Day 3 - Umpqua Lighthouse to Bullards State park ( near Bandon OR)

Day 3 Umpqua lighthouse to Bullards by jheggen at Garmin Connect - Details

OR state parks are just the bomb. Very biker accommodating. Did I mention the hot showers! Awesome. I'm used to backpacking and taking the occasional cold water bird bath. Umpqua uses on demand water heaters. Instructions state turn on a couple showers to get the hot water flowing. I think that just created more demand than they could handle.  Tonight's shower in Bullard had all the hot water I wanted! 🚿. 

Last nights supper was a bag of lettuce, a packet of deli turkey, dressing and a cookie.  I was satisfied but Rhonda woke up hungry....at 2am. This morning we rode 7 miles into the quaint little burg of Lakeside and met Tug and Jim at the local American classic diner. Rhonda had enough cholesterol for the year. I had some French toast. The menu mentioned three eggs. I assumed that's what they dipped the bread in. So in addition to the two slices of decadent toast, I had three eggs AND sausage.  

Lakeside wants to attract tourist off the 101 a mile, but still keep its culture of timber and commercial fishermen.  They are simply down to earth folk.  They line their streets with Scare Crows. Not sure this is meant to draw in tourist or keep us away. However the cholesterol binge was the cheapest meal yet. 

Tug and Jim finished early and we wouldn't see them until North Bend/Coos Bay.  The road was quick and relatively flat as we continued past the Oregon sand dunes national rec area. 

We met Tug and Jim and two others, Steve and Art just before the mile long Coos Bay expansion bridge. Steve, Art and their crew are cheating. Steve's wife drives their van with all their gear:the ultimate sag wagon.  They are staying in motels or yurts every night....cheaters...

Jim, Steve, Art, Tug, Rhonda, and me. 

The big yellow warm Orb made an appearance today!

We shed jackets, vests, arm warmers and replaced them with sunscreen! 

We stopped at the Starbucks in Safeway again, this time in Coos Bay.  We bought some snacks and replenished our supply of Vitamin I, the adult vitamin (ibuprofen ). We left Jim and Tug and headed up the "scenic" route of the Seven Devils road towards Bandon.  Scenic route means narrow, winding, and hilly. The garmin registered an 11% grade at one point. This morning's cholesterol has left us.

I should mention our gear: 

Rhonda rides a true touring machine; a trek 520 modified with drop handle bars and shimano ultegra shifters to manage her triple cranks and standard 9 speed cassette.  It also sports some nifty bling given to her by her friend Lisa. The 520's name is "Tunk" 

In complete opposition to my mantra that the number of bikes one requires is X+1, where X is the number of current bikes you own, I have a hybrid; a trek CrossRip Elite. It can tour, commute, and do some cycle cross. It has an aluminum frame as opposed to steel and a geometry more close to a road bike. It has a compact crank and I swapped out the cassette for a 11-34 9 speed. It came in handy today. I haven't named it yet, but my bling comes from New Belgium Brewing, so I think I will name it "Amber". But if I go on any more tours I may need to get Tunks sibling. 

Well, I'm sitting in a local Mexican restaurant finishing my first true supper of the trip. Rhonda just swapped the laundry to the dryer. Soon we need to motor back across the bridge to our camp before it gets too dark and check out the local lighthouse. Remind tomorrow to talk about the OR highways and biker hospitality.  

Until then, here is our camp for the night, a request from Ty:

And I thought Tuna came from a can! 

Day 2 Update: guiding lights

The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. (Psalm 77:18 ESV)

The Umpqua lighthouse was built in 1857 for $50,000! A lot of money back then I'm sure. But this lighthouse kept sailors out of harm's way, guiding them to safety, avoiding the crashing waves. It's light pierced the darkness for 19 miles. 

Day 2: Wakonda Beach- Umpqua Lighthouse State Park

Untitled by jheggen at Garmin Connect - Details
OR state parks are simply awesome. Along the coast the parks have designated hiker/biker camp sites. No need for reservations, just squeeze another tent in. 

These parks also come with hot water showers!  After camp was set up and showers warmed us up we had to find supper. We failed to stop in Waldport for supplies. We rode a couple miles to a minimart that looks like it was condemned and found some yogurt, nuts and peanut butter crackers. That along with some cliff bars we brought staved off hunger. 

A few other bikers shared camp and Rhonda whittled down 4 more of her million of her best friends she hasn't met yet. Jim and Tug are from Nova Scotia, aye. Great guys. They have been biking for ever.  Tug has crossed Canada and this is his second time down the left coast. Tina is from Holland. She is by herself and has biked the US before. She's on holiday from her contracting and house painting business. Aaron is from Klamath Falls and is doing a loop ride for the long weekend. He is also a bike mechanic which is handy to have around. 

It was a cool night but the winds died down and after sharing some warm coffee we turned in early.

We awoke around 7, brewed some more coffee and hot cocoa and broke camp. All six of us roadie the 5 miles to Yachats and found breakfast....a large warm feast. 

We rode 60 miles and climbed over 3000 feet today never getting higher than 400 feet above sea level. The winds were calm early and later prevailed from the north like they are supposed to. We made are to Florence where the six of joined up again. We found a Starbucks in a Safeway to warm up and fuel up. This is where we said goodbye to Aaron. Tomorrow he heads inland for Eugene, his car and then home to his wife.  

Earlier enroute Rhonda had a scare. She is still suffering from her cold, tried to clear her nose, front tire went one way and she another, when gravity took over. Fortunately we were on a slight hill and going pretty slow.  Some bruises to her and scratches on Tunk the bike. 

We rolled

Up and down along the coast and found camp in another state park. We stopped in town and bought some salad fixings and are waiting our turn at the showers.  

It looks like Tug, Jim, and Tina have caught up and will join us for another night.  

All is well at the end of day 2.

Day 1: Lincoln City to Wakonda Beach

Rhonda has been giddy all week and her excitement sored this morning as we loaded up the car and headed for the coast. Randy and Pam joined us in the car and would later shuttle our car back to their place for the next two weeks. After dropping us off on the south side of Lincoln City we agreed to meet them for lunch at the " Chowder Bowl" in Newport. While we rode, they leisurely shopped and visited art galleries. 

The forecast called for sunny skies, warm into the seventies. An on shore breeze blew in a marine layer that kept the sun hidden most of the day. My thermometer never rose above 52 degrees and the prevailing north winds pretty much came directly out of the south.  Hey, anyone can do this when it is clear and warm and calm.  

We rode south stopping at Devil's Punch Bowl and Yaquina Head lighthouse before meeting Randy and Pam for some warm clam chowder and hot coffee.

After lunch we left our friends and saddled up. The brisk winds and cool temps kept us motoring along. Soon we were nearing Waldport and the local beaches. I saw some kids flying a kite and it reminded me of the last time I  vacationed on the OR coast with the Schmidt's and Hall's.  I recall finding a kite shop for Connor and little Leah. I'm pretty sure we passed the beach house we rented.

After 45 miles and 2000 feet elevation gain ( the same 100 ft 20 times), we pulled into Beachside State Park for the night. 

Our first day is down. Hopefully I will get used to the traffic on the highway. I was expecting less after Labor Day but it is a weekend along the coast. Until tomorrow.

OR/CA coast D Day minus 1

Headed to the coast! We are loaded up and driving down the road.
We made it to McMinnville, OR and are staying with our friends Randy and Pam Harris. They will drive us to Lincoln City in the morning for the the start of our grand adventure.

Rhonda can hardly contain herself!  We are both trying to stave off the beginnings of colds and hope we can finally get a good night's rest.  So it's good night for now. Stay tuned for notes from the road.  

OR/CA coast D-Day minus 2 days

Coast Ride Check Ride by jheggen at Garmin Connect - Details

Rhonda is getting real excited for this adventure far. We leave Friday for the Portland area and then head out down the road from Lincoln City on Saturday morning.

We have spent the last two days packing our gear and getting the bikes ready.  John at George's Cycles on Fairview has been great help getting us some last minute maintenance done on the bikes.  Tonight we loaded up our panniers and took the bikes out for a fully loaded test ride up to the top of Lucky Peak Dam. It felt good.

From the top of Lucky Peak Dam 

Mt Bachelor Climb

Rhonda was teaching a seminar in Bend, OR this past Monday, and she asked if I could accompany her on the long drive across the barren eastern OR landscape. Actually there is beauty in high desert country. But really Oregon, 55mph! It made for a long 6 hour drive.
Rhonda and I met her friend and co-instructor, Lisa, earlier on Sunday and we rented stand up paddle boards for an hour of adventure through Bend on the Deschutes River. Then it was off to explore eateries, pubs, and shopping in the old Mill District.

The next morning while Rhonda and Lisa were training local PE teachers, I drove up to Mt Bachelor. It was  a gorgeous blue bird day. The only cloud in the sky hovered on top of the mountain. I suspected it would be a little windy.

I parked at the main lodge Mountain Gateway parking lot, 6300', at 8am. Only one MTB rider was there in the parking lot. This was not the route or starting point I read about in several climbing guides. The Sunrise Lodge area was blocked off with many NO PARKING signs. So, I just started straight up the mountain, following the fall line and terrain associated with the Pine Martin Express chair lift. 

I picked my way up through the slopes, occasionally finding a trail along the frisbee golf course

Soon I was at the top of the ski Pine Martin Express lift at 7,775'

Then I simply picked my way up through the lava. There were some maintenance cat trails for a few hundred feet.

Eventually I found snow and wished I brought an ice axe. The wind was picking up and there were several rock falls from the ridge above, so I opted to stick to the rocks. 

For a few hundred feet there was no discernible route

I found an old exposed power cable to follow which led me to a saddle where I found the route of others gone before. 

The last 300 feet were almost straight up. The summit crater was covered in a cloud layer, but it was breaking up giving me intermediate vistas. 

The wind was really howling now. I was glad I brought extra layers and a hat. I wished I brought glacier glasses or even goggles to keep the flying pumice out of my eyes. The ski resort was clocking 38mph winds at the top of the lift. These gust were much higher. 

I spent 20 minutes on the top exploring. There was even a cat track not far down on the Sunrise side of the summit. Anyone can climb on a road. 

During a brief clearing I could see Broken Top off to the right and the Sisters, still covered in clouds, off to the left. 

Looking off to the east towards Bend.

On the summit, 9,065'

The summit registry.

A panorama view from on top.

Late on Sunday, I was nominated to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by Greg Wooten. I had 24 hours to accomplish it or pay up. I had to improvise. I had no bucket but our motel room from the night before had an ice bucket with a liner bag. I decided to use the ice bucket liner bag and go for it on the summit.
It was just too cold and windy to dump ice water on my head at 9,000'. So I filled my water bottles with snow on the way back down.

Back at the car, I set up my iPhone for selfie video and mixed my ice bucket makings together making a slush in the bag.

and here is my challenge!
Jon's Ice Bucket Challenge

For a map and details of the climb:  Mt Bachelor Climb