Corvallis to Neskowin, OR (August 25, Tuesday)

The forecast was for 10% chance of rain so I did not bring my rain gear. Apparently we rode through the 10% because it misted on us for the first two hours of our ride and got us damp and cold. We had left early because it was going to be an 80 mile day. The ride started out on busy HWY 99, but we had huge shoulders which helped us keep out of the rain spray from the trucks. As we got farther away from Corvallis, the traffic was less. We crossed HWY 99 at mile 14.2 and entered Helmick Rd. and Helmick State Park for our first sag and bathroom stop. It was good to get off our bikes and warm up a bit.

After a few more country roads we were on a bike path that paralleled HWY 99 for 5.5 miles. When the bike path ended we were back on HWY 99 for .5 miles before heading onto HWY 22, a very busy road. The wind was picking up and the rain was beginning to dissipate but the traffic was heavy going to the Oregon coast. At mile 44, HWY 18 also joined the mess and we stayed on the dual HWY's until mile 48 when Anne, Hillie, and I exited at the Spirit Mountain Casino for a break and lunch. There was a little store before the casino where we got some chocolate milk to go with the peanut butter and jelly sandwich we had packed for the day. After a nice rest and refueling of our bodies, we headed back on what became just HWY 18 as the two roads split.

We were also climbing a lot as we had to go over the Coastal Range to get to the Pacific Ocean. At mile 52 we began a 6% grade climb to Murphy Summit - 780', nothing like the mountains we had been climbing, but still respectable. A 5% climb followed and finally at mile 70 we were able to exit the busy HWY 18 onto the Old Scenic HWY 101. We had to climb 4-6% grade but there was no traffic and the scenery was beautiful, lush pine trees with moss on them, ferns, and water trickling from somewhere higher up. At the top we had a seven mile descent which we took slowly because of the wet, moss covered road.

At mile 79 we entered HWY 101, the main road, which of coarse had more traffic but better shoulders. We took that into Neskowin to the Blue Neskowin Resort. It was a very stressful day because of the road conditions and I had a 3rd floor condo. After dragging my bike and luggage up the stairs, no elevators, I was blessed with a beautiful view of the ocean and a balcony to sit on to watch the activities. Of coarse I went to the beach after unpacking. In the pictures, you are looking at Proposal Rock, which has trails on it. You have to know when the tides are right so you can get off of it in time. Couples go there so the guys can propose to their girls. Last month, however, a couple were on the ocean side and the young man was proposing to his bride to be. A rogue wave came along and washed her off the rock. She has never been found, very sad.

Stats: 82.92 miles, 5hrs. 57 min., fastest 36.2, avg. 13.9 We climbed 3100' heading to the coast! My roommate: Karen from Minnesota.