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Along the Three Capes Scenic Highway I started to climb. And climb. And climb. I finally felt the need to use all my gears, and continued for a good 15 minutes mentally cranking out positive affirmations to keep my legs moving. There is no point in stopping here, the climb is not yet finished. Keep moving.
Up ahead, I see two other cyclists (good decision to head south, as the summer winds typically come out of the north along the coast. Most cyclists head north to south to guarantee better tailwinds and smooth cycling.) I told myself to catch them, which I did. We had a lovely chat between catching our breaths. They were from Canada, a kind semi-retired couple cycling from Vancouver to somewhere in northern California together. I thought to myself how amazing it is to see people doing the things I do, especially partners still at it several decades beyond me. It is one reason why I keep moving now, so I can enjoy these adventures even when I am pushing seventy.
I digress. We cycled on for a bit, we reached the top and I said goodbye. I had discovered that they had plans to arrive at the same camping area, Cape Lookout State Park, that evening. I knew I would see them again, a welcome treat after how many days on the road solo.
Arrival self-portrait, at Cape Lookout State Park. 80 some miles this day - whew!
A sense of accomplishment and vision trumps fatigue!
We continued cat and mouse, riding together for brief bits, I would take off and stop somewhere up the road for photos, and sure enough – they weren’t that far off behind me. Netarts Bay was the last stretch, and you could see the Cape coming up ahead along the ocean, reaching out into open space and plunging into the sea. I felt grateful that my day was almost done, mileage accumulating beyond my original plan. I admit – I was tired! So, arriving at Cape Lookout I checked into the Hiker/Biker campsites, five bucks per night by the way, and set up camp. About thirty minutes later, my Canadian pals rolled in. This is a photo of all of us at camp that night before, getting ready to start our day. I was the token American in the group, and one of them told me they appreciated my company…in a roundabout “we’re glad you’re a different sort of American” kind of way.
Winning over the hearts of Canadians...the woman behind me and the second red-jacketed man are the two that I met on the road.
I took advantage of a quiet campsite, everyone off on their two wheels with about 60 miles planned, and took about a two hour walk along the beach. The sand squished between my toes, the sound of the waves vibrating and pulsing into my mind, soothing my thoughts. Breathe. Rest. People Watch. What a beautiful morning!
single accomodation, ocean view. $5/night. 5 Stars.
The tide came in, and my tent called to me. I took a nap, then rode to Pacific City for dinner. Many people had mentioned a little restaurant and brewery called the Pelican Pub. So I went – somewhat unaware that the 15-18 mile one way ride included a good 3-5 mile steep grade on one side, 2-3 on the other. I earned every bite of the Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos and Local Blueberry Crisp…and every sip of the Tsunami Stout. I had conversation with some other travelers, enjoyed watching surfers and the sunset beginning over the ocean. I knew I needed to head out if I wanted to get back to camp before dark, especially with the extra weight of dinner creating some drag on the uphill. I made it back as the fog rolled in over the bay. Nature is beautiful and so restorative to my soul. I slept with the sound of waves surrounding me.
I sensed rain coming, as the winds came more from the south or southwest as I had watched clouds at bedtime. Morning brought the showers and it was time for me to return to Tillamook to catch the bus back across the Coastal Range to Beaverton. I packed up camp as it started to sprinkle, and a couple miles down the road the plastic poncho came in handy. I wouldn’t recommend that one relies on a garbage -bag like garment for protection from the elements, let alone on the bicycle. My sleeves of sorts were flapping in the wind behind me, and I continually had to tuck in my tail and sit on it in order to keep my back dry. Not the best preparation or gear, but it worked. My core and trunk stayed relatively dry and I made it to the bus station, completely content to dry my rear and hair and other garments with the industrial strength hand dryer on the wall. Dry and warm, in fresh clothes, I locked my bike outside using my rain poncho to cover the tent and other belongings still strapped on board. Dual purpose poncho, $2.99. Best money I may have spent the entire four days. I walked to a cafe and enjoyed an omelette, french toast, and coffee, glad to be in from the rain and finished with my ride for the morning, and eating something other than apples and nuts. I hopped on the bus, slept a bit and when we returned to Beaverton I rode the remaining 10 miles or so ‘home’.
The following day I knew I had to get the bike back to City Bikes Cooperative in Portland, so I planned a day trip to the Columbia River Gorge. Me and my rig road the MAX light rail all the way east to Gresham, then rode to the river valley for an accumulated total of about 35 for the day. Grand total on the rental bike – about 200 miles in a week.
Columbia River Gorge, at Portland Womens Forum State Scenic Area, looking at Crown Point.
I feel great about the trip, and look forward to another, longer trip by bicycle. And in the mean time, I discarded the old poncho and purchased a good rain jacket. PS…for more photos from the trip to the Pacific Northwest, add evolve wellness llc on facebook and look for the new album!
Cheri
Rental bike number 4 and I got along really well. I will miss the sweet bell with the T Rex decal.
Long overdue, here are some photos and a summary of the bike traveling I did in August 2010 out to the Oregon Coast. If you are ever in the Portland area, you must rent a bicycle from City Bikes Cooperative on South Akney and 9th-ish. Check it out, they have great service and go above and beyond to provide you with everything you need to know to tour Oregon safely and hit the highlights.
So many fresh blackberries surrounded my first campsite. I ate well!
Day Two - About an hour and a half of steady, gradual climbing - I reach the summit of the Coastal Range, elevation 1586ft.
Tillamook Bay, with the Coastal Range in the background. Rain threatening by spitting at my face for somewhere around 80 miles that day.
The Pacific Coast! This is just south of Oceanside, OR and Cape Meares. I unexpectedly had stiff climb for a few miles, then came screaming downhill and over a last little bump of a hill out to the coast. In the background is Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge.
I left Beaverton, OR ( a suburb of Portland) at about 3pm in order to catch a bus out to Tillamook near the coast. I arrived exactly 11 minutes after that bus was already gone, and thought, “well, I already rode 10 miles. There is no reason to ride the same 10 miles tomorrow.” So I kept going. I knew I could make it to the inland side of the Coastal Range before dark, and would have to find a campsite. I kept pedalling, cruising through smaller and smaller towns as I left the metro area of Portland behind, looking forward to the large evergreens of Tillamook Forest and less traffic. After around 4 hours and way more mileage than I expected ride on day one, I set up camp on the side of the highway. I found a little inlet, perhaps an old fishing spot, and discovered blackvberries growing all around me. Luckily I cam to my senses and put dry, warm clothes on at dusk after stuffing my face with berries for a good 15 minutes. Not the best camp site due to traffic noise from the junction of Hwy 8 and 6, but I knew I would have a great start in the morning directly up the Coastal Range. Bring it.
Day two started off dry, and I celebrated a relatively anti-climatic arrival at the Summit. It was a far more subtle, gradual uphill climb, at times not even feeling like much work, not even using all of my gears…and then there was the sign up ahead. If I hadn’t lifted my eyes I may have missed it! The views by bicycle just don’t come through clearly with a camera. Anytime you travel on two wheels, slower speed, and without doors and a roof – well, you just see more. You get to know the miles you travel intimately, learning the river’s name (Wilson), greeting Queen Anne’s Lace and Old Growth trees, and stopping for a hike at the Tillamook State Forest Visitor Center.
I flipped a coin to see whether I should head north or south from Tillamook. The coin said north, my gut said south – hence the photo of Oceanside and Three Arch Rock. It had been spittling and spraying bits of rain on and off all afternoon. I lucked out and found a general store about half way down from the summit called Lee’s. They had a decent espresso, mens dress socks, a stylish black knit hat, and plastic ponchos – just in case. Perfect purchases for a warm night at camp coming up. The weather was far cooler than I expected, and you’ll learn about my use of the poncho on Day Four, return trip.
I will be blogging about the second half of this trip as well. Stay tuned for more stories, adventure, and tips!
Cheri
It takes guts to fly across the country to an unknown city. It takes some courage to register for and attend a dance intensive where I know no one and can expect to be challenged physically, mentally, emotionally, creatively – more than I have in years. It takes some nerve to do all of this in the air 10 or more feet solo, and then add the dynamic of working with another floundering first-timer. I knew all of this going into the workshop, yet entered into this time with complete confidence in my ability to adapt and excel. What I least expected was that the aerial dance work would threaten to take my lunch, leaving me with a pounding forehead and sore neck. My body rejected this movement the first day, to the point where I wondered why I had paid my hard-earned money to hang upside down and feel sick. I felt frustrated beyond belief.
Day two of the Project Bandaloop Intensive seemed to perk me up. My body felt more rested, ready, and I had eaten a bit more protein at my afternoon meal hoping to keep myself steady during the 4 hour rehearsal. I had less of a “fat head” (the term the company members use for when you have a severe headrush and the only cure is to sip water and ly flat on your back until it passes) and seemed to even enjoy some of the aerial work. My favorite part of day two came when we learned to walk and run across the wall, hanging in our harness sideways and creating a pendulum with the rope and our bodies flying from side to side under our anchor. Another obvious favorite for me is the vertical climbing wall. We have been exploring what it’s like to move on the floor in the horizontal plane, then transition back and forth to climbing. Climbing like a sloth is meditative and challenging in the amount of core and whole body awareness you must have. It’s like you need to turn on all of your individual cells and seek out each hand hold or foot placement with great clarity. I think I might continue to work with this idea to help sequence and climb with control.
This is wild stuff, people, and I have a new appreciation for its challenges. What I thought would come easily has taken far more patience, deep breathing, and positive self talk (don’t puke, you’re ok….oh, please don’t get sick) than I expected. I guess it’s proof that the good stuff in life doesn’t always come easy. We have to sweat and learn, and work through discomfort or even pain. We must believe that the bad times will pass and we will move forward. We believe it’s worth it and sometimes it takes guts.
Day three I explored more movement on my own, starting to put together choreography and I am excited to be able to show you some photographs from our rehearsals…stay tuned! This first adventure will be over before I know it. It has given me some ideas for working at the climbing wall creatively. Perhaps I will need to hold auditions…
Cheri
PS… I have been bike commuting on my cousin’s bike from 5th grade. Not the best frame fit, but it’s a set of wheels that gives me the freedom and fresh air I need to get around and recover from these rehearsals on the way home. It is a teal green mountain bike with a squishy seat she stole from her dad years ago. For the first few days, I bike commuted from Berkeley, which is about 5 miles one way. Today and for the rest of the workshop I am staying with my cousin Tyler in El Cerrito, which doubles my commute distance. Whew! Looking forward to exploring today. The weather has been gorgeous, sunny and about 65 during the day…a welcome break from all the heat and humidity back in the midwest. My cousins here say the midwest sucked all the heat out of California, as this has been an unusually cool summer for them. Happy biking back in Wisconsin, everyone!
I have officially named a bicycle. My new (to me) Fuji Tourer 10 speed from 1974 comes in an original fabulous lime green. This color makes me think of how much I love summer and all things that grow! It makes me so want to sip fresh lemonade with a sprig of mint. I need to find some nice lemon yellow handlebar tape to complete the look…and I probably should file the brake pads to take away the squawk each time I stop. Don’t worry – you’ll still be able to spot me (for now) in the purple helmet with the (antennae) LED light on top as I spin past.
I rode about 25 miles on this baby Tuesday between appointments…I think it took me about an hour and 15-20 minutes. I rode from downtown up to meet a customer at Main Street, continued up the sidewalk along Hastings until I hit Birch and headed east. I turned north onto Hwy Q, following it through North Shore Drive all the way out past Altoona. I stopped to talk to a guy on his lawnmower for a few minutes just before I turned onto Hwy Q to head back to Eau Claire’s north crossing area, then back into downtown on McKinley and Galloway Street. Nice curved roads, some hills, and not too much traffic on QQ. Beautiful day, although the humidity left me sufficiently soaked.
my bicycle matches my kitchen cabinets.
This whole story makes me think of a comment from a recent facebook post – someone mentioned that they’d have been able to get results on their own, but working together made is easier and SO MUCH more FUN. Find something you enjoy and use that FUN factor to get fit.
I hope you all join me for a trails-based ride around the city of Eau Claire on Saturday, September 11. See you!
Cheri
