coastal finish

Had a well earned day off in Orick for the holiday. Met at breakfast with a German couple, Margrete and Gurt, who were heading south- of course. Had a nice chat with them they also tandem ride at home. Walked the river bed almost 2 miles to the ocean and the ---- visitor center. Saw 4 pairs of Ospreys flying way up and a family of seals sunning on the beach. We got pretty close to them.

Tuesday, our earliest start yet - 7:30 - after a hearty breakfast. Passed some beautiful coastal areas and some small herds of elk along the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Met more cyclists heading south. Got to Crescent City about noon for Subway thanks to M&C and continued onto a campground. Passed a beautiful ag area devoted to lily bulbs. Then the headwind - we were on the flat and making only 7 mph. That campground that seemed so close was indeed very far away. We pulled into the Salmon Harbor RV resort freezing and finished at 3:30. The tent site was all to ourselves right on the beach AND out of the wind. Hot showers and a beer from across the way and we would live again. Watching about 20 sea lions, over a hundred pelicans and some seals was our evening entertainment. We als0 watched a compact perfectly round tunnel shaped air stream flow right past us forming just over us and flowing to the south along the coastline. Just like in Nemo only in the air instead of the water. Cooked our first camp stove meal - canned chicken,chicken barley soup, water, rice, broccoli. Yummm!

Wednesday woke up to heavy fog and didn't get going till 8:30. Foggy all the way to Brookings plus a headwind. People keep telling us it doesn't start until late morning or after lunch but it feels like a headwind all the time to me. Up and down all the way to Gold Beach with one super long hill all with an unbelievable headwind. In Pistol River, we were being thrown around trying to go across the bridge - it was terrifying. Reuben had to walk the bike across. We continued up a huge hill with gusty winds. Finally we turned east before the Rogue River into the Indian Creek RV Resort at about 3 pm. Beautiful setting by a creek next to a fish hatchery. Once again the only tenters. It takes us about 2 hours to ready camp,shower,hang up clothes,etc. once we arrive at camp. There was a restaurant just down the road where we ate dinner with a beautiful view of the river.

Thursday, 7:15 start (yeah) with smooth riding over mild hills. About 10 miles into the ride in Ophir, we found a lovely spot for snacks and morning prayers overlooking the ocean - no whales that we could see. Stopped in Port Orford for great salad and pizza at the Hard Rain Cafe, picked up groceries as well. The wind was beating us up real good so we decided to skip Cape Blanco State Park and Lighthouse, where I wanted to camp, and traveled another 4 miles to a KOA Kamp OUT OF THE WIND. I think this 4 miles took overan hour!! Had leftover pizza, carrots and broccoli for dinner.

Friday, left camp at 7:30 and made it to Bandon at 9:15 for a fantastic breakfast at the Minute Cafe. The people there were so friendly and curious about our ride,etc. We did stop for pix at Face Rock. Met a Brit, John, heading south and we were on the road again by 10:15. 7 Devils road was a beautiful alternative to 101 winding up in the hills, quiet, little wind, all the way to Charleston, a typical fishing town. Only 10 miles more to North Bend and the Comfort Inn and we got there at 1:30. Used the last of the Subway card! This was a great day of riding. Walked down to check out the 1 mile bridge we had to walk the bike across in the morning. CONSTRUCTION closed the northbound ped walkway!! Ate a great dinner at Mama Mia's near the hotel - owner, Max is a real nice fellow.

Saturday, May 30. Talked with some nice folks in the breakfast room at the Inn and shared our blog site name. Thought an early start (7:45) would be best for traffic and wind on the bridge. Turns out it was a perfect bridge walking day!! Had one mega tuff hill, passed some gorgeous lakes and across another cool bridge into beautiful, quaint Florence at 1:30. Checked into the historic Lighthouse Inn just across from Old Town. We had plenty of time to stretch, clean up, and walk around town. Very pleasant place. There was a street faire going on and we bought some jerky from a guy who was leaving to go down to his daughter's graduation from Stan State this Friday. When we told him that was when our daughter was graduating from there as well, he offered to hold up a sign with her name on it. We also met a couple who were marketing their invention called Glide Cycle. They just opened up sales for these things in March in Oregon and will soon open up distribution place in Sacramento. The are both former runners/cyclists and he is a physical therapist. He was looking for a way to keep running and invented this thing. Check it out at www.glidecycle.com

Pentecost Sunday and a day off as well!!!Took our time this morning with gooood coffee and breakfast and rode up the hill 2 miles to OurLady of the Dunes for Mass. We rodeout to Harbor Vista Park to dip the rear wheel into the ocean but alas there was too much sand. Well at least we got a picture.