May 2007

Look at our cute cabin and view!

An interesting dynamic with loads of 4-wheel & dune buggy folks. Definitely a different 'feeling'. As the guy at the coffee shop described it, "they are the folks that don't care about anything, but themselves". I drove down to the staging area and it was...amazing. Like an ant pile with ants that don't work as a team. In the 10 minutes I was down there, 2 ambulances came to take care of accidents. I saw two tiny girls, (under 5 year olds) riding on their own 4-wheelers (pink of course) It was CRAZY!!

Left in the early afternoon heading south, thinking we were only 10 miles from our next campsite, when we realized we were about 40 miles down, we just headed to Newport/Coos Bay to check out Mo's Bike Shop. (they had a copy of Lars' book!!)

Went to see baby Sea Lions south of Coos Bay. Sara's blood sugar was low. She fell out of the truck and took a cat nap.

We enjoyed a little lunch on a bench overlooking the Sea Lions. (See the sea lion below climbing up on the rock!)

We moved on to Bullard's Beach our home for the next few nights layover due to Memorial Day weekend traffic.

Got up at Carl Washburne park campground, which was filling up with dirt bikers for the holiday weekend.

We ate at a cafe with yummy natural food, Natures Corner Cafe. Also Sara got a new bike seat and biking shorts, She's all geared up and ready to go!

After leaving Newport, we finally got our fried Oysters! Great roadside seafood deli. I learned about hanging water above the doorways to keep the flies out!

We moved south to Beachside campground & showers!! Sara the fire queen got us warmed up after a struggle with damp green wood. Sherry enjoyed a warm night in the truck, while Anne and Sara cozied up in the tent.

Next morning, we biked 8 miles back to a little town for coffee, tea, and schmoozing with the locals....raving to us that the coast ahead was the MOST beautiful. Perused some sea-side shops....beads, antiques, and uniques!

Went back to the site, where Sara parted from the girls and drove to Heceta Head Park, while Anne

and Sherry cruised along the majestic coast.

Sara biked out and met them half-way and all cycled in to the park together.

Sara(Hercules!) displayed bionic strength while breaking apart an ancient rock found on the beach.

We snacked and then toured an amazing lighthouse.

Later camped at Carl Washburne park. No showers, glad none of you were there!

We arrived at the Devil's Punchbowl last night around midnight and couldn't see what the scene was like, but we could sure hear the waves. So this morning we were surprised by the beauty around us.

We had a little breakfast on the beach

and then headed into Newport to organize the truck a bit and get this blog posted.

Anne and Sara are doing some painting at the Yaquina Bay lighthouse, while I'm here in the public library.

Here are their paintings...

Anne's

Newport bridge

Sara's

We have so few miles to cover before the holiday weekend where we have a reservation at a little cabin at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. And we all want to get in more riding than there are miles in between here and there, so after I post today we are planning out the next few days of riding.

This is a campground to remember! Anyone going down the coast should make time to check out this campground! http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_195.php

Had a super goofy night with lots of giggling and silliness (imagine that?!) We had a bit of a party crew also in the campground, but it didn't keep us from a good nights sleep. (you know how those surfers can be!)

Who are these people?!

After a good night sleep and an early morning, we loaded up the truck and headed 4 miles south to Manzanita for some coffee (yes poor Sherry is the only one with this addiction!) and then Anne went on ahead in the truck to Tillamook, while Sara and Sherry headed out on the ride.

Cool mural on the roadside

Hwy 101 in Oregon is a great road to bike on, lots of room on the shoulder and everyone is very aware of bikers. I can't think of a better way to go.

All in all we went about 26 miles to Tillamook, meeting up with Anne, just outside of Garibaldi and then heading to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.

Guess I (Sherry) was a bit hungry! But no one was as excited about the cheese as Sara!!

After cheesing it up, we all were pretty full and sleepy, so after about a 1.5 hour nap. We loaded up the bikes and headed towards Lincoln City. It was alot more comfortable than it looks in the photo!

There was plenty of time, and good weather to ride more so Sara and Anne got on their bikes about 10 miles outside of town. Little did they know, there was a long steep hill climb ahead of them. From sea level to 752 in just under 2 miles!

What biking studs these two are!! Cheers girls!

After a late night at the pub, we headed south to find a place to park the truck and sleep in the back. We stayed at Devils punchbowl day-use state park. It was a bit of a squeeze for us all in the truck, but we were so tired that it didn't matter much! (its a good thing we like each other!)