Category: Blog Posts Page 24 of 37

Yesterday wasn’t a good day – I realised when I was packing up to leave that Nessie is no longer with me – he has had prime position in my handlebar bag and was my look out man – I thought he was safe and secure – but he’s gone – Emma I’m really sorry for not looking after him. Then I got lost trying to leave the town I was in and then I had a puncture. Then there was the heat – drinking plenty but it was just too hot. Having said all that I have now cycled for 11 days on the trot and I think I just needed a rest. On the plus side found a nice campground right beside the river – just had to make sure I didn’t pitch the tent in Canadian Goose poo. Lots of folks playing and swimming in the river – looked brown and uninviting to me – Mike tells me this is normal in America and it’s just because of all the factories – he wasn’t selling it well so I didn’t go in

Bertie’s first puncture repair of the trip.

6.30 am start today. Watched the squirrels while I packed up the tent and was also lucky to see Pete and Pat the 2 local pelicans fly alongside the river. Really good bike ride to Waitsburg where we had lunch and stocked up on food, chatted with the locals and met 2 other cyclists doing the TRANSAM but they are going East to West – great to have a chat and get some tips as well. As expected really hot later on in day but made it to Pomeroy, where we’ve been told it’s ok to camp in the play park for the night. I’ve decided that Washington is yellow or green, depending on what crop is being grown, which in turn determines whether sprinklers are used or not – stunning but different scenery all the same.

So leading up to this had my last full day cycling in Oregon – great but long day – flat farming land to begin with; quite suburbs while I edged round Portland; busy but with good bike shoulder at Oregon City and finally beautiful rivers, waterfalls and gorges as I headed to Ainsworth State Park.

Following day I might Mike, also travelling East but he is going to Ohio – we have been cycling together on and off for last few days. Over the Bridge of the Gods and into Washington and super fast cycling alongside the River Columbia, before heading North – Mike cheated and hitched a lift over the hardest part of the day – we had been advised that it was narrow, steep, no centre line and it was busy – compared with Scotland’s single track roads it wasn’t narrow and there were no sheep to dodge – tough but good climb at end of big day.

Super descent down to creek and big climb out the other side – if it wasn’t for the dryness it was almost alpine like – fabby short climb – not long after making it to top Mike and I parted company again – he was having mechanical problems and another lift was needed – I carried on to Bickleton and a great and well needed toastie in the cafe and chatted to Selina who suggested where to stay down in the valley tonight. Bickleton is also the Bluebird capital of the state’s and I saw them flying in and out of the many nesting boxes that were along the way.

I’ve now left the Oregon Coast – the beaches were huge,  wild and beautiful – weather varied from hot and sunny to bitterly cold,  depending on the wind and the harr blowing in.

Managed to tick off all my lighthouses – it made my journey a lot harder,  especially heading north into the wind but worth it – all the other cyclists with sense were heading South along the coast.

Big,  big thumbs up to Oregon State Parks hiker / biker campgrounds – stayed  in 4 so far – only $5 or $6 dollars a night – stunning locations,  good hot showers and the last 2 had places to charge your phone at no extra cost – also a great way to meet other bikers and hikers.

The Wheatland Ferry – me and Bertie wanted a wee rest and this wee ferry sounded cool – and it was.

Now I’ve left the coast seeing lots of fruit,  veg and crops being grown – huge fields of pumpkins,  courgettes,  hazel nut trees,  vines,  corn and lots of other stuff.

Meets lots of super folks and getting lots of pointers,  advice and encouragement.   Thank you to the lady who gave me the free banana when I stopped to buy cherries,  the lady who stopped to give me a bottle of ice cold water and some cheesy straws and huge huge thank you to Ryan,  his Mom and Dad and his 2 kids and better not forget Tucker the chocolate lab,  who let me camp in their garden,  fed me on pizza and then freshly cooked blueberry pancakes for breakfast and gave me a musical send off again.

Buy for now.  xx

Gave my binoculars away to a really nice guy and his kids at the campsite this morning – I was just carrying to much and know they went to a good home.

Friday – arrived by bus in Coos Bay,  where I started putting Bertie back together. Couldn’t get pedals off to put them the right way round! Rescued by Mang the Barber (originally from Vietnam) who shut up shop and drove me, Bertie and all my belongings to Moe’s bike shop in North Bend where the pedals were put back on a lots of other wee, but important tweaks done while we talked about The Tour and Danny Macaskill amongst other things. Thank you to everyone one got me on the road.

Finally on the road. Had a bit of a wobble when I nearly ran over a bit of bungee cord that looked like a snake – then I really wobbled big style when the next bit of bungee cord really was a snake and slithered out of the way just in time! Third and even big wobble was when I nearly lost control going downhill – think I’m overloaded but made it to the campsite at Florals Lake in one piece.

Saturday – carried down South to my official starting point:  Cape Blanco Lighthouse – from there headed North to Sunset Bay, where there was no sunset as the harr had come in but prior to this great views and scenery. Meeting lots of nice folks including a French couple on this cracking bike –

Sunday  – I knew the weather would be hugely variable at the coast but didn’t expect the wind to be strong,  seriously hard work heading north,  which is why all the other cyclists I’ve met are heading south!

Now seen  4 lighthouses!! Stayed at Jessie M Honeyman State Park – the State Parks only charge $5 for the hiker/bikers staying – had passed a couple of campsites ran by The Fisheries and Agriculture but they wanted $22 left in a box and felt kind of lonely so glad I carried on and camped with a group of other cyclists (who were all heading South!)

Monday – good long flat stretch with no wind followed by lots of hills and lots of wind – had to push bike for a wee stretch as just too windy.  Currently full of late lunch pizza and about to carry on and find a campsite for the night.

I’ll try and add some more pictures later.

Not much to see as I flew in and out of Iceland – driech and drizzly so no views. However woke up in time to get some amazing views before and over Greenland. Didn’t manage to get any pictures of the big icebergs I saw but the patterns in the ice-flows were amazing.

So 2 taxis and 2 planes today and I finally arrive in Portland – Bertie’s box seems to be intact so hopefully all is well inside – we will find out tomorrow.