John Aylward Photography

Today’s Highlights:

Chris bought us souvenirs last night – bike license plates that say “superbike” and “built 4 speed”.  Since he is the fast one, he attached built-4-speed to his bike and I attached the other.  It’s a good thing too, because we were the last ones to leave the hotel this morning.  Armed with our new accessories, we quickly caught up with most of the group.

The start was not as chilly as the other days, but still brisk.  There was a strong north wind all day, so there were times when it was bitter cold, like at the second SAG stop.  Most of our stops were very short so we could keep warm by cycling.  Also, that wind was great at out backs.  There were several stretches along RT 101 were the wind really help us with some extra speed (so it wasn’t all because of the license plates), and it even gave us a boost up some hills.

In one spot we saw many sea lions lounging on the rocks.  I even saw one whale surface and spout.  There were more great views of isolated beaches and rocky shorelines, and the wind swept waves accentuated the ruggedness of the Oregon coast.  We had a few sunny periods that bought some needed warmth, but most of the day was foggy, windy and chilly.

This was our longest day so far, ending at 80 miles, but a very nice day with less challenging hills and outstanding scenery.

It’s a Record

80 miles is my longest ride ever! Does that mean I didn’t train properly for this trip? Maybe. It felt long but not hard. The climbs were not as intense today, and the tree-lined avenues made me want to slow down and take it in (which is tough to do when I’m Built 4 Speed). The winds were crazy, and I guess they always are. Check out Pic 7 of the slide show. Almost every tree was like that: makes for a neat landscape.

Along the way we rode along this dirt wall (I think it was cut out to make the road). Many people had written their names or slogans in the wall. I decided to stop and etch my wife’s name into the wall to show my undying love for her (pic 29). I told my dad to the same for his wife (hi mom) but I think he got confuse because when I turned around to take the picture I saw that he wrote “Aunt ToTo”… whoever that is. Maybe he was dehydrated. Anyway… I love you, baby!

Chris

West Coast Bike Day 03

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Time: 9/4/2012, 8:04:10

Duration: 06:36:09

Ascent/Descent: 3908 ft 3926 ft

Distance: 79.92 M

Today’s Highlights:

It was another beautiful blue-sky day with chilly morning temps and a little fog to soften the morning light.  Our first eight miles were very pleasant on flat country roads past farms and along the Tillamook Bay, and we breezed along at a good pace.  At eight miles we made a sharp left away from the beach and that’s when the work started, climbing a steep hill for two miles until we reached Cape Meares Lookout State Park.  We took a side trip there to see the lighthouse, beautiful Pacific views, and took a hike to the Octopus Tree.

From the park, we continue our hilly ride through the forest.  It’s amazing that such a short distance from the ocean you are deep in a dense forest of very tall trees.  The route flattened for a while as we pedaled along the Cape Lookout area, and we had our first rest stop there.  Our second big climb of the day came right after fueling up at the SAG, rising steadily 800 ft in 3 miles.  The downhill ride was very appreciated.

We cycled past several beaches today, and they were all very beautiful, with long stretches of sand, ribbons of surf, sea stacks and cliffs, and very few people.  The beach towns were small and it seems that we only traveled a few blocks before we were out of them.

At 50 miles we started our last big climb of the day with a 2-mile 700 ft climb.  It was very slow going and the top was a welcome sight.  For once, the downhill felt as long as the climb and we sped down winding curves.  It was quite windy by then and strangely turbulent, which occasionally pushed the bike to one side or the other.  At 35 mph, it added some excitement to the descent.

We are in Lincoln City tonight.  Chris and I walked down to the beach after dinner about one hour before sunset.  The beach stretches for a long way with cliffs in the distance.  A strong north wind was blowing sand all down the beach and kicking up big waves.  It was pretty, but not the right conditions for a pleasant sunset walk.

Did I say Beautiful…

because I meant breath-taking. We rode both on the shore and on the cliffs right above it. It was a clear day with more great scenery. It’s ineffable, so I hope the pictures do it justice. Good thing I slept for 12 hours last night (6pm-6am) so that I had the energy to ride and enjoy it. And I really enjoy the way the ocean comes right up to the cliffs with the towering trees looking down. The Octopus Tree was quite interesting.

The hills were tough again today, but I felt stronger. I was unaware of the last big climb, so it was tougher mentally than physically.

Chris

West Coast Bike Day 02

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Time: 9/3/2012, 8:08:35

Duration: 05:38:26

Ascent/Descent: 3683 ft 3644 ft

Distance: 58.20 M

Today’s Highlights:

It’s a good thing that I like hills, because we enjoyed climbing four big ones today.  Our day started leisurely, since Chris and I are still waking up on Eastern Daylight Time and the ride did not start until 8:00am PDT.  We took a short walk near the Port of Astoria around 7am when it was still 50 degrees outside.  That prompted me to go back in and pick something warmer to start the ride with.  After some group photos during the luggage loading, we started our ride a little after 8:00.  It was very chilly starting out and for the first half of the 67 miles.

We started riding a little east of the shoreline, avoiding RT 101, which brought us through some nice countryside with small farms in the lower elevations and through pine forests on the hills.  It was very scenic, but unfortunately I did not take many pictures while working on the climbs and then enjoying the fast downhills.  The first big downhill brought us into Seaside where we had a chance to celebrate with a short break at the edge of the beach where the town’s Lewis and Clarke statue is.  Leaving there, we were on a bike path for one mile, then hopped on RT 101 for most of the remaining route.

Our next interesting town was Canon Beach.  It’s a popular location with many nice shops, but I only stopped to take a few pictures and pushed along to our first rest stop at 28 miles.  Along this section we saw many nice views of the beach and the sea stacks.  The next couple climbs kept us wondering where the tops were, but there were nice views along the way and great downhill runs to reward us for the long ascents.  From the town of Wheeler, at around 45 miles, the elevation changes were moderate and we also had some nice flat sections.  We got lucky with a good tailwind on and off for the next 15 miles to help us finish the first day.  The small towns along the way were quaint and interesting.  Unfortunately, we did not have time to explore their shops and their history in logging and maritime.

Reaching Tillamook around 2pm, we stopped at the very popular Tillamook Cheese Factory before going the last 1/2 mile to the hotel.  We did not take the cheese making tour which I heard is very interesting, but instead we treated ourselves to their famous ice cream.  That alone was well worth the stop, and we really needed the calories after the long ride.

Chris and I reached the hotel a little after 2pm behind about 5 other riders.  The crew conducted the route rap at 4pm, then we had an early dinner.

I had a little technical difficulty with my heart rate monitor today, so if you will be looking at the Garmin data don’t be alarmed that my heart rate was zero a few time.  I kind of ignored it on the ride since my legs were still spinning just fine when it happened.  Chris’s Garmin had a small problem too, so his average speed is off from our actual.

A Great First Day

Since my dad is doing such a great job of chronicling the days’ adventures and adding all of the pictures, I figured: what else could I add. I guess I’ll have to talk about me.

What an awesome first day! Oregon is beautiful. Between the picturesque ocean views, the mountains and the towering trees, it couldn’t be more perfect. (There’s a reason for that tree on their license plate.) Though, it is a bit cold. After training in the 90 to 100 degree heat of Virginia these 50 to 60 degree mornings are down right frigid. Other than being a little cold, the ride was great. Again, the views were spectacular. We got to see the sea column from which the Goonies’ One-Eyed Willy’s ship emerges (pic 20 in the slide show) and I took a pic of a cool graffiti stencil of the truffle shuffle. We passed lots of landmarks for Lewis & Clark, too.

The hills today were almost the end of me; I’ve only ever ridden flat flat flat. I better build my climbing legs fast. Can’t wait for tomorrow.

Chris

West Coast Bike Day 01

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Time: 9/2/2012, 8:09:40

Duration: 06:16:20

Ascent/Descent: 3331 ft 3320 ft

Distance: 67.64 M

Today’s Highlights:

Today we drove from Portland to Astoria, where our riding will start from.  It was a very scenic drive through the farmlands of the Willamette Valley and over the coastal range of pine covered mountains, and finally to the Pacific coast.  We had a little time for sightseeing and headed to the popular local landmark, Astoria Column.  It is a tribute to Lewis and Clarke who ended their exploration near here at the mouth of the Columbia River.  After enjoying the views and having a picnic, we said good bye to Jane and Aaron, then went to our hotel to start the ride preparations.

Our bikes arrived safely and we reassemble them.  The entire group of about 28 riders met outside for a bike safety review, then assembled again inside for introductions and a review of ride procedures and tomorrow’s route overview.

We had dinner tonight at a Mexican restaurant and started getting to know several of the riders.  Many of them rode cross-country together two years ago and are enjoying their reunion.

West Coast Bike Day 00

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No riding today