After a 7:30 AM breakfast, late for us, but a reason to wait for some of the fog to lift - we headed out again onto HWY 101. Immediately, we had gorgeous views of the ocean. At mile 6.6 we left the highway on Brooten Road towards Pacific City. The day was very clear and at Pacific City, Haystack Rock was totally in view. After several pictures, Anne and I headed up some short, but steep inclines on our way down the coast. At mile 9.5 we followed the signs for the 3 Capes Route which we stayed on for several miles. The views were breathtaking, the climbs were steep, 7-9%, and the road was rough - lots of potholes. At the top of a climb at mile 21.6 was Cape Lookout, beautiful view. At mile 29 we entered HWY 131 and 3 Capes scenic Route toward Oceanside.
Anne and I took a short detour into Oceanside, then started a 2 mile, 4-9% climb and 1/2 mile 9-11% climb. followed by a steep short descent which was tricky because of the bad road conditions. At mile 34, Anne, Barb, Mary, and Kathie went into Cape Meares State Park to see the lighthouse. The views from Cape Meares were the best of the day. Of coarse no one else wanted to ride down to the lighthouse because it was going to be a 70 mile day and a steep climb back out, which in places I was in my granny gears! It was worth the extra miles to me.
Once back on the road we had to negotiate some more very rough road but it was better than HWY 131 and HWY 101 which we picked up at mile 44. These are designated bike routes but the shoulders are bad, if there is a shoulder. It is littered with gravel and glass and the traffic does not slow down. At mile 45 we stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Visitor Center, had ice cream, and took the cheese making tour. I remember doing this many years ago with our families when Seth and Matthew were little guys! Back on HWY 101 we struggled along with a headwind . We were glad to see the Miami River Road, newly chip sealed, but no traffic!
We stayed on this road until mile 65, it was a nice break and we could look around a bit. At the bottom of a nice descent we turned onto HWY 53, also a descent road before going back onto HWY 101 toward Nehalem.
At mile 68 in Nehalem we turned onto H Street, a busy street, and looked at a steep incline. We thought we were done with this nonsense for the day. Our legs were tired but we worked our way to the top and soon came to the charming town of Manzanita, where our Sunset Surf Motel awaited us right across the road from the beach. We will be here two nights before heading for Astoria on Friday and Portland on Saturday! Today's stats: 73.1 miles, 5hrs. 46 min., fastest 30.1, avg. 12.6 Patty asked how many miles I have gone total. I will work on adding this up today. We are suppose to be riding 1450 miles, but with all the side trips I know it will be more. My roommate is Nancy from North Carolina.
I guess we're lucky here in the Finger Lakes area when it comes to the abundance of quiet roads winding thru the beautiful countryside (though, there's never a shortage of freshly chip sealed ones, especially where it doesn't seem to be necessary at all). But then, we have no Pacific coast, which indeed is breathtaking! Oh well, one just cann't have everything... Whenever we visit our daughter in California, I'm always thinking how wonderful it would be to ride along the coast (to which she's would, invariably, reply, that's not where the locals bike, because of too much traffic). Still, what a place! I would gladly take my chances.
ReplyDeleteKathie,
ReplyDeleteThese are pretty impressive stats!!!! Congratulations pro...So glad none of the group was hurt through all that traffic and potholes. I bet you are all sleeping soundly with the miles and grade %'s. Praying for your safety still...God bless you Patti