Victoria Hostel to the Oregon Coast

Brandon changing my first flat tire

Near the Ocean

Going up the second of three Capes in Oregon

Mickey and Peter in Lake Sylvia

The beginning of the 4 mile Astoria Bridge

The Oregon side of the Astoria Bridge from a distance

A fellow Rider (Jamie) from New York

Depot Bay Bridge (The worlds smallest harbor)

Doug's model railroad (A small house of the side of the 101)

The Last Cape (Cape Perpetua) a 2 mile climb

Near Hoodsport

Shucking Oysters (Lilliwaup Washington) 

Mickey's only friends :)

"You'll find it at Fred Meyer" ha ha

Buying some Kettle Corn in Rockaway Beach Or.

Tillamook Cheese Factory

We need to get going!!

July 10, 2012

Brandon and Peter decide the day of riding on the evening of our stay in Nehalem Bay, so officially it was Sunday night.  We had told my cousin Mandy who I have not seen in years that for sure I would be there on Tuesday.  Peter informs us we need to ride a few more miles.  Okay so off we go to conquer the last of the three peaks in Oregon, Cape Lookout .  We left at 7:00 and started off with Peter then we all got separated, but ran into an awesome kettle corn maker and had a yummie snack.  On our way we got to stop at the Tillamook cheese factory it was very fulfilling because we ate good.  Free snacks of cheese and HUge pieces of peperoni sausages and a free scoop of Ice cream for dessert.  Yummie we got a snack and then off to Subway for some lunch, then who do we run into but Jaimie, he was a gentleman we also met at the campsite in Nehalem Bay but he was traveling to San Francisco.  We ate lunch with him and got back on the bikes for the remainder of our journey for the day.  We just needed to go an additional 20 miles which was not very far now that we have been riding for a few days.  The wind was at our backs so we made it to Cape Lookout quite quickly, then took the route to skip the last peak and of course Peter was already on the route so we knew we had taken the right turn.  Cape Lookout was beautiful, we stayed right by the ocean and it was a little chilly in the evening but still beautiful, found a Sand Dollar on the beach.  It was my lucky day, also no flat tires!  Maybe I am suppose to finish this trip after all!! haha

Astoria Bridge (dadaDUUUUUU)eeek!

July 10th, 2012

 So did I tell you that Peter advised us to say San Diego, because it sounds better than Tia Juana.
Had to go over the treacherous Astoria Bridge though!  Did I say SCARY!!  Both Brandon and I were looking at it in the distance and screaming MOMMIe  but realizing (hello what the HELL)  our mothers cant help us and for sure they would not take our place.  (Sorry Mom & Mom G we both know you two are not very adventurous if you would have seen this bridge to have taken our spots)  Luckily for us it was still the holiday weekend and they were doing construction on the bridge.  So it was down to one lane for us only the flagger guy maybe did not do us a favor telling us to go first.  So he more or less said ride as fast as you can and stay to the right.  Peter said it is very windy at the top, so all this in my head and I am not very good at heights, screaming MOMMie again.  Off we went, hooray no flat tires an offer of candy at the top, Brandon almost getting hit by a car only to swerve and almost get me.  The dark cloud is still following me!  Then it was off to Nehalem Bay state Park outside of Nehalem.  We had to go thru two tunnels that you push a button before you go thru them to let traffic know there are bikers in the tunnel.  Ugh, are you freakin kidding me, how was my luck and these (shut the front door freakin tires).  Well off we went and to my surprise one flat tire on the way up the hill after the last tunnel.  Brandon was a little perturbed to say the least it was then that we had put the liners in my tires.  Off we went to Seaside for the bike store to pick up Liners the family from Salt Lake told us may help.  The family are hoping to attend church on sunday in Astoria, Oregon but when we saw Peter again in Nehalem Bay state Park he told us they had just made 30 miles the night before.  Not sure if they are going to make it or not.  We finally made it to Nehalem Bay, tired and hungry but we ran into Peter again.  So we celebrated with a fire and we had pasta primavera (dehydrated style)  Saw David again who was the gentleman from Spain that we first met at the Grocery store in Ilwaco.  We met a gentleman named Jim who gave us more firewood and told us he was on his way to Seattle.  Traded road stories and all went to bed.  Okay, make sure all goodies are away from animals, because the bread got half eaten the night before in Ilwaco from something small.  Yuk!  Happy trails.!

Another Flat Tire R U Freaking Kidding me!!

July 9, 2012

So we headed to Ilwaco, but at the start of the day was my first flat.  I had not even got on the bike yet, so it surely is not my Fat (A).  Thats what I am saying and I'm sticking to it!!.  Peter laughed and said at the rate I was going it would be shear luck if we could even make a seventy mile day with no flats.  Oh just for the record I dont know if I told you all about Johnny he was officially our first rider we met on his way to Seattle with some friends for the fourth of July.   We rode with him for awhile and may see him again on the coast of Oregon since he is heading for San Diego.  Which by the way Peter says we should tell everyone because it sounds more adventurious(Sp) .  So off we went to Ilwaco on a beautiful day bellies full of Subway breakfast and coffee.  Halfway there, no tires flat,  almost there and especially down the hills, still no flats.  We passed Raymond and Brandon said next town we will get a treat (Peter told us if we treated ourselves we can possibly push more miles out).  Well little did we know there were no towns between Raymond and Ilwaco.  So luckily amongst my weight I had two snicker bars and Brandon had goo.  Save the day.  More hills and still no flats,  yippie as I was laughing and praying that I was glad for a hill a bee decided to ruin my happiness and was fighting with me and my lip.  Do not go down hills happy with mouth wide open amongst the hills.  Of course a perfect opportunity to meet new people from Canada, also touring.  Brandon was going to buzz by them and they wanted to talk with us.  They asked about how far the next town was then told us were they had been.  Wow what happened to you, Brandon says as he pulled up.  The dark cloud continues to hover over me.  Ugh.  Well glad to say we made it to Ilwaco with no flat tires.  Yippie.  So it was a good day after all and by the time we arrived my mouth was back to normal.  Till next time.

New Tires & Tubes

July 5, 2012

So my mechanic has decided it would be best to get new tires and more tubes, so off we go to Olympia.  It was so amazing to see that fare on the local bus was only $1.50 to go 30 miles to Olympia.  We had to be left the first bus because they could only carry two bikes and one was already on, so we took the second bus.  The bike store did not open until 10 and we had an hour to kill so decided to eat breakfast.  It was soooo good, we ate the spar cafe had the best carrot rum raisin pancakes and Brandon had of course chicken fried steak and eggs.  Our waitress was very sweet, Suzanne, she definately filled us up with coffee and food.  The bike stand had my tires and tubes, only my mechanic got the wrong co2 cartridges, hopefully we can trade them.  He sure is an expensive mechanic to carry a long, I have to make sure he stays happy, since I have not had to change one of those flat tires.  (Hehe)!  We filled our water bottles with fresh spring water from Olympia there was a fountain right next to the bike store.  We left to head back to the camp and spoke to a nice lady while waiting for the bus, telling us stories about when she was young and stayed in Tiajuana Mexico.  They were wild and crazy that is for sure.  Loaded our gear and started for Lake Sylvia state park.  We passed two riders on our way there but did not stop to talk we were huffing and bound and determined to make some miles since our day of riding started at 12:30.  We stopped in Elma for a quick drink and that is when we met Peter, we spoke briefly and found out he too was heading to Montesano for Lake Sylvia.  Of course once again, I think it was because Brandon was bragging about my new tires, I had a flat so Peter passed us and said he would hold a spot for us.  Okay so it was only 48 miles for the day, but in the heat and having to fix another flat tire, not to mention my load of Magazines, we were not prepared for the hill that was ahead in order to get to camp.  But we did have a nice shower and Brandon met Jeffrey(woman) and she invited us to have dinner with her and Paul.  Peter had bought us the camping site so we shared it with him and asked if he could join us for dinner.  We had a yummie vegetable stir fry, cherries, strawberries and salad for dinner.  Jeffrey and Paul were very nice to have asked us for a great warm meal.  We left early the next morning planning our trip the night before with Peter.  He has traveled many miles down the Pacific Coast and has given us tips.  So off we go to IIwaco, Wa.  Maybe they have a casino because my mechanic has seen many and I have not wanted to stop but I'm feeling an itch. 

Hoodsport

July 4, 2012

We miss having our Coffee Pot, so the first thing we must do becides break down camp is find a place for coffee.  Here in the Pacific Northwest that is all you see is Espresso Stands it is unbelievable, I think Quilcene had a total of four little stands.  We ate breakfast at the only diner in town that was opened because it was the Holiday.  We decided to ride to Shelton, Gooie duck capital, or so I hear.  We went past an oyster factory and saw many diggers on the Hood Canal route it was very scenic and beautiful.  We stopped in Hoodsport for some delicious Olympic Ice cream and saw a fellow rider.  We talked and he was from North Carolina, bought his Seven speed Schwin bike at Target and had baskets for his saddles.  Was just heading to Seattle and decided he wanted to see the Pacific Northwest on a bike.  He admitted the bike wasn't the best as he had been riding out of the saddle for most of the climbs.  He asked us how our calorie consumption was and if we noticed it has increased since our journey began.  We had to chuckle because it did not seem like we had ridden a whole lot as of yet.  He had come from Portland, and had already been riding 60 miles for four days to our one.  He was very friendly and we wished him a safe journey.  Before we left Quilcene I decided to take a picture of Brandon and left my phone on the fence at the restaurant.  I had to go back just outside of town thank goodness.  Brandon said I had to ride back alone.  They were having a big celebration for the fourth in Hoodsport, selling Oysters and Clams at the side of the road.  A very cute town!   Brandon wanted to stay but I said no Shelton will be just as cute.  Shelton was spread out, another flat tire on the way, then another no more spare tubes for mickey.  We stopped at Walmart, Fred Meyer was my first choice but no spare tires just groceries.  Not the right size for my tire but off we went to find camp.  Blue Bear RV park was inviting, we pitched our camp then headed for the store for some supplies for dinner.  It was suppose to be 1 mile that turned into three, saw a snake and both of us jumped.!  Our trailer park was entertaining to say the least, we got to spend time with some nice neighbors that let off fireworks.  In the street of course not in the park because it was against park rules.  Brandon was still wishing we stayed in Hoodsport, did not have any seafood for dinner.

How do you like those Magazines?

July 2,2012
We picked up Brandon at the airport, then went to eat of course some clams and plotted out the map for the first day of travel to Victoria.  We decided to leave from Port Angeles, and it was a very short day.  Isa is a Sweet Heart to have taken both my daughters and Brandon & I to the start of our Journey.  So with passports in hand, and bikes geared up we took the ferry to Victoria, put in a whopping six miles total because we decided to stay in town at the Hostel in Victoria, Canada.  We had some good micro-brew canadian beer and the best fried chicken, Brandons hamburger landed on the floor so he had a bit of a wait for dinner.  Our room in the Hostel was bedded for eight people but their were just seven of us.  Two from Thailand, the other three from Europe, those Europeans are very uninhibited that is for certain.  We took off the next  day headed for the ferry to Port Angeles.  Ready to ride, with backpack in tow, filled with the necessary reading of four magazines and a book.  Yes I am the first to admit now that I know the reason the girls kept telling me dont take anything unecessary.  Those magazine were the death of me and I do believe are a source for my tires being flat!!  We were riding down a hill in the rain, and my first flat occurred, heavy traffic ( log truckers are not fun to be passed by in the rain!) I was screaming to Brandon and my voice is loud but he kept riding.  I stopped and just figured I would wait till he turned and looked for me, which wasn't until he mad it half way up the hill.  Flat got fixed then off we rode to our final destination 60 miles to Quilcene.  It finally quit raining but the campground did not have a shower, so we had to ride five miles round trip to LingerLonger Lane (tried to say that fast) to the Oyster Factory for a shower.  Even though we had been on those bikes for six hours a shower at the end of the day is a must.  So we treated ourselves to Chicken fried steak then a shower.  Not only was my back aching but so were my armpits from holding that dam backpack with the magazines.  Brandon loved asking me "how those magazine holding up"  ha,ha he is so F U N N Y.