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!)



Great sunset at Pacific Beach - we'd
 finished our ride at this point



Drink that pint or you are TWIT
 of the day

Steve and Cathy at Pacific Bay - Steve has
 ridden the Oregon Coast



Oh no - road closed !!



It won't stop the Vancomex boys though!

Somwhere in this wood lurked Brian
 - what do you think he was doing?!



Coffee stop OTIS cafe - lovely omlettes



Don't jump Maurice!

Meet Vince - cycling the same route as us but carrying all his gear in a trailor on his bike

Awesome views of the Oregon coast

Awesome views of the Oregon coast

What you up to Tim !

Seals at Yaquina lighthouse

Seals at Yaquina lighthouse

Yaquini Bay Bridge



Just wait up, I'm nearly at the top of the climb!



Awesome views of the Oregon coast

Just don't lean back !!

I make that our biggest single day
ride since I started cycling!

11th September – Astoria to Pacific City

Early start at 7.30 as it was a 100 mile ride. We followed route 101 for much of the day, but were rewarded with some magnificent coastal views after some long climbs.

The Lewis & Clark expedition ended it’s Westward journey near Seaside in November 1805 and we found the memorial statue (see picture). We then pushed on to Cannon Beach on US101 and came to Cape Arch tunnel – an interesting challenge for cyclists! Basically, we had to activate the flashing signal which indicates cyclists are in the tunnel, turn on our lights, wait for a lull in the traffic and then pedal like mad!

After a 2.2 mile climb we then descended into Cannon Beach for coffee and met April another cyclist riding the Pacific Coast route with all her kit for camping.

After coffee we passed by Hug Point State Park, Oswald West State Park and then entered Tillamook County leaving Clatsop county behind us.

We passed through Garribaldi, Bay City and Tillamook (where we had a late lunch) before turning off US101 to do the Three Capes Scenic route. Ok, climbs, but there was also more magnificent Pacific Coast scenery – just what this adventure is all about. We also saw Sand Lake before arriving at our overnight stay at Pacific City.

We think this was our best day yet – a hard days cycling (153kms) but some really rewarding scenery.

Over 750kms done – wow! 25% of the journey completed and our bodies holding up ok (apart from Chris's bum - don't ask!)

Up at 7am tomorrow for another 100 mile ride!!

TWIT of the day was a close competition.  Chris took an early lead by falling of the bike for a second time.  He also lost his Garmin - but denies it - Maurice found in under the table during a coffee stop.  Tim gave a good impression of a ballet dancer whilst dismounting and then took the TWIT lead by not drinking his second pint of beer during the evening meal. However, there was a delay talking to locals and Tim supped up.  This reduced his points score leaving Chris as TWIT of the day. Well deserved. 



A misty river not a hot bath







Memorial to mark the end
of the Lewis & Clark trail



A bad hair day for Tim



April – another Pacific Coast rider
 but carrying all her kit with her – WOW!




Brian happy to be at the top of the climb




Cannon Beach – our coffee stop




Meet Jessie, the road maintenance lady.
We liked her until she said there was
 a one mile climb when her sign turned
to go!



The climb was worth it – what a view.

Tim punctured – one of the few roads like ours in the uk



Maurice doing another deal on the phone
 while Tim mends his puncture




Meet Elieh cycling the Oregon
 coast carrying his gear on his back




Hadlow boys with an ocean view




Our finish for the day at Pacific City



Welcome to Tom's readers

Hi,

Welcome to all of Tom's followers. This is a serious challenge and Tom is not only riding well but has led the team the team through British Columbia and Washington states with great navigational skill. Please follow our progress and we would welcome any messages of encouragement and donations support to Tom's charity which is for such a good cause.

10th September - Kelso to Astoria

A slightly later start today at 8.30 due to shorter ride distance of 90kms. Previous days have been full-on with time only for cycling, eating, sleeping and blogging.  Today we mostly followed IS 30, a trucking highway between Portland and Astoria, reputed to follow the Lewis and Clarke trail, the pioneering route from Central USA to the Pacific Ocean.

Early into the ride we crossed the Lewis and Clark Bridge, entering Oregon State and then did a stiff long climb which was worth it just to get the fantastic views of the Columbia River. This area is rich in history – Captain Robert Gray, Lewis and Clark and Captain John West (of John West Salmon notoriety) being the early pioneers in the 18^th / 19^th centuries.

The large trucks were often close to the cycle lane so we needed all our concentration on the road to stay safe.  After the long climbs we were rewarded with fast long descents - we experienced the longest downhill section (nearly 7kms) we’ve ever ridden – magnificent but scary!  There was always 'paybacks’ though after the long descents by further climbs – one a non-stop 650 feet climb.  Our Bradley Wiggins sideburns are helping us to conquer them powerfully though!!

We reached our overnight stop at Astoria early at around 3pm so some relaxation time before heading out for dinner.

So, Leg 1 completed. At the hotel entrance there was an official handover of the route maps from Tom who has done a great job of navigating Leg 1 of the route to Tim who will be navigating Leg 2 (see picture).

Additional notes from Mr Rowe:  During lunch Tom talked us through the history of a local ferry we could have taken.  After waxing lyrically about the ferry for 10 minutes we agreed to take a short detour to visit it and were now keen to see it.  Unfortunately, Tom charged past the turn off, so we missed the Ferry.  One TWIT point to Tom!!  We did make a detour to view the river – after 30 minutes and ready to go, Tom announces he needs the loo.  As we're waiting for him to return the heavens open and we get wet – another point Tom!  So Tom wins the TWIT of the day for the 3^rd consecutive day.    



Brian sizing up bikes for old age cycling!



Our evening venue in Astoria - Fort George
Brewery and public house



Astoria bridge - now that's a proper bridge!



Long climb up but rewarded with great
 views  of  the Lewis & Clark bridge




A damsel in distress - Scott, our driver, comes
 to the rescue with his mobile phone




Magnificent views of the Campbell river,
justifying the 650ft climb to it 



Now that's a load of logs!



Going across the Lewis & Clark bridge
outside Kelso




Official handover of navigator maps
 from Tom to Tim for leg 2



British Columia state - tick
Washington state tick
Now Oregon



Team picture overlooking the Lewis
 & Clark bridge 




We drew some crowds as we entered
into Westpooint



Pushing on to Westpoint for coffee



Now that's a fair old tree trunk



Views of the columbia river from space -
 well thats what it felt like after the climb



All you need to know about Captain John West



9th September – Elma to Kelso

8.00 planned start time. At 8.05 Maurice notices he has a flat tyre!  (making an early bid for TWIT of the day).  Thankfully, whilst waiting for Maurice, we met up with Dave and Dennis, a couple of American buddies also cycling the Pacific Coast route. We exchanged a few stories of our rides. They are cycling on touring bikes carrying all their gear, including tents, on their bikes. It was very difficult to lift their bikes of the ground – not for us!

We eventually departed around 8.30am after Scott had repaired the puncture for Maurice. Crossed the Chechchalis river and stopped off at Rochester (a mildly more attractive town that the UK version) for coffee and blackberry pancakes and maple syrup – magnificent! We cycled to and then through Centralia around lunchtime and encountered our first nutcase driver who seemed to deliberately cut us all up – we stayed calm (all except for Tom) counted to 10 and moved on!

After 100kms we were all running low on energy so we stopped off for a very late lunch at Sandy’s Parlour in Toledo.  This set us up for the last push to Kelso, our evening stop. Passed by the Lewis and Clark State Park and entered Cowlitz county. After Castle Rock we ended up at Kelso having done a total of 145kms in the day – our biggest ride so far which included several long climbs and periods of strong head winds. Further stress was caused by aggressive dogs chasing us whilst cycling through ‘Billy Bob’ country.  We are all feeling a bit jaded tonight! (see stats page for more details).

A few pictures from today are below – they include a guy from Elma who has a pair of sideburns that puts Bradley Wiggins to shame !

Tomorrow we travel onto Astoria, Oregon – allegedly an easy day of around 60 miles, but with a couple of big climbs. We leave the State of Washington into Oregon with its famous coastline and Redwood trees.

Additional comments from Mr Rowe: Maurice made an early bid for TWIT of the day but was surpassed by Tom who changed his mind ordering milk shakes at least 3 times in less and 5 seconds at our lunch break. This caused the waitress (Sandra) re-writing the whole order for all of us. He later did not confess to his crime and was justly awarded further points which won him TWIT of the day – this is now for two consecutive days.  Will he make it a hat-trick tomorrow?



Dave cycling the same route as us but carrying all his gear
 on the bike - WOW!




Dennis, cycling the Pacific coast with Dave. 




Meet Robert Paul from Elma - eat your heart out
Bradley




The Chechchalis River






Chris with Elvis in Rochester

'Big Cog' Brian pushes on



Pulled over bu the Sherriff - fortunately not us bikers! 




Our best effort at a peleton



Brian - the keeper of the 'yummy bears' - US equivalent of jelly babies

Another long climb



yummy bears handed out - a maximum of 2 bears per rider!



Chris loves his bike - he's now taking it to bed as well!



Maurice punctured before we even start day 4 - TWIT nomination for the day



Coffee and pancakes at Rochester