It started on a couple of the first few recommended detours off route 101. First another touring cyclist passed me. Then I passed a trio, one guy who was just riding up for a day ride, but the other two were apparently touring and apparently trying to get a LOT further that day. (30+ miles further in Newport, where I'm currently writing this blog post from) Considering I was actually faster than them and that I reached Lincoln City at sunset they must have had a very, very cold night.
The day rider, who has also done some tours in the past. I couldn't grab a picture of the other two.
Aside from that, I didn't see anyone else on the road until I hit the campground. I did catch a bunch of great pictures though!
And...once I reached the campground I ran into a group of ~5 other cyclists! After dismounting my bike promptly fell over, dislodging a number of my miscellaneous items, including my flask full of scotch whiskey. Once the cyclists noticed the flask I was instantly welcomed as a friend; around their camp table everyone else had themselves a bottle of beer to warm themselves in the cooling night.
After that we basically just spent a few hours shooting the shit about various topics, ranging from global warming, cycling, the politics, etc. Just whatever came to mind. As you might expect, pretty much everyone present was of a rather...liberal mindset, so I fell into my typical habit of playing devil's advocate wherever I could find a leg to stand on. All in all a fun night. I also spent this morning chatting up everyone else at the campground until around 10, when I couldn't put off leaving anymore.
One of the cyclists left very early in the morning, before anyone else but me was up.
He also had a trailer!
Candid photo of everyone else.
Today's ride was rather cold, as the fog rolled in early on and never left. However, there was a golden lining to this, for when I stopped to catch a picture of the super thick fog I met yet another touring cyclist, this time from France!
Apparently he took off two years to travel all over the world, basically quitting his job and just going wherever he feels. (My immediate thought : "I like the cut of your jib ser") This was actually his first day on tour, as he had just recently bought his bike + trailer for about $200, before now he was just traveling from skate park to skate park meeting people and letting those meetings launch him further across the country as he rideshares and tries to reach other people his current acquaintances put him in contact with. I gave him a few pointers from personal experience to help ease his first few days on this new segment of his adventure, passed him a few maps, rode about 20 miles,and eventually shared a meal and lengthy conversation with him. He just left about an hour ago as he wanted to get ~20 more miles done today.
That's fog blowing up from the ocean up the mountain that the car is driving under.
And that's why I'm so happy and excited! I'm finally meeting other crazy people who don't balk at the prospect of biking for hundreds of miles over weeks or months!
One last comment. There are probably only two days left on this small adventure of mine. I've determined that Amtrak is the only really viable way to get back to Seattle, and the only remaining stop that makes any sense to ride back from is Eugene, Oregon. (The next stop is a few hundred miles and at least a few mountains southeast) Given that there is only 50 miles to Florence, and that there aren't any places to sleep between Florence and Eugene there are really only those two legs left on this tour. So I'll be stopping this tour where I began my last tour. There's something poetic in that isn't there?
Anyway, I'm not sure if I'll post again from Florence, but I promise I'll give an final ride update from Eugene, and I'll do one recap for my own purposes on what worked and what didn't work when I get back to Seattle.
As always, thanks for reading!
Proving most areas have something worth seeing or someone worth talking to. Nice pix.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! I'm so glad you're running into other touring cyclists now - loved the little detail that your flask identified you immediately as "friend!" If you were only going to get to run into touring cyclists on one end of your trip, I'm glad it's toward the end because you've enjoyed the whole vacation but now you're ending on a real high note. Could have been disappointing if you'd met other cyclists at the beginning and then had no more. Looking forward to the last one or two posts!
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to meet other like-minded people in your adventures. Some of us older folks :) can live vicariously through your adventures. They are always a good read.
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