Today is the day I returned to the sand dunes of Oregon and my traumatic experience at age 8 of getting lost in the fog on the beach and in the dunes near Florence. How would I handle it? Would there be flashbacks? Would I get lost again?
ADORABLE kid: "I was kinda scared"
We discovered that news article just 10 or so days ago, thanks to my sister and the editor of the Florence newspaper. How cool is that? I just had to find that spot and replicate that pose, and thanks to the help of the staff here, we found it!
ADORABLE cyclist: "Uhhh, which way is Mexico?"
Excuse me, but who ordered the headwind today? Jeesh, the trees up here are all permanently bent south and for some reason, we had to have the wind in our face all day. It was also another foggy day, which continues the trend of foggy, sunny, foggy, sunny, foggy, since I started Leg 2 in South Bend, WA. Also, why is South Bend north of North Bend?
Awesome views despite the fog
As noted above, we rode through the Oregon Dunes today. I didn't venture out into the dunes themselves for fear of getting lost again like I did when I was 8. Back in 1965, I disappeared in the fog while playing on the beach with my sister here at the Siltcoos Recreation Area in Oregon When I couldn't find her, I decided to walk to the parking lot, only I went the wrong way. After walking a couple of miles along the beach, I decided to turn inland and over the dunes in hopes of seeing our campground. I got to the top of a dune but didn't see anything, so I headed back to the beach, where the Sheriff's Department, a helicopter, and other tourists were frantically searching for me. Here I am 48 years later, and I blame the Oregon dunes on my proclivity to lose stuff on a daily basis.
I had much better abs at age 8, so here's one that covers my manboobs
This was as close as I got to a real sand dune
I rode alone today and rather enjoyed it. Even though I'm riding in group rides on 14 of my 29 cycling days, the goal of getting to Mexico is mine alone and it just seems more appropriate to be riding alone. But I do enjoy the people here. They are a great group and I have now met a lot of them.
Lake Marie, near the Umpqua River Lighthouse
Cruised off-route into Lakeside for a decent lunch at Old Stables
Physically, it's hard to tell if I am getting better or if I'm just keeping my injuries at bay with lots of ice and careful riding. I have found that smooth shifting (no jarring) and a consistent pedaling stroke are what feels best. I'm very happy with how my knee and achilles are doing, but I'm not sure that either are going to subside entirely. If they stay the way they are, that'll do just fine.
Really loving my ride down Oregon's coast
The sun finally poked out a few miles before North Bend
From the McCullough Bridge
North Bend: A Bay Area Wannabe
Our pit stop, Clyde Allen Ball Park, where the sprinklers have a mind of their own
See if you know where this story is going.... Our previous night in Yachats was very windy. Combine that with my priceless 2-second tent that I have loved and bragged about for the 8 years since I did my first California Coast Classic. Combine that with the fact that I keep that priceless tent in the rafters of our garage where it heats up to at least 120 degrees in the summer and drops into the 40's in the winter. Now, what do you think I spent my first hour in camp doing?
That green part is NOT the tent floor - it's the tarp UNDER under the tent
Fortunately, they have duct tape here and as my PCC co-rider (and BikeTheCoast13 donor) Laura told me, "if you can't fix it with duct tape, it means you haven't used enough duct tape." And I used about 2/3 of a roll to fix my Quechea 2-Second tent. And now, it's STILL better than any other tent here. You ROCK, Quechea. I mean, who wants to put up a tent after cycling 77 miles?
Patched on the inside
Patched on the outside
So, I'm in North Bend (south of South Bend) working on my blog and resting in my tent. Didn't go to town; just not enough time after the long ride, patch job, and blogging. Another 70 tomorrow, hopefully with a little sun and a shift in the wind.
Just got a vision for a Jeff's Road Bike Grill with bikes lined up and poking out the roof
Day 9 Recap: Yachats, OR to North Bend, OR
Actual Miles: 78.0
Cumulative Miles: 572.8
Elevation Gain: 3,261'
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 19,923'
% Distance to Mexico: 30.4%
Actual Miles: 78.0
Cumulative Miles: 572.8
Elevation Gain: 3,261'
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 19,923'
% Distance to Mexico: 30.4%
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