Squishy Boots
Yesterday was all about leisurely lunching. We made it to the small town of Reedsport and got Subway sandwiches. Thanks to the Kendall family for the gift cards! Then we wanted some WiFi to plan our next moves so we went over to McDonald's and bought more food while researching our camping options. The Oregon coast is a camper's paradise. Earlier in the tour there were many times where places to stay were quite limited. Here, there are tons of campgrounds so you can go a little farther, or a little shorter, and still have options on a place to rest your head. Additionally, many of them have "Hiker-Biker" sites. These are lower-cost sites for those who show up on non-motorized transportation. Then we can shift the savings into snacks.
The last two days have also been all about dunes. Great, heaping sand dunes abound on the beach here. There are lots of businesses renting All Terrain Vehicles and Dune Buggies and whatever gasoline-powered projectile you want to ride around the sand. We didn't go in for it - maybe next trip. Our route took us around the edges of the daredevil playground so we occasionally heard engines in the distance but didn't see them shredding the gnar.
This morning we rode over a fairly narrow, mile-long steel bridge into the small town of North Bend. There was no shoulder or much extra room for bicyclists. Several people honked at us for holding them up and I think the guy with the pickup truck and empty trailer may actually have been a surgeon who was racing to the hospital to do a heart transplant... or just an impatient ass. Better times were soon ahead as my Dad found a camping shop to buy some thermal underwear to keep the heat in, then to the grocery store where I got potato wedges and dipped them into my broccoli cheddar soup. Delicious!
It had been raining on us sporadically but it was light and misty. Not too bad at all. When we hung a left on Seven Devils Road our luck began to change. The water began to pelt down and all of our shoes got squelchy. We were climbing, climbing, climbing up. I believe my Dad's spirits were quite low at this point. Rach and I are pretty well seasoned at a good lashing from the weather but this was the worst bout since my Dad joined the "fun." We were out in logging forest and there was no shelter to be had. Finally we needed a break so we stomped into the brush a few feet and took what protection we could from the trees above. Our rest was brief. Just enough to eat a bit and not so long as to lose the heat from exertion. My Dad said we were crazy and he's probably right but when you're out on a rural road with nothing around your only choice is to continue.
We finally topped out the climb and began our descent. The weather improved as we wound out of the forest and back to the coast. Just a final few miles and we arrived at the Bullards Beach state campground. We all had hot showers to get the heat back in our bones. After dinner it was just our luck that the rangers here were christening a new fire pit they constructed this summer. All the campers were invited for smores and hot cider. The fire was blazing and the glow was incredible. Warmed and happy, we returned to the campsite to slide into our sleeping bags and slip off to sleep.
The last two days have also been all about dunes. Great, heaping sand dunes abound on the beach here. There are lots of businesses renting All Terrain Vehicles and Dune Buggies and whatever gasoline-powered projectile you want to ride around the sand. We didn't go in for it - maybe next trip. Our route took us around the edges of the daredevil playground so we occasionally heard engines in the distance but didn't see them shredding the gnar.
This morning we rode over a fairly narrow, mile-long steel bridge into the small town of North Bend. There was no shoulder or much extra room for bicyclists. Several people honked at us for holding them up and I think the guy with the pickup truck and empty trailer may actually have been a surgeon who was racing to the hospital to do a heart transplant... or just an impatient ass. Better times were soon ahead as my Dad found a camping shop to buy some thermal underwear to keep the heat in, then to the grocery store where I got potato wedges and dipped them into my broccoli cheddar soup. Delicious!
It had been raining on us sporadically but it was light and misty. Not too bad at all. When we hung a left on Seven Devils Road our luck began to change. The water began to pelt down and all of our shoes got squelchy. We were climbing, climbing, climbing up. I believe my Dad's spirits were quite low at this point. Rach and I are pretty well seasoned at a good lashing from the weather but this was the worst bout since my Dad joined the "fun." We were out in logging forest and there was no shelter to be had. Finally we needed a break so we stomped into the brush a few feet and took what protection we could from the trees above. Our rest was brief. Just enough to eat a bit and not so long as to lose the heat from exertion. My Dad said we were crazy and he's probably right but when you're out on a rural road with nothing around your only choice is to continue.
We finally topped out the climb and began our descent. The weather improved as we wound out of the forest and back to the coast. Just a final few miles and we arrived at the Bullards Beach state campground. We all had hot showers to get the heat back in our bones. After dinner it was just our luck that the rangers here were christening a new fire pit they constructed this summer. All the campers were invited for smores and hot cider. The fire was blazing and the glow was incredible. Warmed and happy, we returned to the campsite to slide into our sleeping bags and slip off to sleep.
After enduring your rain soaked day of riding, what a nice surprise to have cider and s-mores! Thank you to the rangers!
ReplyDeleteRide safely.
Cheri