Day 62 Arch Cape, OR to Astoria, OR

Yorktown, VA to Astoria, OR, Completed 4,245 Miles
Average 71 miles/day, Completed July 12, 2015

Biking Detail Arch Cape, OR to Astoria, OR

Day 62 LAST DAY Sunday, July 12

Left Arch Cape at 9:00 AM after a wonderful breakfast at Bill and Lyn's. What a great ending to our journey to spend time with friends 30 miles from the finish line! At their suggestion we stopped at the Sleeping Monk coffee shop in Cannon Beach and got a latte for the road. There was a big line when we got there but we waited and got our vanilla lattes and they were worth the wait. Also had a maple bar, pretty good!

Biked through Seaside then climbed up away from 101 on the Lewis and Clark road. Pretty good climb up to 9% but nice to have last 13 miles off of 101 in route to Astoria. Little tricky along latter part of that route with some unmarked turns. Then got to the turn off for the Old Bus 101 bridge into Astoria and saw the detour sign. Bridge was closed. Ended up having to travel the much busier 101. Routing after the bridge was pretty tricky as well. Finally got to the finish line at the Columbia Maritime Museum about noon. 

Disappointing that no place to dip the tire as a ceremonial finish as we did before leaving Yorktown. No signage as to the official ending spot but at least got a  photo at the Maritime Museum!  Ended up staying the night in Astoria at the Holiday Inn right on the Columbia River. They had a great spot for the tire dipping so did get the photo shot after all. Feels so good to be done. 

There were actually some times I really wondered if I could make it...but kept telling myself just one day at a time. And, of course, could not have done it with out the encouragement and SAG support from Margie. A true team effort and wonderful way to have commenerated our 45th wedding anniversary!  Margie gets to pick the trip for the 50th!!!  Will enjoy the evening here in Astoria before heading back to Poulsbo, with a couple of family visits along the way.

Lyn and Bill Gordon wishing me a safe ride on last 40 miles to Astoria

Espresso and a maple bar at the Sleeping Monk in Cannon Beach, Or

One more small climb

Bridge across Columbia River is closed, need to detour to HWY 101 (boo!)

Arrival at the Columbia Maritime Museum in Astoria (official end of Transamerica Trail)

Talking to another biker at finish in Astoria

Photo op at Finish

The Maritime Museum

Margie and I celebrated at the Fort George Brewery a block away

Official tire dip in Columbia River, ride over and adventure complete!

Day 61 Pacific City, OR to Arch Cape, OR

Yorktown, VA to Arch Cape, OR, Completed 4,205 miles
Average 71 miles/day, Estimated Finish July 12, 2015

Biking Detail Pacific City, OR to Arch Cape, OR

Day 61 Saturday, July 11

Left Pacific City at 6:00. Pretty cool 61,especially seeings how my biking shorts didn't dry last night! Nice ride along the coast then the morning wake up with the climb up Cape Lookout Road. Two miles of 7-9% curves. All of a sudden wasn't so cool anymore! 

Had hoped to stop for breakfast in Tillamook, but after two pretty negative experiences with rude motorists coming in on 131, and not really seeing anything of interest, decided to bike on to Garibaldi. Motorists here don't seem to heed the "Bikers on the Road" signs. Hello...there is NO shoulder!  

At least took a picture of the Tillamook Cheese factory before leaving town then moved on and had excellent breakfast at the Parkside Coffee House in Garibaldi. Excellent eggs benedict and very friendly staff. Recommend as a food stop!  

Light drizzle so pulled out my rain jacket, first time used since Kansas. Actually did it as much for the bright yellow as traffic very heavy on 101. Road from Garabaldi to Nehalem has very rough surface with lots of potholes and debris filled shoulder. Combined with heavy traffic makes for intense ride.

Be prepared to climb out of Nehalem! Got up to 12% grade with lots of traffic. Large RVs pulling cars the worst as don't move over at all. Very difficult to maneuver with the narrow shoulder. Summer traffic on 101!  Definitely would be best in the early hours of the day! 

Staying with friends Bill and Lyn Gordon in Cape Arch tonight. Will finish ride to Astoria in the morning!

Which way do we go?

Started out with the windbreaker on

The great Pacific Ocean

Tillamook Cheese cows

On the way to Lookout Point, starting climb

Great dune buggy territory

Starting up, not much traffic

Enjoying the ride down

The tide waters

Nice view

Like the cheese, not so much some of the mororists

Great breakfast at the Parkside in Garabaldi

Finishing the ride to Arch Cape, rain slicker back on

Good friends Bill and Lyn Gorden at Arch Cape

Day 60 Corvallis, OR to Pacific City, OR

Yorktown, VA to Pacific City, OR, Completed 4,144 Miles
Average 71 miles/day, Estimated Finish July 12, 2015

Biking Detail Corvallis, OR to Pacific City, OR

Day 60 Friday, July 10

Left Corvallis at 6:00. Route out of town had nice bike shoulder but had some surprise climbs before getting to 99W. Good first-thing-in-the-morning workout. Windbreaker quickly came off even though temp was 63. Fortunately most of traffic on 99W was going towards Corvallis and shoulder was still good. Short 1 mile Arboretum route was skipped because the road was loose gravel. Under construction. 

Got off 99W onto Old Fort Road to Monmouth. Began to see Willamette Valley grapes!! Once back on 22W traffic really picked up, but still nice wide shoulder. Salmon River HWY (18) was just as congested with lots of traffic. Shoulder small but rideable. Still no cafes to stop and eat! Had to bike 69 miles, to Otis, before finding a cafe for breakfast!! Nothing along that long stretch from Corvallis. A few boarded up places!  

Ate at Otis Cafe, at the junction of Old HWY 101 and 18, at the recommendation of a local. Was 11:00, five hours into my ride! Photo of my meal tells you how hungry I was. From there took the Old HWY 101 route. Very scenic through dense forrest. Got to Pacific City about 1:30. Checked into our room at Inn at Pacific City then headed to the State Park for some photo ops...reaching the Pacific Ocean!!!! Will bike to Astoria but just reaching the Pacific feels like a tremendous accomplishment. Will stay with friends Bill and Lyn Gordon in Arch Cape tomorrow night before dipping the tire in Astoria on Sunday!

More wheat as we head out of Corvallis

Stopped at this Espresso shop in Rickreall

Seeing some vineyards

Heading toward the coast

A few logging trucks to watch out for

Coast Range Summit 760 feet, they all count, right

Breakfast after 69 miles

Good place to stop...the Otis Cafe

The old Highway 4.5 mile climb from Otis

Enjoying the climb

Celebrating the Pacific Ocean

58 Days of biking and over 4,100 miles

Celebration continues at the Pelican Pub in Pacific City

View from the outside deck at the Pub

Day 59 Mckenzie Bridge, OR to Corvallis, OR

Yorktown, VA to Corvallis, OR, Completed 4,056 miles
Average 71 miles/day, Estimated finish July 12. 2015

Biking Detail McKenzie Bridge, OR to Corvallis, OR

Day 59 Thursday, July 9

Left McKenzie Bridge at 6:15. First ten miles had a nice shoulder then quickly changed to recently paved road with pretty small shoulder. Still managed to average between 14-17 MPH. Passed several filbert (hazelnut) farms. Didn't realize this area famous for their hazelnuts. Trees are just off the banks of the McKenzie River. Didn't realize what kind of trees they were until after we had passed the area. 

Stopped in Vida, at the Vida Cafe, for breakfast. Very friendly little cafe with good food, breakfast links not the ordinary variety...very tasty. Recommend this as a planned breakfast, lunch or dinner spot! Not a much else along this stretch for food so nice to find something fun and worth the stop! Passed a couple of Christmas tree farms near Leaburg...also on the banks of the McKenzie. Somewhat of a surprise to see in this area! 

Glad to turn off 126 unto Camp Creek Rd at Walterville. Nice ride along the creek and up on McKenzie View Drive. Lots of large nice homes...short commuting distance to Eugene. Got to the intersection of McKenzie Rd and Colburg Rd and celebrated getting to Map #1, last map of the Transamerica Trail!! Miles of wheat fields between Colburg and Peoria. Picked up a nice tail wind after Coburg which lasted for 24 miles or so. Was able to boost my average speed to 15.8 mph for the 86 miles. 

Enjoyed the cooler weather today! Mid-day only 66. Ride was actually little too cool for most of the morning. Haven't said that in several weeks!!! Maybe the heat wave is coming to an end!

Made it to Corvalis by 1:30 and ready to call it a day at 86 miles.

My eyes are focused just off the road...that's where I saw these "free range" chickens

The Mckenzie River

Good place for breakfast

My breakfast sandwich

The Walterville Canal

Miles and miles of wheat fields