2008: Oregon Coast
Getting Started
Distance: 660km
Map
So after testing the waters in 2007, we figured "Everyone says the Oregon coast is a great cycle. We should do that!". And so the planning begins. We contacted Oregon tourism for maps and other information. We googled for roadways and lodging. We made plans for daily destinations. And off we went.
The Trip
We flew to Portland via Vancouver. Rudy & Sue were already there. From Portland we made our way to Astoria, Oregon nestled up against the Washington state border. Little did we know what lay ahead.
Living on the prairies primarily prepares you for one type of cycling adversity: wind. The Oregon coast presented us with our first taste of real hills. We laugh now at the so-called "Richer Hill" which is half way from Labroqurie to Richer. It is a small incline but for prairie folk on a bike, we call it a hill. True hills lay ahead on the Oregon coast. Frequently we would start in bright sunshine at the base, pouring sweat up a smallish mountain, facing many switchbacks, and enter the clouds at the top. Once there, it was time for a jacket since it was quite cool. The downhill was a blast of chilly air until near the bottom. It helps you to appreciate the effort of the cyclists on The Tour who jacket up at the top of a climb in preparation for the downhill.
The Geography
Sunshine every day. Highs into the 30s (C) and lows around 10.
Significant hills. A great challenge. Beautiful scenery. Don't forget the 7 Devils Road detour. A nice diversion off the busy coastal highway.
Oddity
Met a guy on a bike who had spent the past year cycling around the US - backwards. No kidding. We saw him several times just clipping along. He was raising funds for _______ (fill in the blank). We're not sure if he actually knew.
Rating: 9
On a scale of 1-10, this is a great "scenic" trip. The only negative was the busy traffic on this coastal highway.
