So the rain didn't last long. I cycled 83km from Astoria to Rockaway Beach. Looks like a beach town, just one main drag (hwy 101) with miles of beach. The trip went great, I feel awesome. There were 3 fairly large hills to climb, but I didn't have much trouble with em.
I ran into a few other cyclists, but only chatted up with one. He was cycling to San Francisco from Seattle because he was moving there, but was riding with not much more than a tent and a few plastic bags of supplies for saddle bags. I realized I was geared up to the nuts after meeting him. He also felt compelled to tell me washing my clothes was needless, because you can ride in the same riding underwear day after day, and wear a different pair in the evening day after day. I don't think I should measure myself up to that guy, but he is a testament that anyone can do this trip, on any budget.
I had planned to check out Nahalem Bay campsite and see if they had any yurts available, but truth be told, I never even saw a single sign for the campsite. Thank goodness I never booked anything ahead, for 2 reasons: For one, I probably wouldn't have found it and spent a whole lotta time backtracking, and two, the town was sooner than I would have liked to stop. I ended up arriving here at 3:30, and about 15km further than that town.
My motel is awesome. I'm at the Sea Haven Motel, and it's huge. 2 LCD tv's, full kitchen, BBQ, coffee and snacks, wifi and Netflix for $80. As soon as I booked it, they threw up the No Vacancy sign. Score. I immediately had a shower and washed my riding clothes from today, just in case I don't get a chance tomorrow. I only have 2 days worth of clothing.
Tomorrow I will try to do my daily 100km goal. I have to make a choice of a "scenic" route from Tillamook to Pacific City, which follows the ocean, but also adds about 16km extra to the trip down. The road also has large steep hills, and gravel sections and narrower roads along cliffs overlooking the ocean. Sounds spectacular, but not sure I have the right bike for gravel roads, or the energy for intense hill climbing. I will make that call tomorrow.
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