VANCOMEX: 15th September – Gold Beach to Crescent City

This morning Tim was feeling slightly better, but was still not up for riding. Later he went to a doctor and was diagnosed with a urine infection. He has antibiotics to take and hopes to on the road again within 24 hours. Fingers crossed that he is ok for the rest of the tour. He is maintaining a brave face in what must be a frustrating few days for him.

We left Gold Beach around 8.30am after breakfast at a local cafe. This was our first disappointing meal – a bun heated in a microwave with virtually no nutritional value. Within 5kms into the ride we were faced with a 750 feet climb over Cape Sebastian – with breakfast only just starting to digest. Not a great way to start the ride, but team Vancomex climbed it in style.

The ride hugged the coast and we were rewarded with a few lovely views, despite some early morning sea mist – the best one being Arch Rock where we met Mike and Jen from the UK and Frank and Carole from British Columbia. (See photos).

At 10.30 we stopped for a Starbucks coffee in Brookings (Brian, Maurice and Tom having a Spicy Pumpkin Latte!) and all of us eating a tasty cake or cookie. After coffee we pushed on to reach the Oregon / California State Line (just over 1,280 kms completed) – another milestone achieved. Then the reality hit home as our mapping notes reminded us that the Californian coast is 1,600 kms in length which is just over half of the distance of the entire Pacific bike route!! However, we will soon reach the Redwoods- an area we are all looking forward to seeing.

We intended to stop for lunch at Fort Dick, just because the name appealed, but Brian was in urgent need of a refuel so we stopped earlier at Smith River and Vanda served us with some great burgers and fries.

The rest of the ride was easy into Crescent City - our stop for the night. When the Manager at the hotel was helping us to decide on a restaurant for dinner she explained that the harbour at Crescent City was destroyed by the Japanese Tsunami only two years ago – thankfully we are lodging on higher ground!

Today was the easiest cycling day so far at 90kms, but tomorrow looks very bumpy indeed with two 1000+ climbs in the morning!

A fantastic meal this evening at Crescent City dock area. Chris took some great pictures of seals and sea birds and Tom attempted to be intimate with a sea lion. However, when arriving at the restaurant Scott (Driver and Road Manager) informed us there was NO bar and we could not have a beer before the meal. After a walk along the pier we then found Scott in the restaurant bar supping beer. This gained him several points and he won TWIT of the day.