Many times today I thought of our friend Ray C. who would randomly yell “I’m loving it” while ourtbiking.  It was a glorious blue sky day, with some tailwinds, and not too much climbing.  (I have thought of Ray’s love for cycling before on this trip, but today I threw up my arms, while stopped, and yelled “I’m loving it.”!)

The ride started in Newport with all of us riding across the bridge together, followed by the sag wagon with flashers on – two lanes, no shoulder – it seemed like the safest way to go.  Quickly the group spread out.

Virtually the entire route today was along US 101.  I decided to try using a single ear plug on my left side – and it really helped to dampen the road sounds without giving me a sense of imbalance.

Our route took us past Seal Rock, Waldport, and into Yachats, where many stopped for coffee at the Green Salmon – I enjoy the stops but don’t drink coffee.

Yachats was billed as the Gem of the Oregon Coast, or the Beverly Hills of the Coast – I din’t see as many supersize homes as I expected but it definitely seemed above average.

I stopped at the Heceta Head Lighthouse, name for a Spanish/Portugese explorer who mapped the northwest coast and discovered shallow water off the coast in this area.  An older couple from Eugene watched my bike while I hiked 1/2 mile up to the lighthouse, took part of a tour, and returned to the beach.

The afternoon temperatures reached 86 degrees.  I sent all of my warm weather clothes home, and now I’m carrying heavier clothes for the colder temperatures we experienced in Washington State…

Just 1/2 mile further along the road were the Sea Lion Caves, but just before I had a good look at sea lions swimming in a cove.  The ticket person admitted that the sea lions don’t actually enter the cave until around December, so I decided to skip the $12 admission to see the cave and video.

At mile 46, we turned off US 101 into a residential area outside of Florence and wandered along the Siuslaw River to the old town area just under the bridge over the river.

We are staying at the River House Inn.  My roommate is Lola (her vacation name) from Massachusetts, who is a retired retail guru.

Florence has the distinction of blowing up a whale in 1970.  The beached whale started to smell so town officials and state transportation officials decided if they blew the whale into small pieces the birds and others could enjoy the remains.  The effort was not as successful has hoped. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBgThvB_IDQ

Relive:  https://www.relive.cc/view/1205014494

56.57 miles, 11.3 mph (some tailwinds today), 3481 ft ascent.