Dolly's Bike Blog

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

Barbara and I rented a BMW SUV today.  First, she wanted to ride the 20 or so miles that she missed with her tire problems yesterday and we wanted to sight-see.

No riding miles, just “scenic” photos. Along the Oregon Coast tomorrow – more hills!

The 56 mile day turned into 61 miles and almost 6 hours: some good, some bad.

Our route out of Longview took us past 3 more Nutty Narrows, all within the first 2 miles.  Then I took a detour to visit the Japanese Garden located in Lake Sacajawea. I have to assume that it was created as a symbol of friendship with a sister Japanese city, but I couldn’t find any plaque confirming this.

We didn’t actually see the Columbia River until about mile 14, though we followed the Coal Creek Slough for several miles.  About 3 miles from the first SAG stop, I passed Barbara who had just received help from Susan for a flat on her rear tire.  By the time I reached the SAG, Barbara had called in to report that her tire was flat again, she had no other replacement tube, and no more CO2 canisters.  The SAG wasn’t able to leave her position, so I biked back to Barbara, loaned her a tube, and with assistance from Chef Sue we changed the tire, adding a boot to cover a slit in the tire.  Sadly, the tire was a continuing problem.

Barbara and I continued together along the Columbia to Cathlamet, a small fishing town, connected by bridge to Puget Island. From the island, we took the Wahkiakum Ferry, the last remaining ferry service on the Columbia, across to the Oregon side, a journey of about 15 minutes.

The Berry Patch in Westport had been recommended and was a delicious lunch and pie place.  About 3 miles further down the road, we began a 3 1/2 mile climb to Clatsop Crest Summit (elev 656 ft) – very slow and long.  By the time we reached the top, Barbara’s tire would no longer hold air and she called the sag for a pickup.  I continued the remaining 20 miles alone, a lot of ups and downs.

Average speed 10.36 mph, 3973 ft of ascent.

While dinner was being prepared, Dan, a local stopped by and gave us some suggestions for things to see in and around Astoria.  He was riding some combination skateboard/hovercraft, but we forgot to ask what it was called.  Beautiful sunset over the Columbia and the Astoria Bridge, which Don and I rode just a month ago.

Rest day tomorrow, lots to see and do, but no biking!

Relive:   https://www.relive.cc/view/1195380209