Two examples of how Oregon got it right

Yesterday was the last day of riding for this trip.

Started by leaving my rabbit camping companions

Was listening to to Van Morrison’s “Into The Mystic” ,while viewing scenes like this.

Roads were fairly quiet on this Sunday morning.

Came to the town of Neskowin. Town we had heard a lot about from our neighbors The Bugge’s. Pronounced boogie.

In Neskowin the is a great store next to the beach called Neskowin Provisions.

All kind of goodies there.

So I refueled and about a mile down the rod made a left onto the old highway 101.

The day before a guy I was riding with at the end of the day had told me about it.

The current 101 goes straight up and over the hill. This gem ,small two lanes wind its way through green forests,

Over creeks and streams

In an hour I saw 5 cars.

It was idyllic riding.

The climb was gentle and it almost felt effortless.

Yes near the top I was in my climbing gear, but the lack of traffic was so welcome. That’s the Frankenstein duo of the Oregon coast.heavy traffic with these stunning views.

I later in the day took a road that the same guy had suggested and it too was much quieter.

Its other side was that it was this series of 200 yard steep descents and climbs.

It was like doing intervals. There was a heroin high element to them.

If you built up speed going down you could climb up the next easily. the problem was often you couldn’t get as high, so you still ended up working to get to the top.

Of course that didn’t stop me from trying again!

One of the climbs took you off 101 onto a small road with a nice gradient.

It was one way and there were a few cars but they were going 25mph.

Heck this coast is so spectacular it even has Bonsai

To Marc and Jeanine,remember Dad and Mom’s trip here to golf?

Towards the end of the day and stopped to do some whale watching. The day before we had seen spouts in the ocean.

I saw one arching in this spot.

To my recollection everyone I’ve met on this trip has been generous and helpful.

I think of the the conductor who helped me get my bike on the train when I had no clue about bikes on trains,thetwo young scientists I met on the train ride up here, the people in Bellingham, who pointed me toward Blaine, the campground host on the last night, when I was so tired, who gave me the camp spot to the hotel manager here at Rodeway in Newport who helped me with my reservation mix up.

Contrary to what you see on tv there are wonderful people doing little things everyday to help one another.

I know because I’ve just experienced it.

Go out you door and find them

Paul

Wendell and Vaughn who made the trip SO MEMORABLE

Many we ride together soon