We got a bit of a late start this morning, as map meeting wasn’t until 8 am in the parking lot. It was cloudy and a bit of a threatening sky, but I am happy to report no rain today!

After some dolly-gagging leaving Astoria to take photos of the bridge and the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, and a scary bridge crossing due to wet grates, I managed to miss a turn and go over 2 miles the wrong way before discovering my mistake.  This put me well behind everyone most of the day.

We biked the Lewis & Clark Road for some 13 miles through forests and farm lands.  At one point I heard a man calling “Come On” and discovered he was summoning his cattle to his truck filled with hay.  They cooperated for a while and moved across the field, until one large and loud one started bellowing and they all seemed to stop and begin to chew the grass.  I didn’t linger to see if the man was successful in getting the cows near to the truck.

A long uphill followed by a fast downhill took us to Seaside, OR.  Fran, the sag driver, had waited for me to check in before moving ahead.  I wandered along the North Prom bike path where many people were engaged in Beach Clean-up. I had my picture taken as this was the first sighting of the Pacific from my bicycle.

Leaving the bike path, I found Lorna finishing up changing a flat and we biked together for some 5 miles into Cannon Beach.  I stopped there for a sandwich while she continued on.  Lots of people in town enjoying the sunshine and the famous Haystack Rock.

Back onto US 101, we passed through a tunnel near Cape Arch – press a button to warn cars that you are in the tunnel (I have front and back lights as well).  It was very loud with the cars whizzing by both directions.

Up a 2-3 mile hill, then back down to Oswald West State Park for a second sag stop.  We ran into a family and friends with the bride and groom hiking down one of the trails for their wedding ceremony. Another uphill culminating in beautiful views down the coast to Manzanita and Nehalem.

After the downhill we rode along Nehalem Bay – lots of small fishing boats enjoying a beautiful day.

Finally arrived in Rockaway Beach after 4 pm.  We are staying at the Silver Sands Oceanfront Motel – beautiful views out on the ocean.

Relive: (They decided on the photos tonight)  https://www.relive.cc/view/1198390173