Still here

Once we left Oregon, the fog continued for days, until the Avenue of The Giants. We had a day off just south of Arcata. Then we went through Ferndale and beautiful pastoral countryside. The redwoods were great and then a long climb up after getting onto Hwy 1. We are having coffee in Mendocino Now it is to Manchester.

Foggy Bottom

After leaving Gold Coast we had a good climb, 800 feet at 6%. The continuous beauty was finally overcome by fog and rapidly falling temps. A cold, wet night in Brookings OR gave way to a 49 degree beginning today. We entered CA about 10 miles into the ride and so far it has cold and foggy. We stopped at the Smith River boat launch to have a snack and catch up on messages Currently we are in Crescent and a 1200 ft climb awaits.

Coastal Oregon

With spotty coverage, it is difficult to post regularly. So day two, Florence to Sunset Beach was wet but beautiful. The dines were on our right most of the day, giving way to marshes, only to reveal a hill where we would be in the pines and canopied forest.
Sunset Beach was great. Leaving there we proceeded up Seven Devil Rd, appropriately named for the seven hills we climbed. This took us to breathtaking vistas of forested hills leading to the ocean. We passed through Bandon, known for storms an golf. I can attest to the winds, cold and blustery. We made our way down the beautiful coast to humbug state park where the vegetation has begun to change to the drier climes.
Today we are on our way to Brookings to camp at Harris Beach. We are now at the mouth of the Rogue River in Gold Beach. So much beauty it is hard to make progress since you want to stop for views and take pictures.

Eugene to Florence

Saturday night started with a beer run, food and wine, and some laughs. It is a great group of people.
Today, Sunday, was 65 miles and some good climbs. We stopped by a little diner and some of our group was having biscuits and gravy, 10 miles on.
The scenery was lovely, breath taking is a better word. There were so many apple trees and blackberries, cows and alpacas, simply incredible. We then hiked to the dunes by the coast. Now it is time for rest and 56 miles tomorrow starting from just south of Florence.

Pictures from the train

Day 1
The winding coast and the gentile rocking of the train have a hypnotic effect on one and possess the ability to refocus one on questions of what is important in the larger picture.  Maybe it is because you have to give in to the slower pace of train travel, which affords you the luxury, often neglected in our daily schedule, of reflection and contemplation.  Muted colors melt the vivid and rigid manner in which we often view others and the mystery of daily life. This is a good way to begin an experience of pedaling down the Oregon coast through the Redwoods and across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Day 2
The rhythmic movement of the train affects the sleep patterns. The movements are incorporated into your unconscious processing called dreams. Strangely enough, it is when the train stops that you tend to slip toward a more conscious state. We awoke in the Shasta National Forrest to stunning views of mountain streams and pristine pines. Breakfast was enriched with scenic vistas of Mt. Shasta from at least five different positions as the train wound its way around the topography and up toward Oregon.  As we approach Oregon following Hwy 97, we gaze upon open pastures of various shades of wild grasses and cattle grazing in the distance. Cattle must be far more pleased to be here than in the crowded corrals of the central valley where they stand in mud and each other's waste. While much slower than air travel, train travel is infinitely more soothing to the soul and sensually pleasing.
We arrived in Eugene to 90 degree weather.  After grabbing our bags we serendipitously met one of the tour leaders who de-trained and was also catching a cab. Now it is to the pool and a bite to eat with one of Ronda's friends.

Cycle Anniversary

So this year Ronda and I celebrated our 30th anniversary.  What a great joy!  As part of this celebration we are cycling and camping our way from Eugene Oregon to San Francisco California.  This will a wonderful time of pushing ourselves, relaxing, finding our limits only to exceed them, all the while with the other there to support and encourage along the way.  Great scenery along the way as we make our way down the coast and through the redwoods and finally across the Golden Gate Bridge.   Now just days away and the packing is being finalized, the bikes on their way in boxes to FedEx, and the blog updated to receive updates and pictures. More to come.