VANCOMEX: 09/13/12

Thursday, 13 September 2012

13th September – Florence to Coos Bay

We are still cycling in Oregon. A later start today to give our body’s some recovery time and there is only a 90km ride planned. After a leisurely breakfast we got away by 10am.

We kept cycling on US101 going past the Oregon Dunes and through the towns of Gardiner and Reedsport. We left the US101 at Winchester Bay (a popular Clam digging area) to take a look at the Umpqua lighthouse and have lunch. We’ve had a few Subway lunches which seem to refuel us well for the afternoon cycling.

During the afternoon we left Douglas County and entered Coos County. About 10kms from the end of the ride the Vancomex team did their good deed for the day – helping a damsel in distress! The damsel, Olivia, pulled into a lay-by with a puncture - strangely she didn’t have a Jack or a phone. So Trina and Jana (a couple of ladies also in the lay-by) provided a jack and Maurice, Brian and Tim worked together to change the wheel – Vancomex to the rescue. The strange part was up until this time Tim was not feeling well and we were carefully nursing him along. However, with no hesitation he threw himself on the floor to attach the jack and lift up the car. Tim – you are a hero.

We then did a 10km round-trip detour before the end of the ride to take a look at Horsefall Dunes – on the way to the dunes the temperature dropped about 20 degrees and some fog rolled in so we never got to see much of the dunes. Not one of our best decisions so far.

A much easier day - no severe hills and only 90kms of cycling. Funny that we should see that distance as an easy day! Another milestone is that we passed 1000kms for the ride so far – WOW over a third of the way there.

There was no TWIT of the day award - a few minor confessions but nothing worthy of such a noteworthy award as TWIT of the day. Instead Tim was awarded outstanding cyclist of the day for manfully cycling when feeling under the weather.

Cheers – a well earned pint
in Florence after a long ride day

Punctured only 6kms into the days
ride equalling Chris’s Tim puncture count of two

Nice shirt Brian – where did you

get that

Picnic at Umpqua lighthouse

Bradley Brian and Maurice –

coming on nicely

Chris – could be something nesting in there!

Bradley Tim – some beard management
needed here

Bradley Tom – bit of shut eye going on

Chris gets new gear cabling

Helping a damsel in distress – Olivier gets

a puncture on route to work, team Vancomex

to the rescue

The other part of the rescue team – Trina and Jana, who provided the jack to change the wheel

The Conde B. McCullough Memorial Bridge – it was like crossing the Dartford Bridge on our bikes

Our evening restaurant in Coos Bay

Olivia, the lady with the puncture,

in Dairy Queen!

Four MAMILS on a bench at Umpqua lighthouse

12th September - Pacific City to Florence

Up at 6.30, no breakfast facilities, finally away by 7.45am. We think we have a long hilly 95 miles to cycle but it turns out to be 100 miles by the time we reach the hotel.

Shortly into the ride we left the US101 for a 12km scenic detour which included a 650ft climb. 40kms into the ride we stopped at OTIS cafe for a well earned breakfast - fantastic omlettes and German potatoes.

We soon left Tillamook County and entered Lincoln County, by-passing Lincoln City on our way to Depoe Bay. We had been told about the whales that live in Depoe Bay all year round. Right on cue they showed themselves when we arrived - seeing the whales was awesome! Later on we had more sightings of whales at Otter Creek and Devils Punchbowl before heading on to Yaquina Head Lighthouse. There we saw not only the lighthouse, but also seals and sea lions swimming and sun bathing on the rocks

We by-passed Newport (like you would the Newport in Wales, UK) and followed the Pacific Coast Road to our destination for the night at Florence. Literally, 50 miles of superb ocean views - so many jaw dropping and OMG views. At 4.00pm we stopped at a 'Subway' in Waldport to refuel and had a mild panic when we realised we still had 45 miles to our hotel. However, the team worked very well together in a peleton to end the day's cycling just before 7pm.

Scott, our support man, found us a great restaurant for our evening meal as usual and gave us the great news that after two consecutive 100 mile days, we had only 49 to do tomorrow - yeah!! A lie in until 8am!!

Additions: Tim made a minor bid for the TWIT of the day, but Brian won that honour easily by droping $70 when getting out camera to snap whales. Luckily Tom found it on the ground - gave it to Tim who tried to hand it to passing Americans. The day was saved and Brian retrieved the money (Kay you can sleep easily!)