Nov 16, 2009 - California Redwood National Park

Pacific Coast Bike Route, near Crescent City, CA

What to do when you need a break from the road? Climb a tree!

Pedalling under giants, Redwoods National Park, CA

Nnov 15, 2009 - Coquille Point to Brookings, Oregon

Face Rock, near Bandon, OR

Arch Rock, OR

Hiking the Coast Trail, Indian Sands, OR

Nov 13, 2009 - Pass the cranberries...

Many cranberry bog farms here on the south coast of Oregon; Trucks pass me overloaded with cranberries just harvested, water spilling from the back....they leave a steady trail of cranberries on the shoulder.  South of Coos Bay, The Oregon Coast Bike Route directs cyclists onto something called Seven Devils Road...10 miles of steep rollers through a clear-cut forest  I'd recommend skipping it and staying on  Hwy 101..

Oregon Dunes National Rec Area

McCoullough Memorial Bridge, North Bend, OR

May all seven of 'em burn in hell....

Cranberry bog

Nov 10, 2009 - Somewhere, over the rainbow....Oregon Coast Bike Route (continued)

  

Heceta Head Lighthouse

Sunset - Waldport, Oregon

Honestly, I would have been dryer swimming the Oregon coast instead of cycling it.  ..not like I didn't expect this weather, October and November being two of the rainiest months of the year in the Pacific Northwest. In spite of the rain and wind, I'm still enjoying this wild and rocky Oregon coast.... 

Heceta Head lighthouse viewpoint....Thousands of sea lions lying on the beach in the cove just to the south of the lighthouse....I heard their barking long before I saw them.  Every so often, something would unsettle the herd; Panic would ensue and set them to running, the ripple of movement spreading through the herd as they waddle en mass towards the sea.  The massive buff-coloured cows congregating higher up on shore, lolling and belching, the young pups bodysurfing... 

  

After the rain, Hwy 101, near Newport, Oregon

Nov 9, 2009 - Orgeon Coast Bicycle Route

Consulting the map in Gaston, Orgeon  

Stop for lunch at the very popular Otis Cafe in Otis, Oregon. After trying the walnut waffles, I can see why folks were lined up outside the joint..

Takin' a break at Lincoln City, on Highway 101 at Lincoln City

Another storm along the Oregon coast

There are lots of bridges to cross travelling the Oregon Coastal route.

Near the aptly-named Cape Foulweather, looking south along the Orgeon coast

Nov 8, 2009 - Portland - Reunited with Gary and Vicki

Reunited in Portland with friends Gary and Vicki...

 So great to see them both again, and to find them loving the life here.
I'd been looking forward to visiting them since I left Alaska.  Hard to believe I'm here, in Oregon,...wasn't it just yesterday I was planning my route south down Vancouver Island and Washington's Olympic Peninsula to reach here....

I seem to be going against my best cycling touring instincts these days.....and my ride into Portland is no exception.  I call Vicki in the morning, she gives me their address.  I arrive on the outskirts of Portland after dark, pedalling under St. Johns Bridge and into downtown; Inquiring at a bike shop about a route into Beaverton, the proprietor advises I take Lovejoy/Cornell Rd over the hill: A 4 mile climb, with tunnels, no shoulder, lots of traffic...in the dark....sounds great!  Why I didn't hold up outside the city at a campground, I cannot say.

Instead, I grunted up the climb, though I was feeling pretty cooked already....bonking three quarters of the way up the climb, I pulled over, dug an apple and some nuts out of my handlebar bag, and stood there on the roadside, my legs shaking, cramming food in.

 Once descended from the top of the hill into Beaverton, I make my way to Gary and Vicki's place. They give me a warm welcome, feed me manicotti and a delicious insalata pomodorri. The last time we were together was in Cherokee, N.C., after having ridden for 9 days together along the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway.   

The Gunnar gets some much-needed TLC - cleaning and lube.  Gary's and his son Brian's arsenal of bicycles in the background.....

Sunday morning, Gary and friend Allan give me a "fixie" escort out of town.

Thank you Gary and Vicki, for everything: For the helmet, the lovely dinner at Pastini, and most of all, for your friendship.  I look forward to our next meeting....

Nov 6, 2009 - Tacoma to Portland

Thank you cousin John, Heidi, Gen, and Kerr for your gracious hospitality.  I enjoyed so much meeting and getting to know everyone.....( how long had it been since cousin John and I had seen each other, we wondered? ).  And a special 'Thanks' to Heidi for providing me with  cue sheets and maps for the STP ( Seattle to Portland ) tour. Had a beautiful, quiet ride through the valleys and forests of western Washington, to the crossing of the mighty Columbia River at the Lewis & Clark Bridge at Longview, WA.  I had pretty heavy headwinds much of the way -  apparently the remnants of a storm system wreaking havoc along the Oregon/Washington coast.  

An 'illegal' photograph: Lewis & Clark Bridge over the Columbia River ( The sign says: "No voluntary stopping allowed while crossing bridge.")

Crossing into Oregon at the Lewis and Clark Bridge over the Columbia River....Beginning the long slow grade onto the bridge from the Washington side, a cold rain is falling, skies gray and angry....Exiting the bridge on the Oregon side,  warm sunshine and blue skies!!!  Oh what a difference a bridge makes.

Approach ramp to Lewis and Clark Bridge at Longview, WA

Soaking up some sunshine in Rainier, Oregon, watching the Columbia River roll by on it's way to the Pacific

Nov 2, 2009 - Tacoma

Spent an afternoon pedalling around downtown Tacoma, The Museum of Glass, approached from the Chihuly Bridge of Glass...amazing glass forms in shadowboxes, backlit by the afternoon sun;  a glass drop ceiling filled with organic shapes sculpted in colored glass;  Emerging from the covered bridge, an impressive view of Mt. Rainier