Day 10- back to pedaling!

Day 10- back to pedaling!

I made it to Pacific City tonight, and with some difficulty I found the county campground. It is full of rabbits. Example:

20120726-211851.jpg

This place is like a big grassy parking lot, but I counted about a dozen of these guys wandering around within sight of my tent.

I have more pictures and happenings, but I’ll update those tomorrow morning over coffee. The cellular data network here is really slow, and the coffee joint has wifi.

In summary until then: I am having trouble keeping air in my back tire and I saw some really pretty things today.

Day 9- More Tillamook

Day 9- More Tillamook

Walking around Tillamook, the most interesting thing that I saw was the pioneer museum. It didn’t look like much when you fist walk in, but as you get away from the entrance and check out the basement and top floor, it is absolutely packed with neat stuff.

There was a room full of photos of the earliest white settlers in the area, examples of artifacts from the people who were here first (lots of weavings, tools, etc), and a room full of weapons. You walk into the room and you’re greeted by a doll with an authentic machine gun:

20120726-202356.jpg

Skipping over the rest, we come to a weapon used extensively by the Tillamook County PD… Nunchucks?!?

20120726-203312.jpg

That’s ‘interesting’! What was Even more fascinating was a display case where they had (I think) at least 50 different types of barbed wire. Here are a few:

20120726-203949.jpg

20120726-204500.jpg

The museum also had a huge collection of taxidermied animals upstairs. Although the majority were birds, I saw enough mammals to confirm that the animals I saw earlier in my trip were almost certainly weasels.

To wrap up the night, we stocked up on some serious chutney and feasted while watching movies.

20120726-205645.jpg

So much chutney. (actually completely joking about chutney consumption)

Day 9- laundry and Tillamook

Day 9- laundry and Tillamook

Last night I made it into Rockaway Beach, where Molly’s friend Erin lives. She was kind enough to let me stay in her guest room, do some laundry, and have a hot bath. That felt great!

We also ate some crabs!

20120725-090209.jpg

20120725-090248.jpg

This was my first time eating a crab in the shell, and the taste was amazing. I really noticed how different parts of the crab had different flavors and textures, and they were all awesome. After crab, we had some Tillamook ice cream cones. As expert as Erin was at eating crab, I was the complete opposite with the ice cream cone.

20120725-090605.jpg

Today I got a ride into Tillamook where I’m going to wander around on foot while Erin’s at work, and then I’ll see some more of the area with a local guide before I continue on down the coast. It’s probably good to have some real recovery time for my butt and the nerves in my left hand. Will have to focus on nutrition and rest today.

Day 8- starting the Oregon coast

Day 8- starting the Oregon coast

Last night I stayed in a little campground in Cannon Beach, and it cost more than my spot in the Hostel in Astoria. Geez! To give you an idea of what kind of town this was, the pizza place didn’t have any pizzas for less than $22, and this establishment was two doors down:

20120724-124520.jpg

A little bit froofy. Anyway, I was able to procure two slices of decent pizza for dinner, and it didn’t break the bank any worse than the silly camp site. The to-go window had this hanging just inside the door- does it make any sense to you?

20120724-125328.jpg

I’m really happy that I decided to bed down in Cannon Beach instead of carrying on, despite the relative expense of it. I was really tired and I didn’t notice that I was coming up on one of the tunnels. Scary!

20120724-130025.jpg

20120724-130105.jpg

One of the guidebooks I read said, “This tunnel is dangerous, wait for a lull in traffic, push the button, and pedal like mad!” – it wasn’t actually that bad, but I was glad that I was fresh and rested to tackle it, and we had a lot of light. When I got out the other side the lights were still flashing to indicate bikes in the tunnel, so if anybody else is following along you should know that although it’s uphill and narrow, you’ll at least have the warning lights for a good length of time.

Not far after that was the Oswald West state park, with this amazing view:

20120724-130842.jpg

This was one of the highest climbs of the coast, and it wasn’t really so terrible. It was gradual enough that I could just go slow in my lowest gear and pull over for a drink and rest every now and then. Psychologically, that’s helpful because there are about a dozen noteworthy climbs left, and only two that are taller.

I had a friend of a friend offer up a couch in Rockaway Beach for tonight, so although it’s been a short day I’m almost done.

If anyone else out there has a couch, I’d appreciate sleeping on it.

Day 7 (2)

Day 7 (2)

The late start and the hills really took a toll on my pace today! I made it as far as Ecola State Park, and their only camping was a hike-in site with over a mile to go and no place to really leave my bike. I wasn’t crazy about that arrangement, although the park was beautiful.

Before I get ahead of myself, here are some pictures from the Maritime museum.

20120723-200121.jpg

They had some fishing boats on display, with…. dolls? Thankfully they were not animatronic.

This is a spear used by the native people for salmon. The detail in construction is remarkable.

20120723-200917.jpg

Check out the lashing job:

20120723-201537.jpg

I saw this kind of thing in museums a long time ago, but now that I have some engineering education and experience, I can see and appreciate the ingenuity. See this bow for launching darts at big fish? I was in my sophomore year at RPI when I started getting the math to tell you about why this bow has cords on the front and back:

20120723-202749.jpg

This machine looked cool- I was surprised to see something so heavy and elaborate to do what it does; it winds shuttles for weaving and repairing fishing nets.

20120723-203513.jpg

I saw more relics, and examples of modern maritime stuff, but then it was time to finally get back on the road. I think now that I’d have made better time in the rain. It seems to work well for me to set out early, then take at least an hour lunch break to rest, digest some food, and stretch out. There was a decent climb coming out of Astoria, but I could really tell that I lost a lot more elevation than I’d just gained. I had a looooong fast coast down to the ocean. Saw these signs all over-

20120723-204845.jpg

Saw Fort Clatsop briefly, but didn’t pay to go inside. I felt like I was running short on time, and there was some crazy traffic slowing me down. See?

20120723-205347.jpg

That joke just barely beat “Congestion? I took my allergy pill!”

Ah….. Jokes. Speaking of jokes, my friend Agustin will get this one:

20120723-210045.jpg

Then I made it out to the coast, and saw this beautiful scene:

20120723-220842.jpg

And wait- what’s that in the distance? The Rock??

20120723-221918.jpg

Day 7- slow start

Day 7- slow start

Last night was fun, I sampled the delicious beers and met some cool people, and ended up talking until really late.

This morning the weather was rainy and foggy (and so was my head), and the hostel manager wasn’t up early for bikes, so I walked around Astoria. I tried one coffee shop that was highly recommended, and it was good but on the other side of town. I forgot that a mile takes some time to walk if you’re not on a bike!

So now I’m just sipping some coffee until I get my bike and check out the maritime museum and get on my way to Ecola. The good news is that the forecast says this should clear up later in the day.

20120723-085428.jpg

Day 6- having a breather in Astoria

Day 6- having a breather in Astoria

I think I have a lot of photos for this update! I only did 30ish miles today. I had a couple of long days, and I thought it was time to slow down a little. My body and equipment seem to be doing alright, but I was getting a little fatigued mentally.

First picture- I forgot to post this picture of the passenger compartment of the ferry I took over from Puget Island. If you’ve read Catcher in the Rye it may have some significance.

20120722-193523.jpg

Next up, on the recommendation of my friend Molly I went to the Fort George brewery, where I sampled their brews and had some nice fish tacos. Good stuff!

20120722-193713.jpg

And tacos!

20120722-193816.jpg

Unfortunately the fish wasn’t a highlight (thought it might be, since we’re on the coast), but the ‘tortillas’ and fixings were fresh and amazing.

20120722-194030.jpg

I don’t plan to ride it unless it takes me to the top of a huge hill, but Astoria has a trolley.

The maritime museum also has this huge propellor- I wish I knew if it was a legitimate piece of equipment. It’s marked as a memorial to somebody, but it also has some maintenance information engraved as though it could be installed on a ship. I plan to visit the museum before I go so that I can learn more.

20120722-194413.jpg

They also had an anchor, far larger than I am:

20120722-194512.jpg

I got a picture of my hand grabbing a link on that chain with my other camera. Its a huge chain, huge anchor! Stay tuned!

From the marina area where I saw these, I also space this huge bridge- which I am thankfully not biking over tomorrow!

20120722-195136.jpg

There were these little shacks on the dock with some heavy steel…. Thingies in front of ’em- kind of odd!

20120722-195546.jpg

A close-up of the “thingie”

20120722-195743.jpg

And the sign on it; instructions for unloading your firearm. I guess that somebody (who??) is supposed to walk up to this shack, stick the tip of their gun in the red thing, and try to take all the bullets out… Accidental discharge, no problem!

20120722-200233.jpg

Got an M16? No problem!

20120722-200422.jpg

I also saw this cool tower overlooking everything , and I don’t think I’ll take the time to go to the top of it, but I got a few sweet pictures with my other camera-

20120722-200908.jpg

Between dinner and blogging, I walked around town for a while, and saw this- thought it was relevant to my trip;

20120722-201041.jpg

Also, this: (I think I know a few people who are into this kind of store)

20120722-201202.jpg

Another observation:

20120722-201243.jpg
(but you may return from the beach with crabs)

Finally, to do tonight’s blogging I returned to Fort George.

20120722-201628.jpg

20120722-201649.jpg
Oink!!

And finally, I was able to get the friendly barkeep to take a picture of me in front of the aging casks:

20120722-201838.jpg

I think I’m setting out for Ecola state park tomorrow. Let’s see what Oregon’s hills are like!

Day 6 (1) Entering Oregon

Day 6 (1) Entering Oregon

I took a ferry across the Columbia today from Puget Island, and made it as far as Knappa before I felt the need to stop for lunch. The Clatsop ridge may have been my first real climb, it was about 650 feet high.

Bike on a ferry:

20120722-114403.jpg

You know it’s a bike touring blog when you have a lot of pictures of a loaded bike in front of and next to random things.

My big climb gave me a nice view:

20120722-114557.jpg

Took some pictures with the camera, too. I hope you’re all patient for the upcoming Flickr gallery!

Day 5 (2)

Day 5 (2)

Whew! I just did another 60 miles, putting my total around 220. I’m staying at (I don’t know how else to describe it) a trailer park in Cathlamet. It was cheap, had a hot shower, and it’s the last stop before I take a ferry across to Oregon, where I’ll have barely 30 miles till Astoria. I’m planning to stop there and did the hostel, and hopefully do some laundry.

Today I had a few especially long hills; one looked like this, and it seemed to keep going forever:

20120721-200814.jpg

When I got to the top, I saw Mt St Helens!

20120721-201244.jpg

As I was standing by the side of the road, a couple of old timers in a pickup pulled over to ask if I was broken down. I thanked them, and let them know I was just taking pictures.

They took a look, and the one guy said, “You can’t see the top of it.” I really wasn’t sure if he was joking, or if the clouds were that low.

After descending to the river, I saw craploads and craploads of blackberries. Imagine 5,000 times this:

20120721-201654.jpg

I also passed through this tiny little town that have me the opportunity to stand on the bank of the Columbia river and yell “Stella!!!”

20120721-202100.jpg
(we make bad jokes after too long pedaling in the sun, they can’t all be hilarious)

Also interesting, there were these fences that looked like they came out of Jurassic Park, along the road following the Columbia river.

20120721-202426.jpg

I didn’t have a great way to give scale, but the big link at the top right was substantially thicker than my thumb. There were a few spots that rocks had fallen and dented out the fence. I’m sure they don’t fall often, but I didn’t stick around to find out!

That’s all for now, hopefully I’ll be posting a picture of the Goonies house tomorrow.