Cheers!
Okay, it's time to post the inevitable link, hah-hah! If you can spare anything for Bloodwise & The British Legion, please click HERE!
Wagons rolled at 7.11am: so much for the group of riders heading to San Francisco who wanted the motel to open for breakfast at 6 am...none of them showed early-doors. I did though, and to be fair, they didn't miss much!
Pleasant heading away...
Today's soujorn!
Nope.
Bit chilly to be fair.
Excellent!
I stopped after ten miles at a McDs. As I was getting ready to leave, in walked a cyclist and it turns out he was one of their number but had gotten fed-up with the collective fannying about and so struck-out on his own. Another Golden Arches convert, hah-hah!
So I stopped-off and had a slash, and...
...saw this. Result!
A little like yesterday, it was difficult to get going. Bizarrely, it wasn't until after the first rude climb (1 mile @ 8%) that I felt more like it.
Start of the little climb: note the lovely & wide shoulder...yes!
Now favoured as a perch for birds.
Unbelievable, Jeff: this looks downhill but was actually a 2% incline.
Only on a Sunday though. Here in status symbol land.
Aye, that'll do.
Beaver videos. I've let myself down there, haven't I?
T'riffic!
Same!
I saw a few more cyclists today: some heading north, but this guy was headed to San Diego(!). I tried to warn him...
Steady as she goes, Captain.
Luncheon was an uncomplicated affair at Subway in Lincoln City and there was some beautiful scenery not too long after. Sure made-up for the indifferent nonsense earlier: never ceases to amaze just how quickly things can change.
Yeah, I know it's only a beach but come on!
Another steady climb began and yet again, the temps dropped and the cloud covered. We're not going up high, so no dramas.
A.n.other rude climb at least allowed a cool view down...
And as soon as you descend, lo and behold...Mr. Sun is back!
The Yaquina Bay Bridge, through Newport.
Loved stopping for a few minutes: as much for the salt air, as anything. Wow!
Magnificent.
Looking back to the bridge through Waldport and over the Alsea River. You knew that, though.
The last miles were 'brandy & cigars' effort as I had a lovely tailwind, a wide and clean bike lane and knew that the end was in sight. Result!
Turn back now you fools! Love The Challenger driver giving a wide berth too.
Not anywhere as awful as the name/appearance might suggest.
The owners were very helpful and their dinner recommendation was bang-on: the freshest fish & chips, done simply. Lovely stuff...
Killer IPA in the local brewhouse. Nice!
Right then, you know the score: if you can spare a little then please click ON THIS!
For you Strava-saddos, you can see the deets of today HERE!
Today's tune goes out to all the wannabe and actual burnt-out hippies: I saw a few today, bless them! Plus it is a terrific number anyway...
