The first leg of the trip spanned from the Oregon coast back to Sweet Home. Although there were more hills than expected, the leg went by safely without incident; a good practice run for the journey ahead.
Unloading the bikes at South Beach State Park from the back of Jack's pickup on Friday evening June 1st.
Friends Jack and Nancy in front of our yurt. We had a lovely dinner with them before they dropped us off. They are still questioning our sanity but are being very supportive at the same time.
Our official starting at the Pacific Ocean photo shoot. It was a beautiful evening on the beach, a very low tide and hardly any wind. Also nobody else out there at the time to take a picture of both of us together.
Doug trying to keep his bike from getting sandy.
The Newport Bridge, just one of the many lovely spans that the Oregon Coast is known for. We will be crossing it in the morning really early, hopefully before there is much traffic on Highway 101.
Our luxurious yurt accomodations.
7:30 am June 2nd and we are now really starting our journey!
A really, really low tide this morning! Crossing the bridge went pretty well although having a chip truck pass us on the uphill portion at close quarters was a little disconcerting. Stopped for breakfast at Applebee's just a little north of the bridge.
We suspect that we we will see a lot of Highway 20 East signs in the future but this is the very first one at the junction with Highway 101.
One of many covered bridges in Western Oregon. We have visited a lot of them on our rides the last few years.
You just never know where you are going to find the next toilet!
Donna grinning and bearing it in the coastal foothills.
More uphill ... Donna sees this view a lot when going uphill.
We are over the crest of the Coast Range now and things have warmed up considerably. We've done about 40 miles of hills but still have a few left between us and Corvallis, our goal for the day.
Just west of Philomath and a real lunch at a local taco stand. Stayed at a motel right next to the Willamette River in Corvallis. Had dinner at one of our favorite spots, McMennamins then watched the kids playing in the fountain on 1st Street before returning to the motel where we watched Pirates of the Caribbean on the TV way too late!
June 3. Much later start today as we weren't as concerned with avoiding traffic. This is the bridge over the Willamette River coming into downtown Albany.
We followed the Old Santiam Wagon Road through Albany. It is an older version of Highway 20. It begins in Albany and heads east from there. It was a toll road over the Cascades in its early years.
Last time we will see I-5 on this bike trip!
Out in the middle of the Willamette Valley riding through a bunch of grass seed fields ... future lawns of America. The Coast Range is in the background. Hardly seems possible that we're already that far away.
Waterloo is a small village between Lebanon and Sweet Home. We have stopped at this store on for ice cream on many of our training rides so just had to stop today too!
I left my water bottle on the bench at the store and Doug was very kind to ride back a couple of miles to get it. He got a flat right in front of the store so it took awhile......this is him returning an hour later declaring victory over his inner tube and tire.
The beginning of the Cascade Mountains.
Home Sweet Home. We are 108 miles into our adventure ... only 3100 miles to go.
Done for now........in front of our freshly painted house!
Unloading the bikes at South Beach State Park from the back of Jack's pickup on Friday evening June 1st.
Friends Jack and Nancy in front of our yurt. We had a lovely dinner with them before they dropped us off. They are still questioning our sanity but are being very supportive at the same time.
Our official starting at the Pacific Ocean photo shoot. It was a beautiful evening on the beach, a very low tide and hardly any wind. Also nobody else out there at the time to take a picture of both of us together.
Doug trying to keep his bike from getting sandy.
The Newport Bridge, just one of the many lovely spans that the Oregon Coast is known for. We will be crossing it in the morning really early, hopefully before there is much traffic on Highway 101.
Our luxurious yurt accomodations.
7:30 am June 2nd and we are now really starting our journey!
A really, really low tide this morning! Crossing the bridge went pretty well although having a chip truck pass us on the uphill portion at close quarters was a little disconcerting. Stopped for breakfast at Applebee's just a little north of the bridge.
We suspect that we we will see a lot of Highway 20 East signs in the future but this is the very first one at the junction with Highway 101.
One of many covered bridges in Western Oregon. We have visited a lot of them on our rides the last few years.
You just never know where you are going to find the next toilet!
Donna grinning and bearing it in the coastal foothills.
More uphill ... Donna sees this view a lot when going uphill.
We are over the crest of the Coast Range now and things have warmed up considerably. We've done about 40 miles of hills but still have a few left between us and Corvallis, our goal for the day.
Just west of Philomath and a real lunch at a local taco stand. Stayed at a motel right next to the Willamette River in Corvallis. Had dinner at one of our favorite spots, McMennamins then watched the kids playing in the fountain on 1st Street before returning to the motel where we watched Pirates of the Caribbean on the TV way too late!
June 3. Much later start today as we weren't as concerned with avoiding traffic. This is the bridge over the Willamette River coming into downtown Albany.
We followed the Old Santiam Wagon Road through Albany. It is an older version of Highway 20. It begins in Albany and heads east from there. It was a toll road over the Cascades in its early years.
Last time we will see I-5 on this bike trip!
Out in the middle of the Willamette Valley riding through a bunch of grass seed fields ... future lawns of America. The Coast Range is in the background. Hardly seems possible that we're already that far away.
Waterloo is a small village between Lebanon and Sweet Home. We have stopped at this store on for ice cream on many of our training rides so just had to stop today too!
I left my water bottle on the bench at the store and Doug was very kind to ride back a couple of miles to get it. He got a flat right in front of the store so it took awhile......this is him returning an hour later declaring victory over his inner tube and tire.
The beginning of the Cascade Mountains.
Home Sweet Home. We are 108 miles into our adventure ... only 3100 miles to go.
Done for now........in front of our freshly painted house!
4 comments:
Keep on going! Jim says your both crazy:) You both can do it. Can't wait to see you in Toledo! love you guys
Sandy
I am so PROUD of you both for attempting this memorable journey! Seems awesome considering my athletic tendencies . . . Thanks for including me in your Sweet Home departure email as now I will cover your adventures all trip long. Thanks also to Megan for setting up this blog! The concept of following this trip across the country is abit mind-boggling!
Love to you both and say hello to Ohio along the way,
Aline
OOOH that's soo cool - from Mikaela ;-) Have the time of your lives and ride safe. Keep us posted. - Mike and Kelly
PS Mikaela wants to know how you are coming back home??
What an awesome adventure. Good luck to both of you!
Andrew
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