Days 8, 9 &10 - Drive through Oregon to Crescent, CA

 Miles 21, Total 350

The plan for the next three days was to drive from Washington to California down the Oregon coast.  I did want to take some time with it so Brandon could get to know the coast somewhat.  That’s pretty much what happened.  Saturday morning, we took a little time and went to the Mount St. Helen’s museum up the road a bit from our Castle Rock camp.  It was very interesting to be there and remember that event in our lives.

We then began the trip down the coast.  We did stop at a few beaches and a light house and drove 200 miles Saturday, 106 on Sunday and then 130 today on Monday.  It was a nice trip down and we enjoyed some of it and spent plenty of time just driving.  I hope when I read this in the future, I am reminded how terribly high fuel costs were on this trip and that they are no longer as high.  We pretty much spent $6 for diesel in Oregon and in California, that price is over $7.  That seems so crazy.

I think some highlights of the trip down was of course the beauty of the landscape, beaches and ocean.  We did have a dinner Saturday night in which I ordered a Rueben and when it came it was encrusted with Parmesan cheese.  That thing was really good. We also had plenty of rain that came our way.  It was nice not to ride in it, but made for some soggy campgrounds.

We began out California ride right at the California border.  Brandon dropped us there and we rode 21 miles into Crescent City. It was a pretty flat ride with strong winds at our back and a good warmup before tomorrow.

Here are some pictures of the last few days:

Heceta Head Lighthouse

Just so green.  It is beautiful

A ship coming into Coos Bay

Just the wondrous Oregon Coast.

Day 7 - Centralia, WA to Castle Rock, WA

 Miles 49, Total 329

Back in 2008 or so, I rode the STP (Seattle to Portland) ride with my son Chris.  I don’t know what prompted us to do it, but it was a 205 mile ride that we did in one day. It was a great opportunity to do something great with him  It’s mid point was Centralia.  So in Centralia, the route I was on took me through Centralia Community College and that connected the dots to where I have ridden from the Canadian border to just beyond the border of California.  

The rest of the ride today was nice.  Not much different in scenery, but the roads were good with a nice shoulder. One thing that was different was just the steepness of the roads I traveled today.  They seemed to head straight up and down the hills.  Right at the end of the ride, I started getting rain again.  It wasn’t even worth putting on the rain gear, but after arriving in camp, it did start coming down again.

Tim and Nancy took the train from Tacoma to Longview and we picked them up at 4:30.  They are going to join me for the California portion of the trip. We are going to just drive down the Oregon coast since we have all ridden that back in 2014. We will be taking the next 3 days to drive to the California border. Brandon has never been down the Oregon coast, so we wanted to take some time and see some things.  We will check back in once the vacation within the vacation is done. 😊

Things are just so green.

Getting ready to take off.

Even by biking standards, 16% is a lot of drop or climb. Look at the road disappear. 😬

Day 6 - Shelton, WA to Centralia, WA

   Miles 53, total 280

We were forecasted to get rain and did we ever get rain. I started out today and it was raining and it stopped as I got within about 5 minutes of camp.  It didn’t even stop for long and right now (9:50 pm) it is still raining.  I do think I had the right gear for it all.  I had my rains pass jacket and pants, water proof covers for my feet and even a motel shower cap over my helmet.  But with all that on, you just sweat and get wet from the inside.  

Considering the rain, I did enjoy the ride.  It was just so green everywhere. The grass is so tall on the side of the roads.  Because of the rain I only took one picture.  That was bad.

At lunch time, I was wondering where I was going to stop and eat.  I was heading through a bunch of pasture type fields and was seeing quite a few dairy farms.  I passed a free-stall barn that was empty of animals and had some farm implements parked inside and close to the road, so I hoped the farmer wouldn’t mind me getting out of the rain there.  It was a nice break and I hated to get back in the weather.  I was already wet and getting cold, so I knew I needed to get going.

Got into camp quite early (2:30) and so took a quick nap and did some laundry.  Worked on some office stuff for a bit and then Brandon and I watched  an Apple series show, Foundation, tonight while we ate dinner.  We are getting hooked on it and will have to finish the 10 episodes while we are out.

I’m hearing the rain hitting the roof of the RV. Hope it soothes us in our sleep.

This is what I saw all day long.

Day 5 - Port Ludlow, WA to Shelton, WA

 84 mile, Total 227

I got started wrong right off, this morning.  I think there was a turn right before I got to camp and when I left, I was looking for the turn and made the wrong one. 😬. I Figured it out pretty quickly and was only off course by two miles, but on a long day, that still kind of messes with the mind.

Had a nice day of riding and beautiful views, but the wind kind of got the best of me.  The later in the day it got, the more I was getting bothered by it.  I imagine it was blowing at 10 to 15 mph from the south all day and that was the general direction I was going all day.  There are supposed to be southerly prevailing winds down the coast, but I have only had them 1 out of 3 days. Also had about 4,200 feet of climbing today, so it took quite awhile to finish.  I pulled into camp at about 5:30. About 7 hours in the saddle.  I was beat.

We are staying at a casino RV park.  These casino parks are always nice.  We thought we would take the opportunity to eat at a restaurant since it was right there and the casino had this seafood restaurant.  Brandon had a bowl of crab bisque and I got clam chowder and we shared some boiled clams.  Man, was that good.  I then watched the basketball playoffs on the huge screen in the casino and Brandon played a few games and then we turned in.  

I’m tired.

 I better get with it.  This is the only photo I took.  It was this 8 mile long lake (Mason Lake) and it was lined all around it with vacation home.  The life of the rich and famous. Sorry for no more pictures. That’s what happens when you have 80 miles to do.

Day 4 - Anacortes, WA to Port Ludlow, WA

 Miles 73 Total 143

I am tired tonight.  I have an app on my phone that has the Adventure Cycling maps on it and they show a different route than my paper maps.  The app actually went through Anacortes and I wanted to see the place so decided to follow the app map.  However, it is more difficult to follow the app on the phone as you constantly need to stop and check where you are going, the next turn, etc.  Well, I got on the wrong road and I think the ups and downs were worse on this road and I am just worn out.

Anacortes is a cool town if you ever get the chance.  Kind of a resort. Not a lot to talk about the route.  It was nice, but not as scenic as yesterday. Much of the route today, I traveled a year ago as we left the Olympic National Park.  It was fun to see it again and I think we traveled some different ways, so it was new.  

Brandon and I met up at 2:30 to take the Coulerville/Port Townsend ferry.  It’s always fun to take a ferry ride.  We are once again on the Olympic Peninsula and I am traveling down the east side of it. 

The weather today was beautiful.  Sun was shining, wind was mostly at my back and 60 to 70’s. I think my luck is running out, however.  Rain is in the forecast. 😬

If you look close, you can see the boat with the trees growing out the top.  Crazy!

A view for Anacortes

The bike/pedestrian bridge heading to Anacortes

My travel buddy, Brandon on the ferry

This was kind of a nice surprise.  A 9 mile packed dirt path that I was on after arriving in Port Townsend.  It was quite nice to travel on.

Day 3 - Blaine, WA to Anacortes, WA

 Miles 58, Total Miles 70

Wow, this day had some beautiful places to see.  It was also a wonderful day to ride.  The sun was out and the winds were light.  However, the wind did blow from the south all day which created a headwind.  I have to complain about something. 😊 I think it only got into the 60’s. I pretty much wore the jacket all day.

I left Blaine about 8:00 and the route took me to these roads that seemed to be in a refinery’s land.  There were roads that went through, but pedestrians and bicycles were only allowed.  It was some nice riding with no car noises nor vehicles.  I then had to pass through Bellingham.  I kind of like riding through towns.  It was well mapped and kept me on roads with a bike path most of the way.  It also took me through old Bellingham which was pretty neat.

I think the highlight of the day was riding through Larrabee State Park.  It looked a lot like Olympic National Park, but had the bay on the other side which made it just beautiful. I will put som pictures in, but I know they  won’t do things justice.  It was just a nice first day.  I found myself just loving the experience again.

We are camped at the Swinomish Casino tonight.  It is probably the cleanest casino I have ever seen.  They don’t allow smoking inside and it is just nice.  We did buy us a burger inside for dinner and quite enjoyed that.  Well, I am kind of beat.  I guess for a first day, I should expect that.

That road that no cars were allowed on.

Larrabee State Park

Larrabee State Park

I’m just a boat lover.

Day 1&2 - Burley to Blaine, WA

 13 miles

Well I’m at it again.  This year’s trip is to fill up some holes I have in the Pacific coast.  I have ridden most of the way from Canada to Mexico' but have from the border of Canada to Seattle and the norther border of California to San Francisco to make the distance complete.  Brandon, my trusty SAG Wagon driver, and I left Burley Saturday and traveled to Tacoma, WA and then on to Blaine today.

We spent the evening yesterday with Tim and Nancy.  I have rode with and written about these good friends many times and am looking forward to them joining me on the California portion.  Nancy made us a fantastic lasagna dinner last night and it was fun catching up with them. They just returned from a six week ride in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. 

We left their home this morning and rode to Blaine, WA where the US shares a border with Canada.  It rained like crazy getting here and I still hear a few drops falling on our RV. I’m hoping the rain has had enough by morning as I start to ride. 😊 After arriving here, I got on the bike and rode the 6 miles to the border and back.  There is a Peace Arch Historical Park in Blaine, that just on the other side of the park is Canada.  You can just walk across the border.  I was there to get some pictures and as I rode the bike back across the park to head back to the RV park, I was stopped by border patrol.  He asked me some questions about where I was from and where I had been. He was a little concerned that I had come across the border from Canada, skipping customs. He was nice and all and I just told him I am getting my start and hadn’t been anywhere yet.

Tomorrow will be the big start.  I am hoping for nice sailing and looking forward to a great trip.

Just on the other side of this sign is Canada.