Friday, May 30, 2008

Day 5 - 56 Miles to Grand Ronde

I'm at Grande Ronde at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde reservation located in the heart of Oregon's beautiful Coastal Range. Very friendly people! Sunshine was out all afternoon and it's about 62. Had 3 good climbs with the first one 800 feet in 2 miles and the last climb near the end of the day. Whew! I called Verizon to suspend service on the lost phone. No, they would not let Kathy do it in Knoxville as her name is not on the bill (but her cell phone number is) and she pays all the bills, too. Some kind of baloney about privacy act. Hope to reach Salem tomorrow via Rt. 18 so I can buy a cell phone, fix the stove, and find a tail light.

Day 4 - 52 Miles to Cape Lookout

Thursday went well until the end of the day when I learned that my cell phone is missing! I used it in the afternoon and it probably didn't get put back in the handlebar bag and fell out somewhere. So now the stove pump is still broken, the cell phone is lost, and the blinking tail light on the back of my bike is gone too! The park ranger let me use his phone to call Kathy. Anyway, I camped at Cape Lookout State Park which is on a sand spit between Netarts Bay and the ocean.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Day 3 - 40 Miles to Nehalem Bay State Park

Today is Wednesday. All alone as Jeff left this morning. My cousin is a fun person! After 35 miles stopped at Mazanita (Pop: 564) Library. Stove pump failed at breakfast today so I stopped and ended up eating eggs, hash browns, and sour dough toast. I'm looking for an outdoor store, but may not find one 'til I get to Salem or Eugene. Overcast and misty today, temp never got above 54. Went through a tunnel and was terrified. Pushed a button that said "bicycles in the tunnel", heard a roar thinking it was a logging truck, but turned out to be a small car. I walked my bike through on narrow elevated sidewalk. Safe but unnerving. Ended up biking 40 miles total before reaching my campsite at a beautiful park, Nehalem Bay State Park (still in Oregon). Views are spectacular, wildflowers, ocean nearby. Chilled so put on 2 fleece tops and rain pants. Ate a monster turkey sandwich for dinner, the best turkey sandwich ever! Met Mike and Lupe, a couple in their 60's, pushing buggies down the coast for a fund raiser; Lupe gets to ride in the buggy when she's tired. Also was interviewed by another man who took pictures of me and my bike. Passed by St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church which was locked up.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Day 2 - 78 Miles to Astoria and Fort Stevens

Today is Tuesday, May 27. The sun finally came out 62 miles later when I reached Astoria. The temperature is 64. For you history buffs, Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies where the Columbia River flows into the Pacific Ocean. A bunch of sea lions were "barking" by the pier. Jeff and I plan on biking another 10 miles west to Fort Stevens at the mouth of the Columbia to camp for the night. Fort Stevens was a coastal defense fort that was deactivated after World War II.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Day 1 - 52 Miles from Portland to Vernonia

Today is Monday the 26th, Memorial Day. Cousin Jeff Maag, who lives in Portland & who I haven't seen in over 12 years, biked with me from Portland to our campsite in Vernonia (which is on the way to Astoria, my official starting point). The first day of biking went well. Rode over a mountain pass, saw beautiful fir trees, and had rain for the first 20 miles. We met up with another cousin from Portland, Maureen Hosty, and her 2 children. Maureen brought dinner to the campground - hamburgers, salad, and corn on the cob which is cooking in the husks over the fire. It'll be good eating tonite! Jeff & I are the only campers here tonite as Maureen drives back to Portland as tomorrow is a work day.

Arrived in Portland

Flew 2,300 miles from Knoxville to Portland and was met at the airport by the Forsyths. Had a delicious dinner and wonderful hospitality.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

One Day to Go

May 24 - Departing tomorrow at 9:19 for Portland, Oregon and start pedalling on Monday. Packed and ready to go, but still working on this blog and other vehicles of communication! Will keep up with mileage, conditions, location, highlights, and hopefully some pics. --Tom