Ride the West--Day 13 Petaluma to San Francisco

Hello again from the land of the Golden Gate Bridge! We pedaled about 50 miles from Petaluma to San Francisco and what a last day of the ride we had. Since the ride was shorter than normal we had a later load and departure time, so that gave us a chance to catch an extra half hour of sleep and/or breakfast. The early departure riders who move a tad slower left about 7:30 am while Larry, David, Greg and Scott left at 0800 to get to San Francisco in time to attend a Crosby, Stills and Nash concert later tonight. I left with Bill and Dave about 8:30 am. When I walked to breakfast and then when I loaded my bag for departure I couldn't help but notice a ripe aroma in the air. Yes, the clear, unadulterated whiff of cow manure was ever present. We are obviously in the agricultural belt of California and our survey of the country roads in the area confirm what our noses identified.

The ride today was full of .7 miles on Olema and then 2 miles on the bicycle path, then right .8 miles, etc. We meandered from one town to the next with some good country hills thrown in to help us remember that this ride is not for wimps or whiners. Even the absolute easiest day has some ups and downs to get the blood pressure elevated and the wind blowing swiftly in our faces. After climbing out of Petaluma, the California golden mountainside erupted with splendor and then asked us to sweat all the way to the top in 80 degree temperatures. Along the way, a couple of gorgeous horses ambled around their arena and a patchy gray deer skipped across a hillside. I stayed with the late departing group for about 15 minutes and as the hills got steeper, I pulled away and decided that if I put my head down I could likely catch Larry and gang ahead 30 minutes or so. Slowly but surely, I caught Dave the professor and Nancy the librarian assistant, and eventually, I caught Larry, David, Greg and Scott. I then throttled back and enjoyed a winding ride to the SAG stop at San Anselmo. I relaxed and watched countless locals buy their $5 latte from the drive up and had my usual handful of peanuts and a couple bottles of cool water. I decided to ride the remaining 20 miles with Bill Rankin, Bill Bergen and Dave the Pet Supply Store Manager.

The navigation for the ride to the bridge and hotel became quite intense, with us moving on and off bike paths and riding up and down hill and dale. The most interesting jaunt was up Chapman Road, a one lane road that made multiple hairpin turns up the side of a mountain that overlooked the town of Larkspur and Sauselito. The houses were built closely together while embedded in the trees and the setting reminded me of a neighborhood in Italy. And while the conditions for us were close, the drivers and cyclists found a way to mutually coexist without threatening one another or traveling arrogantly in the other's space. Pretty cool to see and experience!

The four of us stopped several times to take photos like the ones displayed above. The splendor and beauty is so widespread around here, it is almost impossible to take a bad picture.

After we glided through Sauselito, a chic, French Rivera-like town, we made the final assault on the Golden Gate Bridge. To get across the bridge, you have to hand carry your bike up and down a couple of steep staircases to ride on the side of the Golden Gate that is most crowded with neophyte bikers and oblivious pedestrians. I'm not sure of the exact strategy of the California Department of Transportation, but I have never seen more clueless mounted and unmounted passersby all in one hazardous place at the same time. I'll forever have a nightmare of a completely unstable mountain bike coming at me with a front mounted carrying bag that says "Blazing Saddles". The driver of said vehicle is watching 1)the bridge itself 2)the large ship moving under the bridge 3) the helicopters and airplanes dropping fire retardant on the fire of a nearby hillside 4) the rear end of their girlfriend or boyfriend on the bike in front of them. Suffice it to say, absolutely ZERO PERCENT are watching any other cyclists or pedestrians. At any one time there are countless Darwin Award nominees (Google it!) on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Nevertheless, all four of us took some great pictures and made it to the bike path on the other side. And although we were a bit unsure of where to go thereafter, we found our hotel, the Comfort Inn, with few wrong turns. The ride was now complete.

Those of us ending our ride here, had our "good-bye rap" while those going down south another week heard of their rest day in SF tomorrow and about Sunday's ride to Santa Cruz. With rap complete, we headed to a great diner for dinner and enjoyed some genuine American cuisine like hamburgers, fried chicken and Portabello mushroom sandwiches. Did I mention this is an eclectic group?

When the meal ended, we all gathered outside the restaurant and exchanged handshakes and hugs, knowing that we'd all be moving in different directions soon. There were smiles all around and promises of future rides and the desire to stay healthy via cycling. And like all good cyclists, we broke from there and headed to the nearby ice cream/chocolate store, Ghiradelli's for some of the greatest treats known to man (and woman).

I hope you enjoyed the ride through beautiful Oregon and magnificent California. I can only smile when I think of pedaling through these classic American experience areas. Stay tuned for the next retirement adventure and twists and turns in the road that make our lives interesting. A special thanks to Mike and Barbara Munk, Karen and Jim for making this a tremendous experience. And lastly, thanks to Arlene, DA, Sara and Adam for indulging me in something I truly love almost as much as I love you.

Ride the West--Day 12 Cloverdale to Petaluma

Dear Family and Friends, It is hard to believe that we would have a "bonus day" after so many great days, but sure enough, today was absolutely phenomenal. When I walked outside this morning the air was noticeably warmer, about 60 degrees versus the 50 or less I'd experienced the last 2 weeks. We pushed out of the hotel through the outskirts of Cloverdale and wound our way through still more redwoods. I really never knew how widespread and plentiful the redwoods were in California. After only 8 miles, we moved from the redwoods to the bountiful California vineyards and wineries. This entire area was full of activity with trucks hauling crates and crates of grapes harvested from the vines that were bending from the weight of the fruit. As we wound through this glorious country with the hundreds of thousands of rows of white and dark grapes we could read the names on the ornate signs that marked the entrance to the wineries like Everett Ridge, Lambert Bridge, Rafanelli, Amphora, Raymond Burr, and Alderbrook. With a bright blue sky and a winding road ahead, I enjoyed gliding along with my friends Larry, David, Greg and his daughter, Heather, and a "visiting alumni" from my ride across America, Scott Terpstra. The SAG stop at 33.4 miles seemed to come so quickly with the least amount of effort expended.

I didn't stay long at the rest stop since I planned to have stop in nearby Occidental, just 7 miles up the road. We all pulled out of the SAG and continued to slide along until we came upon a 3-4 minute hill that ended in a stop at the Bakery Cafe. I stretched for a few minutes and then I bought two hubcap sized cinnamon rolls and a nice cup of java. I had to literally wrestle with Mike Munk to get him to take one of the cinnamon rolls. Trust me, these were the BEST cinnamon rolls you've ever eaten, so I think he'll forgive me for being so pushy.

After talking with Mike and Greg's daughter, Heather, who is a professional bike racer, Greg and Heather and I headed down the steep hill outside of Occidental. The hill was steep and the descent came fast, as did a huge crater in the middle of the road and partially hidden in a shadow. I was moving about 30 mph when I spotted this huge hole in the asphalt and narrowly missed what would have definitely caused grave bodily damage! From there on, the three of us flew down this hill with Heather and Greg leading the pace line of the three of us for about 5 miles. For the remaining miles, I led us with a strong tail wind up and down the rolling terrain glancing in my mirror to make sure we kept a pace that worked for all of us. For the better part of 45 minutes, we were kicking along at 24-30 mph without dropping a soul. What a blast! On the last climb into Petaluma, we all let off the gas and recovered, and I even stopped to take a photo of a beautiful Belgian draft horse. This regal animal walked my way and let me rub his nose as two above average mammals connected with a few kind words and a kind touch. It was a moment.

We rolled into the hotel parking and immediately helped unload the America By Bicycle van with Karen and Barbara. As soon as I had my bike tucked into my room, I changed into my swim suit and hit the warm, soothing pool and hot tub. What a wonderful way to cool down and stretch after sitting on a bike seat for 3 or 4 hours! As the other folks arrived, they all remarked about the stunning beauty of the wine country. At our "rap" tonight, Karen explained the challenges of the last 50 miles to San Francisco and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. We also said goodbye to Nancy, the incredible 75 year old lady who biked the entire last week, a really tough ride for even an experienced young rider. Jenny also will be leaving after tomorrow's ride.

After a filling dinner of fajitas at Applebees, I went to the Scott and Kathy Terpstra's room to watch their pictures of the 2006 Cross Country Challenge we rode together. Larry, David, Scott, Kathy and I all laughed as we remembered the people and places that made that 52 day adventure a lifelong memory. And now we are blessed to make still another special memory along the Oregon and California coasts. And tomorrow we'll close another chapter.

Hope you've enjoyed the ride and have smiled once or twice. I love these adventures and it is even more fun to share them with you.

Ride the West Sep 09--Day 11 Ft. Bragg to Cloverdale

Hello Family and Friends, We awoke to a clear blue sky and 50 degrees this morning in Ft. Bragg, CA, across the street from the Pacific. Looming about 5 miles off shore was a huge fog bank that never did intervene with our ride today.

After a light breakfast at the hotel, I rolled out of the parking lot with Mike Munk at 8:15 am. Mike and I rode together several times during my cross country trip in 2006 and we know how to push one another. That said, we did not hammer each other, but we did make sure that neither got cold over the next 20 miles.

We rolled along at about 19 mph riding out of town and then turned it up to 20-21 mph as the hills began to appear on the horizon. Taking turns on the front, we both felt our legs warm up and start to fire. Unfortunately, Mike has a hip injury that is definitely affecting him and stealing some of his energy. Nevertheless, Mike can still turn the bicycle crank swiftly. As we rolled along, we were both looking at the amazing views that the California coast offers. Some of the best vantage points are from the bridges that span the valleys and harbors along the coast. We stopped about 4 times to take photos of God's handiwork.

After about 10 miles, we headed back into the redwood forest for more cycling to die for. The roads are wonderful, the traffic very light and the view of the majestic redwoods is superb. Mike and I pushed hard for about the last 4 miles to the SAG stop and we were both happy to stop at the Paul Dimmick campground area.

I shot the bull and refueled over about a 30 minute period. Since most of our folks were moving a tad slower today after a tough day of climbing yesterday, the riders slowly arrived for their morning snack.

I left the SAG stop for a short dash (13 miles) to the next sightseeing tour, an Apple Cider Stand. I pedaled through the forest for about 7 more miles until the roadside transformed itself into a scene of golden rolling hills with occasional sprinklings of grape vineyards and olive trees. As I crept closer to the Apple Cider Stand, I suddenly felt like singing America the Beautiful having seen so many "amber waves of grain and purple mountain majesty . . ." I couldn't help but think that in just 30 miles I'd seen ocean and beaches, giant redwoods and now the golden hills of California. I cruised into the Apple Cider Stand and ordered a large cup of apple cider that tasted delicious! I found a warm place in the sun to sit down, dry my gear, and enjoy a taste treat. Eventually, several of my buddies arrived and we all enjoyed something none of us has on a regular basis, apple cider.

The SAG stop was only 7 more miles down the road, so it came quickly in the town of Booneville. Bill Bergen and I talked with a husband and wife that were doing some light cycling around the area in preparation for an upcoming retreat. These happy folks were very interested in our trip and wanted to do something like this in the future. By now the temperature was about 80+, so I had a chockolate shake from the Redwood Cafe, ditched my underarmor shirt for the first time and put my game face on for the climbing ahead.

The original climb was billed as about 5000 feet but turned out to be closer to 3000. And to top things off, we had a 15 mph tailwind blowing us up the hill most of the way. I was flying up the lower 5 miles of this hill at about 19 mph until I hit the business end of the mountain. I climbed at about 7-10 mph for about 30-40 minutes and the temperatures were now approaching 90. Yes it was hot, but it was a dry heat! As I pushed up the tougher part of the hill, I heard some rustling in the trees on my left on the side of a hill. I glanced left and saw two young deer staring at me and I told them, "I'm too tired to stop and take your photo!" They never moved.

The climb was reasonably even with a few really steep hills to provide some drama. I kept telling myself, "Only x miles before the downhill, stay steady, keep shifting to keep your pedal pace even and your speed even." Sometimes I listened to myself and other times I did like Arlene does, and I ignored me.

After cresting the hill, the ride down into Cloverdale was a blast. Nicely designed turns and steep enough to get me moving around 40 mph for a long time. And as always, I was relieved to see the Best Western Hotel sign.

Eventually, everyone arrived, we unloaded the luggage van, hit the pool for a swim and hot tub and had our debrief of today's ride and reviewed the schedule for tomorrow. I then returned to my room to relax a couple minutes before dinner. Suddenly, I heard a knock at the door and since it was left slightly open I could see a police officer standing at my door. As I approached the door, he asked if I was Steve King and if I had been riding my bicycle down Cloverdale Boulavard at 35 mph? I told him that, yes, I am Steve and that, yes, I did just ride into town. He then told me that 35 mph is a speeding violation. I soon thereafter looked for a video/TV camera and smiled, knowing one of my good buddies had set me up! The officer smiled and was kind enough to take a photo with me at my request. There is a story behind this story that you'll have to ask me about sometime.

We had a good dinner at a local brew pub and then I hoofed it 2.5 miles roundtrip to MacDonalds for an evening meal supplemental. Yes, I was still hungry. And when I returned, standing in the parking lot were Scott and Kathy Terpstra, friends from my ride across America in 2006. The Terpstra's, along with Larry Fariss, David Holloway and Greg Robinson all went next door to a local Sports Bar and caught up on old times.

More wine country riding tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Ride the West Sep 09--Day 10 Garberville to Ft. Bragg

Hello Cycle Blogging Friends,

I'll make this short and sweet so my friend Larry Fariss can also complete his blog. Suffice it to say, we had a ride and a half today!

We knew in advance that there were a few hills out there, but when it was all over, we discovered there LOTS of hills out there. The first 20 miles took us through some more beautiful redwoods in the Richard Grove and along several "over the river and through the woods" roads adjacent to US Highway 101S. When we pedaled back onto 101, we crossed two brand new bridges constructed by CALTRANS, the California Highway guys. Both of these bridges were massive and named after two ladies. That made me think, how do you get a bridge or a highway or a redwood grove named after you? I know, I can Google it and find the answer, but I'm in a hurry here! After climbing the bridges, I passed Confusion Hill and confirmed what Mike Munk had called the tourist trap of all time. At the SAG stop at Standish Hickey, I did some long distance business with my bank, called Arlene and refueled for the next 55 miles and 5000 feet of climbing.

I absolutely love pushing up the hills and Leggett Hill and I got along swimmingly. The climb is listed at about 7 percent and that equates to moderate and forever. This 5 mile long hill takes about 45 minutes to climb when you are moving at 11, 10, 9, 8 or 7 mph. I used all these numbers along the way and kept trying to get back to the bigger numbers. When I left the hotel it was 50 degrees and I was darn cold. Climbing up the hill I was hot and dripping sweat for most of the climb. The road was smooth and the scenery spectacular throughout. When I finally crested the first hill I was tired and relieved to get at least a short rest.

The next 3-4 miles down hill was a blast with turns and twists that required my balance and steady braking given the limited sight distance. I was also looking for falling rocks and rocks hidden in the shadows that these giant trees cast.

And after enjoying about 10 minutes of 30-40 mph down hill, it was time to climb the next monster one crank at a time. Very few cars passed and the road remained nice throughout. The coolest part here is after another 30 minute climb, the down hill ending is followed by a grand view of the Pacific that has been hiding while we explored the redwood forests. As I screamed down the hill, the Pacific's beautiful faced poked out between some lush branches. As the road pitched and turned, more and more of the Pacific appeared and finally I was again standing on a vista that displayed views of the California coast that have awed me day after day. I said a quick hello to Debbie, a self supported cyclist traveling with a friend. Debbie took my picture and explained how much she enjoys the freedom that self support allows. She travels from hotel to hotel just like we do, but she drags all her stuff with her. Although this sounds somewhat appealing, I prefer to have America by Bicycle drag my stuff while I pedal as light as a 200 pound cyclist can be!

I pulled into the last SAG stop and immediately took off my Underarmor, my biking jersey and gloves and let them dry in the 65 degree sunny sky. Our stop was right on the embankment next to the beach. As I walked around and surveyed the area, I spotted 5 sheep grazing around the area, acting as if they owned the place. Eventually the SAG wagon showed up and I again refueled and shot the bull with arriving riders for about an hour and a half. I stretched, rehydrated and heard everybody's story about climbing the hills.

The last 20 miles were supposed to be much easier than the previous 48. However, I soon discovered that while the beach may be flat, the road along the coast is proverbially up and down and up. By the time I spotted the hotel, I was ready to call it a day and then some. When some of my buddies, including my roommate, Brian Cox, showed up, we all walked a block to get a scoop of ice cream. Mmmmmmm! Eventually I helped unload the luggage truck, took a hot tub and swim in the pool and called my brother John, Adam and Arlene. For dinner we killed lots of pizza dough and then figured out how we are going to attack the hills again tomorrow at the end of the day instead of like today, at the beginning. Join us tomorrow for yet another day in the saddle!

Ride the West Sep 09--Day 9 Eureka to Garberville

Goodevening Friends and Family,

We had a great bike ride today, traveling lots of miles through the Avenue of the Giants, a huge state park full of redwoods that are striking and strong.

We departed our hotel at 8 am and were happy to see only clouds above us and no rain. Our cyclists wandered through Eureka for about 3 miles before we got back on Highway 101S for a short time and then wandered through farm country to the first SAG stop in Ferndale, a small town filled with Victorian designed houses and buildings.

I rode part of the way with Larry, Greg, and David, and after getting some on-road maintenance help from Mike Munk and Karen Bauer (my front deraileur--gear changer), I rode with Mike and Karen. Eventually, I put my head down and roared down the last couple of miles into Ferndale at 30 mph with the aid of a nice tailwind. Sure is fun to feel fast for a little bit.

The ride through the Avenue of the Giants is really nirvana for a cyclist. The forest is extremely quiet, the road well paved, and the traffic very light and well-behaved. A couple times I was "feeling it" and then decided that I needed to savor this exquisite opportunity. I even took off my dark goggles since the redwoods create an enormous amount of shade, the entire forest has a low light effect. These giant trees permit us to visit and gaze in amazement at a living life form that makes giant whales seem small and frail. Their resiliency is as amazing as is their size.

One of the amazing things I saw today was a post that denotes the water height in the forest during the flood of 1964. The water rose 34 feet above the base of the trees in an area that would make anyone wonder who a flood could possibly occur here. Despite the relatively shallow root system of the redwood and the incredible amounts of water, few of the trees were damaged or downed. Another wonder by a wonderful Creator.

By the time I arrived at the final SAG stop, I was soaked from a climb over the last 3 or 4 miles. I stretched out my gear to dry and refreshed myself with a handfull of peanuts, a couple bottles of water and some delicious peanut butter crackers. And while I relaxed for a few minutes, Barb showed me some wonderful photos of her 5 grandchildren, including one month old Claudia Julliette. Barb is the official America By Bicycle team Mom and a fantastic person.

The last 26 miles I really felt the effects of riding 9 days in a row. I left the rest stop feeling cold so I put my windbraker on to build up some heat. After about 10 miles, I started climbing again and felt warm and comfortable and my legs finally were ready to kick for a few more miles.

One of the highlights of the leg was a roll down main street in Miranda. Miranda was the hometown of the late Darryl Fariss, Larry's Dad and Nita's husband. I saw Darryl's old high school and took a photo with my back up camera of the sign that looked like it had been there a very long time. As I glided through this small town, I looked left and right and wondered which buildings were there when Darryl roamed these streets. Darryl was a great man and a great friend that I still miss very much.

The next 15 miles were up and down and more work than I probably would have requested. Over the last 5 miles which were mostly up hill, I kept thinking of the great skit I could write that would depict the America By Bicycle planners, pouring over the route plan and figuring out how they can put almost every hotel at the top of a long hill near the end of a ride. Yes, after 75 miles today, I was indulging in a little self pity that manifested itself in warped humor developed on a bicycle.

After arriving at the Best Western Humboldt, I headed for a quick downtown tour via bicycle and searched for a Radio Shack to find a battery charger for my Sony camera. Viola! Success! They had exactly what I needed and as of now I have two charged batteries for the remainder of the trip.

And the beat goes on!

Ride the West Sep 09--Day 8 Gold Coast to Eureka

Back in the saddle again friends and family!

With three new riders joining us and one rider leaving as planned, we left the hotel at 0730 and had our biggest climbing day (4000+ vertical feet) to 83 miles. The first climb started about a mile out and lasted about 30 minutes as we headed down Highway 101 south. I called today "Zipper Day" (keep your minds out of the gutter, please) because I used the zipper on my new America By Bicycle long sleeve cycling jersey about a hundred times. As I pushed up the first climb, down the zipper came to my mid-chest as I started drowning in my own sweat. By the time I reached the summit of the hill, my goggles are completely fogged and I've had to pull them down on my face just to see ahead. As I build up speed heading down, I pull the zipper back up as I am rapidly cooling down as I approach 40 mph on the damp, unsure road and the sweat is now freezing my entire upper body.

Despite the warm temperatures going up the hills and cold temperatures going down the road, I absolutely loved riding amid the regal, stately redwoods that reach to the heavens. Winding through their kingdom I felt honored and thankful for those that painstakingly built the roads that allow so many access to this beauty without disturbing the vast majority of the real permanent residents. The God that put these amazing life forms in our midst is indeed a great and powerful God.

Of course there Bunyan(40 feet tall) and his Blue Ox Babe at the Trees of Mystery display, purportedly a classic tourist trap. And about an hour later, I viewed 20-30 Roosevelt Elk, enjoying breakfast with their entire extended family in a grove just feet off the road I was traveling. It appeared to me that the elk were far more accustomed to seeing humans than humans were accustomed to seeing elk.

After lots of hills and classic vistas of the Pacific Ocean, the ride wound down with a pleasant jaunt along a bike path that was kind of over the river and through the woods. I navigated smartly along all the twists and turns until I got within about 3/4 of a mile of the hotel and I finally had to ask a local for its whereabouts. And as always, that Best Western sign looked mighty nice after 7 hours on the rode and 83 miles.

Our three new riders completed their first journey with our group and that is saying a lot. One of the ladies is an experienced cyclist and she is 75 years young. Hua!

After our bags arrived, I hit the hot tub and had some fun in a warm outdoor pool, shooting some jump shots in the water basketball goal. Kids will be kids. We ended the evening with a great dinner at Porters Barbecue, just down the street from the hotel. Lots of beef and pork barbecue and a quiet confidence in the group that they'd just completed one of the toughest legs on this tour and were ready for whatever might come next.

Ride the West Sep 09--Day 7 Rest Day in Gold Coast

Hello Blog Readers,

The rest day in Gold Coast came as a welcome treat for all the riders and the staff. Most of us slept in a little later, ate a leisurely breakfast and washed our dirty riding and hanging around clothes. I arranged with Karen Bauer, one of our ride leaders, to ride a couple hours around the local countryside.

We headed down a country road for a couple miles and then up the side of one of the nearby hills. This hill was about 50 percent steeper than anything we had climbed in the last week and after about a mile up, up, up, I needed a snorkel with my biking jersey I was sweating so much. We pushed up , up, up for about another mile until the road went from good pavement to dirt. Subsequently, we decided to glide back down the hill and head out of town back toward the north and west, kind of in the vicinity of our inbound route to Gold Coast. We rolled along smoothly for a couple hours, enjoying the quiet of a Saturday morning with few or no cars and lots of laid back dairy cows. One of my favorite signs along the way was "Seeds, hay and DVDs."

We finished up our ride again along Pebble Beach and the overwhelming beauty hit me right in the face again. Crashing waves, prominent rock outcroppings, sloping sandy beaches, surfers, seals, sea lions, and rolling fog that comes and goes and comes and goes. I could easily work for the Oregon and Northern California tourist commission as I truly love this area.

Refueling with a "$5 dollar, $5 dollar, $5 dollar foot loooooong!" at Subway while simultaneously washing my clothes and watching college football. I don't even remember what game I watched but it was sure fun! On second thought, I did see Michigan come from behind to beat Notre Dame.

Later in the afternoon, I borrowed a bike lock from my roommate, Brian Cox, and went on a mission to find a battery charger for my Sony TSC-5 camera. I left the official charger at home because I mistakenly thought I could charge the battery with the same cable that I download photos. As my hero Maxwell Smart says, ". . . missed it by that much." I rode to Walmart, Radio Shack and Walgreen's and went 0-3. With no luck finding a charger or new battery, I dropped back and bought a digital throwaway as a backup.

I then raced back to join Bill Bergen and about 4 other guys for dinner at the Larry Fariss recommended Chart Room restaurant located just minutes from the hotel and on the water. Suffice it to say, Larry was exactly right--this restaurant had the freshest, tastiest fish and the portions were huge! But as they say on TV, ". . . but there's more!" After ordering, Bill and I walked out to the piers behind the restaurant and saw the highly tauted sea lions and seals hogging more than their fair share of the piers. I counted 30 overweight and out of shape sea lions and seals on one pier and about 6 of the same on another. Bill was much more bold than I, walking to about 10 feet of these big boys and girls. About the time he got within the personal space of these amigos and amigas, that gave him several "Arg, Arg, Arg's!" Bill moved a bit farther away and I snapped his photo, and soon thereafter he reciprocated and took mine, although I remained well outside the personal space of the residents.

After dinner, we hoofed it back to the hotel and I watched USC come back to beat Ohio State late in the game. Larry borrowed my computer and listened to USAFA narrowly lose to Minnesota. I also cleaned up my bike for the big ride on Sunday through the redwoods and on to Eureka, CA. One week down and one week to go to San Francisco.

Ride the West Sep 09--Day 6 Gold Coast, OR to Crescent City, CA

Yea Ha! Another wonderful ride full of classic views, lots of fog, a few good hills and seals for as far as the eye could see. Out of the hotel this morning the fog was very thick and the hills came quick, as we climbed about 1000 feet in the first 5 miles. The hill was not exceedingly steep, but it was a long slow climb with "turn out" after "turn out" (places to pull over and enjoy the view) provided, but all were filled with fog, providing about 50 feet of visibility. I was all prepared for a 20 mile eyeful of beauty but instead my goggles stayed wet and smudged from my heavy perspiration and liquid sunshine. Consequently, I just enjoyed the quiet of the climb, the wind/airflow helping me up the hill and the joy of riding for riding's sake. I really didn't see anyone along the way, although I did spot Dave's bike parked at one of the turnouts that I tried to view. No signs of Dave until he made it up to the SAG (Support and Gear) stop in the town of Brookings.

Since I was cold and wet, I bought myself a hot french vanilla coffee and then I hung up everything except my shorts to dry before I continued. I relaxed and talked with Barb again about her daughter acquiring her PhD in Gerontology--really cool. Since I'd finished the first half of the ride in about 1+30, I decided to enjoy the sun as it broke from the clouds enjoy the moment. After almost an hour of shooting the bull and warming up, I headed down the road to catch my friend Bill Bergen.

Bill had a great, strong ride today after having sore knees and a few pains in the vicinity of his seat (occupational hazard!). Bill and I rolled along for the next 20 miles, taking lots of stops along the way. Please note the above photos as we crossed the Oregon and California state lines. First, we crossed the road and took the "Welcome to Oregon" sign and then we started looking for the "Welcome to California" sign. I guess the poor, impoverished state of California can no longer afford a welcome sign, but Bill and I are pretty sure we located the post that once upon a time held up the sign. Rumor has it that the sign is now being used as a ramp to help aging Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger up the ramp to his office. Smiling, Bill and I proceeded down the road, in and out of the fog. This area of California is extremely rural, with many lily farms, dairy farms and California's version of "the big house," Pelican Bay State Prison. If you watch any A&E television, you'll recognize this place as one of the high visibility, maximum security prisons for some of the toughest criminals in America. Very sobering to see this place.

On a lighter note, I saw three things that made me laugh out loud: 1) sign on the side of the road--Westbrook Dairy: Come smell our Dairy Air (say it out loud); 2) A giant, 120 pound black newfoundland near the lily farms who had obviously seen lots of bikes before because he didn't even blink at us!; 3) As I pedaled down Lake Earl Drive, I sat up on my bike, rode with no hands for a few hundred yards and stretched, feeling really proud of myself until I sighted a young man pedaling his mountain bike toward me in the opposite lane with a sheet of 6 ft x 10 ft plywood balanced in one arm!

The next grand sight of the day occurred along Pebble Beach, just outside our destination of Crescent City. This 2 mile stretch along the Pacific is unbelievably gorgeous with waves breaking, huge rock out cropings, some small islands, birds, sea lions, seals and even hearty surfers working the waves. As Bill and I made our way down this stretch the fog rolled in, rolled out and rolled in again. Since tomorrow is a "rest day," I'm sure I will go back there and enjoy that view one more time.

After Bill and I pulled into the hotel, we headed for Subway to re-energize and wait for our rooms to be ready. We had a great dinner together at the Pedaler Inn, and my pork chops definitely filled me up. After dinner, we swapped T-Shirts using the old Christmas gift swap game. Everyone told the story of their T-Shirt and what real or contrived meaning it had to them. Most of the shirts looked ready for the bicycle rag pile, but he game was entertaining nevertheless. When the game ended, Michelle, our French Canadian rider from Quebec, led a game where we all had to ask and respond to a question in French. While we all acted as good sports, most of us do not have a future in languages.

Hope you are enjoying the ride so far and are excited about the next 6 days of riding to San Francisco. Take care all!

Ride the West Sep 09--Day 5 Bandon to Gold Coast

Another 50 plus miles of Oregon’s sheer beauty and stunning scenery as we approach the end of our ride in this state.

The Minute Café started us off with a filling breakfast that was fast and tasty, and our riders were excited by the prospects of sunny skies and tailwinds. We wound our way out of the town and had the first photo op at Face Rock Wayside, another rock outcropping that actually has a lady’s face looking upward to the heavens. I departed this sightseeing point with Larry Fariss, Greg Robinson, and David Holloway. We hung together closely for the next 25 miles, riding a loose pace line until we encountered some road construction that will literally rattle the fillings in your teeth. For about a 3 mile stretch, we pedaled on the roughed up side of a road that is being repaved and the vibration is enough to make you scream. We were rolling along at about 20 miles per hour until this slowed us to about 10 and made us count the minutes until this misery ended. Eventually, the punishment ceased and we glided into Battlerock Historic Wayside, the site of still more gorgeous views of nature’s handiwork.

The four of us took our time here and headed down the road toward Humbug Mountain, the home of the late Ebenezer Scrooge. Okay, maybe Ebenezer just vacationed here, but it really is called Humbug Mountain. The road wound around the mountain, covered with tall pine trees that crossed the highway to form a tunnel. Together we pushed up the rolling hills and took turns at the front to ease the ride for the other guys. As we pushed up one hill, we ran into 3 folks on heavy mountain bikes loaded with camping gear. I pulled up to the lead rider and after riding with me he asked, “how can you ride this pace?” I told him that my bike was much lighter than his and he yelled, “you cheater!” He and his two friends were biking to California on the “pain is good plan.” And compared to him, we are definitely on the “wine and cheese tour.” While I salute his ambition, I think he may have been a quart or two low of good judgment.

We crested the hill, rolled down the other side at near 40 mph and turned into a rest area on the beach. Since we were all damp from the push up the hill, we laid out our clothes on the picnic table to let them dry. David continued his pursuit of getting his American Trackphone activated, talking to customer service agents from across our great country. Larry and Greg headed down to the beach to test the water temps and work on their tans. I joined them after eating a snack and drying my gear. I too tested the waters up to my shins and it was COLD! The sand felt warm and comfortable after keeping my feet wrapped in bike shoes for the last 5 days. I joined Larry and Greg, who were stretched out on logs, in a sand cove where the drift wood had planted itself. The cove protected us from the 15 mph wind and allowed the sand to radiate heat upward, producing a very comfortable place to relax and talk. Eventually, Michelle Label, our Canadian from Montreal, joined us and told us of his exploits cross country skiing 180 kilometers (120 miles) in two days! Michelle isn’t your typical looking long distance cyclist, but seems to do a great job and enjoys every ride. We relaxed here almost an hour and a half to ensure we did not arrive at our hotel before the rooms were ready around 3 pm.

Our plan worked well as we cycled that last 15 miles into the wind before arriving to Gold Beach and about 100 small boats fishing for salmon as the sunny day gave way to fog. We all settled in our rooms that overlooked the nearby beach and lighthouse. After cleaning up, Mike Munk gave us a clinic in bicycle drive train maintenance, and then we headed to dinner at El Sol de Playa. Nothing like a bike plate of fajitas to soothe the savage beast and cyclist. We ended the day with a walk down to the beach with Larry carrying the beer for anyone that wanted one. As the sun set, about 10 of us reflected on the fun we’d had and the challenges ahead.

Ride the West Sep 09--Day 4 Florence to Bandon

Hello Amigas and Amigos!

Oregon becomes more and more impressive each day I roll down the highway. I pedaled about 80 miles to arrive in picturesque Bandon, OR at about 2:15 pm. The ride started with some easy pedaling to depart Florence and continue down Highway 101 South. First on the tour parade was a trip to Dune State Park. The sand dunes continue to grow outside their state park assigned area and I'm sure the park rangers are not laughing. Once again, Mother Nature is in charge. The dunes seemed to extend a full 30 miles down the highway and we stopped at two great observation points. With the dunes in the foreground and the Pacific in the background, the picture in front of you in nothing short of awing.

Our first rest stop was next to the Umpqua Lighthouse, right above an ATV playground area in the dunes. As I departed the rest stop, I noticed a sign on the highway for the "ATV lane" that was down a sand laden road. From there we immediately hit about a 10 minute uphill stretch that warmed me up in the face of 52 degree temperatures. By the time I got to the top of the hill I've gone from cool/cold to drenched in sweat. And so it goes!

I put my head down with the tail wind and really enjoyed moving along quickly on some nice roads. Approaching the bridge outside the town of North Bend, I stopped at a Veterans Memorial along the banks of the river. I was moved by a memorial that I've included in my photos above. The inscription really struck me as a contract many have made for this great country. After a few moments of reflection, I headed over the 1.1 mile expansion bridge into Bend where I made a colossal mistake.

The bridge is only a two lane structure with a 4 foot wide sidewalk that is elevated about 2 feet above the road. Since our route map told us to use the sidewalk, I attempted to cycle across the bridge. In hindsight, I should have just pedaled in the traffic lane and I'd have been across in about 3 minutes. Instead, I balanced on this very narrow sidewalk that got as narrow at 3 feet on the down side of the bridge. I think I moved along at about 8 mph but I was so fixed on the task at hand (staying away from the two foot drop into traffic on my left and banging into the concrete wall on my right!). When I eventually got to the other side I realized that IF I ever cross this monster again I'll either walk on the side walk or pedal in the middle of the driving lane.

I pulled into the rest stop at Charleston, narrowly missing the drawbridge delay. I hung around the rest stop at the Charleston visitor center for about 30 minutes, talking with Dave the Pet Store Supplies Manager and Barbara. Eventually, I borrowed the key to the facilities from the Charleston Visitor Center and that's were I ran into a tough looking local. See the photo above and tell me you'd not be a bit shaken! Fortunately, I told him I had sold all my Mrs. Paul's stock and he left me alone. Whew!

Re-hydrated and ready to push the last 25 miles, I departed with Dave and we immediately began climbing Seven Devils Road. Seven Devils was 10 plus miles of hills, hills, and more hills, interspersed with some tired cyclists dragging their hind ends and saddle bags up, up and away. God bless those self supporting cyclists, but that's not the way we roll around here. As I was cresting one hill I saw a couple walking and then remounting their bikes. While pulling abeam them I asked if they were okay. The young lady said nothing, but the kid with a nose ring yelled in frustration, ". . . no I am not okay," and then he turned he stomped his pedal crank in disgust. Not a happy bicycle camper. As I turned down Whiskey Run Lane, I was flying and feeling the joy of cycling. I zigged and zagged down the hill until I noticed "the ugly" part of the "good" and "bad" in the Oregon countryside.

The clear cut hundreds of acres stood out like the sorest of thumbs in an otherwise paradise. I'm sure there is a story for this once pristine land, but the headline today is, "Man Trashes Oregon Countryside." I'm no eco-bubba per se, but if you saw the thousands of stumps I saw, you'd complain too. The final part of the ride into Bandon was terrific. The town is right on a small harbor and almost all the downtown is abeam a boardwalk that lines the banks. Our hotel sits up the hill from the harbor and overlooks the town and harbor. We had a tasty, filling meal at the Minute Cafe, an establishment that has been in existence since 1909. Tomorrow looks nice, a mere 55 miles and tailwinds throughout. Bring it on!

Ride the West Sep 09--Day 3 Lincoln City to Florence

Hello Friends and Family!

Today, Tuesday, 8 Sep 09, was absolutely delightful from beginning to end. The sky was vivid blue and the wind that kicked us soundly the previous two days was now at our backs for most of the way. We started off this 75 mile plus trek with a handful of turns and twists to avoid the "rush hour" traffic of the metropolis of Lincoln City. About 4 of us decided to just head to Highway 101 south and head on down the road. Other than school buses stopping to pick up youngsters headed for their first day of school, the traffic really wasn't too bad.

With some smooth pavement, a tailwind and a full stomach, I really enjoyed pushing for about the first 10 miles, looking around at the innate beauty of this land and appreciating the chance to enjoy each turn of the crank. As I looked around, I kept thinking of how much I hope my family, Arlene, DA, Sara and Adam have a chance to see this bountiful land and sea. Corny yes, but I was definitely "feeling it."

The temps were in the mid 50's to start so I had both my wind pants and windbreaker on and felt comfortable. I hate to ride cold and consequently, I'm not bashful about bundling up a bit. By the time I'd made it to the first rest stop at 20 miles, I'd climbed a number of hills and consequently, I appreciated the SAG at Devil's Punchbowl, perched atop a precipice overlooking the Pacific. As I walked my bike to the America By Bicycle van, Barbara Munk greeted me and said, ". . . those people over there are looking at some 'quail'." At least that's what my tired aviator ears heard. I thought to myself, that's a little odd, but the 3 people I could see were looking down an embankment and who would have thought that "quail" are native to Oregon? Okay, it took me about another 30 seconds to realize that Barbara must have said "whale" vs "quail." And guess what sports fans, I actually saw 3 whale spouts, having full confidence that right below each was a full fledged, dyed in the wool, whale. As more and more folks arrived, all were excited to see these native giants in their own backyard.

Pushing from there, I ambled along for another 30 miles appreciating the grandeur and simplicity of this place. And for those of you interested, there are many residences and lots available--buy now! I smiled vigorously as I crossed the Alsea Bay Bridge. In fact, I stopped midway on the bridge, picked up my bike and swung it into the pedestrian lane and climbed into the lane myself. I was carefully listening for someone to yell, ". . . don't jump", but the cry never came. Instead, I leaned against the railing and admired the 100 sea lions who were suntanning on a nearby sandbar below. And against the Surgeon General's advice, it looked to me like none had adequate sunscreen.

After riding about 55 miles, I arrived at the second rest stop at Yachats State Park and became slightly concerned. We are required to sign in at each rest stop to maintain accountability for all the 25 riders and I could not find the van and trailer. I called Barb and she told me she was about 5 miles out. I continued to relax, hydrate with my water bottles and Gatorade, and made a quick call to Arlene. I also had a front row seat to the world's most magnificent view while listening to a lady play here melodic harp. Does life get better than this? I much enjoyed the warm, comforting sun and setting and stayed a while talking with some of the other riders about their experiences.

I left the SAG and headed back down 101 south until I made the optional turn to climb Cape Perpetua. Perpetua is a scenic overlook that is about a 2 mile climb and an extra 1000 feet up. I love the challenge of hauling my 207 pounds up a hill that I renamed "St. Perpetua, the patron saint of Uphill and Into the Wind." When I arrived up the hill, I was quite warm and ready to see this view that Mike Munk, our ride leader, recommended. On this perfectly clear day, it was worth every extra heartbeat it took to get here! After some photos and a good drink of Gatorade, I screamed on down the hill, smiling and waving at a young couple pushing toward the summit. They too looked pained.

As I exited the hill and headed toward Highway 101 South, who should roll by but Bill Bergen. I pedaled quickly to catch him and rode with him about the next 20 miles. About 3 miles after I rendezvoused with him, we both heard what we thought was a large group of people playing their music way, way too loud. To our chagrin, the source of the loud "music" was 500 seals barking loudly while recreating at what looking like a seal water park. This large rock outcropping had places to lay down and relax and bark, as many did, but it also had a place to swim, wrestle, and goof around. Of course there were also those long distance swimming seals who were just swimming slowly on the periphery by themselves. I was so excited that I called Arlene and left a message that included the background noise of seals going, "arg, arg, arg, etc."

Bill and I each too some great photos and went up and down some good hills over that last hour. We split off for about the last 10 miles when he stopped for yet another moving photo of the Oregon coastline. I rolled into the Comfort Inn in Florence, OR just as Barb was getting instructions from the front desk regarding our stay. She and I, along with Dave, the pet products business owner, helped unload the bags. Over a great meal at the legendary "Mo's", we all shared stories of whale watching, seal and sea lion viewing and we also solved world hunger while sitting at an ordinary picnic table. Sure had a lot of fun riding a bicycle today.

Ride the West Sep 09--Day 2 Tillamook to Lincoln City

Hello Friends and Family!

I promise to try and stay on track with this post. Here goes. As we loaded at 0715, the skies were pouring liquid sunshine once again. We completed the load and the wind and rain gave us all reason to pause. Yesterday was absolutely daunting and I'm not sure this hearty crowd could take another 5 hours of headwind and rain. Fortunately, at about 0745, the "sucker hole" appeared and we all trekked down to the Pancake House for a hot, filling breakfast. We then departed with mostly dry clothes on and headed down the road for our 60+ mile jaunt.

The first miles were flat with silk like pavement that made the ride soft and carefree. We wandered by the most contented cows in the universe who had a world of green grass and fresh water and absolutely zero stress. These laid back cows are likely the secret to the Tillamook butter and cheese empire! And as we ambled down the coast you could see the local fisherman pulling up their crab pots and fishing from the calm waters that pushed up against the road. This part of the ride was a portrait in serenity.

After only about 10 miles, we had a serious 10-15 minute climb as we took the Three Capes Scenic Route that led us to Cape Meares Lookout. The climb definitely woke us up. As I edged up the hill, my thoughts were with the couple from main, JB and Loren, who are riding a CoMotion tandem. Up hill on a tandem is hard, and long, steep up hills on a tandem are really hard! As I passed them about a mile from the top they said little. Later they explained that just as I went by, they had hit a big bump and their handlebars had rotated almost completely down (WARNING: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME). Of course they recovered nicely and we all enjoyed the Cape Meares Lookout and Lighthouse.

As the fog lifted and the mist subsided, the view was again spectacular. Miles of surf, sand, waves and huge rock outcropping jutting from the Pacific. Lots of birds and bird noises in the fresh Pacific air. I even had a short conversation with the local park ranger, discovering that he too was a veteran (Army) and that he had two sons serving our nation in the active duty Army. I let him know we are all grateful for his service and that of his sons. I walked back up the hill from the lighthouse and visited the next tourist attraction, the "Octopus Tree," a tree with one core and about 7 trunks. Go ahead and Google it if you don't believe me. Mother nature's beauty is continually on display here, in groves of pine trees that tower over 100 feet, packed so densely that you couldn't run 6 feet without hitting another one. Glorious! After the obligatory photos, I headed onward, hoping to catch up with my buddy, Bill Bergen.

Bill didn't take the excursion I did to the lighthouse, so I knew I'd have to put my head down to catch him. About 30 minutes later, I saw him coming out of the first rest stop so I decided I'd just catch him later. At the rest stop, Jim Antisdale, a USAFA 1977 graduate and Alaska Air pilot, told us his wife had called from about 20 miles down the road and reported "trees on the road" in Pacific City. Knowing that, I decided to keep my rain gear with me and I picked up Bill's jacket that he'd left in the snack truck. After a good snack at the SAG wagon, I was enjoying the sunshine and felt like a good mid morning nap. Unfortunately, I had a lot of Oregon to see and 4o more miles to pedal. I worked hard for the next 30 minutes, saw the sand dunes Mike had told us about, and caught up with Bill and rode with him all the way to the hotel.

The highlight of the last part of the ride was a 10 mile trek up the side of a mountain on Slab Creek Road. For about 45 minutes, we all had the road to ourselves while surrounded by fauna and flora that only the Amazon might rival. We saw moss growing on the entire length of those same 100 foot trees I mentioned earlier and ferns that covered the countryside. The quiet, peaceful ride into this living terrarium fashioned by God was uplifting and we glided up this hill with little or no wind holding us back. Our senses were overflowing with wonder. Another 10 miles later, we pulled off the road into the Ashley Inn in Lincoln City, OR. The whole team faired well today despite a rocky, rainy start. After a filling meal of pasta at nearby "Lil Sambos," I walked an hour down the main drag and then headed for an hour walk back up the beach. As I walked the beach, I marveled at the vast beauty of this place that is afforded to all Americans.

I also laughed loudly as I watched some teenager spin his pick-up truck wheels and splash wet sand all over an out-of-towner's truck. Local mischievous teenager at work. Now I'm organizing for our 76 mile day tomorrow on the way to Florence. PS If you'd like to see our ride leader's daily blog that includes even more photos, go to this link http://bamacyclist.com/Journal2009/West09/09westtitle.htm. Just click the cities under "Itinerary" and you'll be able to follow us along.

Ride the West Sep 09--Day 1 Astoria to Tillamook

Yes, Retirement Adventure #2 for Steve King begins! Since I have my lap top in tow this time, I have no excuse to keep you up to date. Here goes!

Hello friends and family from Tillamook, Oregon. I traveled here today on my trusty Trek 5200, biking from Astoria, about 68 miles away. The ride was beautiful from beginning to end, with God's handiwork of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean providing a spectacular backdrop. However, there was one minor complication that I'll tell you about, but let me first catch you up.

I arrived in Astoria from St. Louis via a flight to Denver and Portland, followed by a rental car ride to Astoria. My traveling partner, Bill Bergen, was as excited as I was to get back on the bike for several days of cycling in a wonderful area. At the Portland Airport we met Dave Robbins, a mathematics professor from West Hartford, Conn and began the drive northward. Although we had a pretty good map and we thought we knew where we were going, we somehow took a wrong turn and after about 40 minutes somebody said, ". . . aren't we heading back toward the airport?" And yes, we were. Since we didn't really have to be in Astoria until the next day, who cares?

After getting settled, we drove downtown to the recommended "Wet Dog Saloon" and had a great dinner with a fabulous view overlooking the Columbia River. And while we were there, we invited another biker over to join us, Dave Rickens, a lawyer and former Marine Corp helo pilot from Pensacola, FL. I finished the evening by assembling my bike which was beautifully packed by the Touring Cyclist team (thanks Dawn, Mike, Kevin and Zach!)

Saturday, we adjusted our central time zone body clocks by sleeping late and enjoying a quiet breakfast in the hotel. I walked in to find Barb and Mike Munk dining and exchanged hugs to the team that guided me across the country just 3 years ago. After catching up with Barb and Mike, I got my stuff organized, did the official 0830 check in and then took a walk downtown to the bike shop with Bill Bergen and Sue, an emergency room nurse from Golden, CO. After browsing the bike shop, we headed back to the hotel. Bill and I dropped off the rental car at the airport after driving across one of the amazing bridges surrounding Astoria (Google Astoria and see what I mean!). When we returned, Larry Fariss was just arriving and after getting him settled and checked in, Bill, Larry and I walked back toward town and had a light lunch at a down home diner. Great chicken soup and salad.

Next up was the pre-ride briefings from Mike and team. Karen Bauer is again the assistant ride leader and Jim is the mechanic while Barb is the ride "Mom." Great people that make this a wonderful event. We have about 22 people participating and about 15 of them have done some serious riding with America By Bicycle previously. I'll add Mike Munks blog address in a future posting so you can see how the ride "master" does his blog if you are so interested.

After 2 hours of bicycle safety and a primer on what to expect, we loaded the two support vans for dinner at a diner close enough that we could have walked. Go figure. The dinner was great and it gave us a nice chance to get to know one another. And by the way, since Larry is rooming with David Holloway, our UK friend from the Cross Country Challenge, I have a roommate myself, Brian Cox, an engineer from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in San Jose, CA.

Sorry for the longwinded lead in, but I write some of this for my memories as well as your entertainment!

Remember that "slight complication" I mentioned at the beginning of this blog 2 hours ago? The "slight complication" was the 25-35 mph wind that gusted to 45 mph. And did I mention the intermittent driving rain? While the country/seaside was spectacular, the wind on my nose for about 5 hours was tough. The rain was so intense that we delayed our 0800 start to about 0920 and I got off my bike at the hotel in Tillamook at 3:15pm. Factor in there 20 minutes at the rest stop and another 30 minutes at overlooks and viewing stations and I still was in the saddle for about 5 plus hours to pedal about 68 miles. Normally, I'd be done in about 3.5 hours, so this was a good push for me. I rode about half the way with Bill, but became separated just before the rest stop at Ecola Beach Park. Somehow, Bill missed the turn and stayed on Highway 101 for about 20 more miles when I saw him turning into a grocery store to buy something for his aching knees. Bill finished in great fashion in front of almost all the other riders.

It is always great to see the hotel and the Shiloh Inn was no different. Still damp from the rain and wind, I got a cloth to wipe my bike down and then I wandered into the sauna to dry myself off until the bags arrived about an hour after I finished. Bill and I helped unload the bags and then cleaned up for the early dinner buss to the Pancake Inn. Since Bill and I were by ourselves until the next buss arrived at 6pm, we were treated royally by Nikki, a Mexican American Mom and our server. She got us a special that featured a prime rib that filled the platter along with all the salad we could eat. It was really nice to enjoy a tasty meal with a great friend and we had the entire room to ourselves. And when the rest of the team arrived at 6, we wholeheartedly endorsed the "special" and Nikki's great work. Everyone left full and happy and returned to hear the details of tomorrow's ride.

Sorry for being verbose, but I'm counting on attaching a few photos to show you the joy of the ride. I love the US for its panoply of personalities and Oregon certainly has its unique story. I'm looking forward to learning much, much more.