1998 Tour de Coast I

Jack's Notes, etc.
Re: Karen & Pete's Bike Trip
Astoria--Calif. St. Line
April 11-17, 1998
Sat. April 11, 1998
Karen and I left Florence 12:30 PM, stopped for Ice Cream at Tillamook Cheese factory.
Arrived Astoria, OR 5:30 PM.  Mileage (official 185) actual 204 including detour. Weather: showers most of way, cold, some wind, N-NW.
Dinner at Pier 11 overlooking Columbia River and view of Astoria--Megler bridge in background. stayed at Red Lion--overlooking Columbia R. and "sorta" under the Astoria-Megler bridge. 
Bed 10:30 (rather early for me).
Sun. Apr. 12 (Easter Sunday)
Karen left from motel at 8:20 AM-up at 7:00.
First stop, 15 mi., at 9:00, Presbyterian Pioneer Church, where great-great grandfather preached in late 1800's, much as the early circuit riders of Oregon history. The original church no longer exists.
...side note: Karen started room coffee--left out "funnel"--coffee all over dresser--got more from office--also I noted Karen's careful check-off of bike in preparation to leave incl. tires pumped up. I checked out at 8:20, car mileage 210 (distance driven from Florence. Had a bit of sun, no wind, temp +/-45. on way to church stop, 1st phone contact at m.p. 11; continuing for church.
...met the minister (a bicyclist himself) Noted he was not impressed with all of my historical information. He offered very little info. re: the church; he did inform us that he had kicked out his wife.
...left the church at 9:10, heading for Seaside, noting the minister out in the field picking daffodils for Easter adornment.
...I went ahead, drove into Seaside, took pictures, noting elevation at the Seaside turnaround to be 13'; gassed up at Seaside BP where Karen caught up at 9:55.
...I proceeded to junction of Hwy 101 and 26 (Portland) at 10:20, beginning of hwy detour. Karen arrived 10:50, getting rainy; she is getting quite wet, and cold (I had personal doubts about even continuing). Had a snack, got warmed up and off she went at 11:45 for Wheeler, via the detour; Wheeler is 20 miles away. Car mileage now reads 245. It is now 11:45 Rain slacked off .
...I left the junction for Wheeler at 12:10; passed Karen near m.p. 12 near God's Valley Road. The detour route is a twisty one, narrow shoulders, hilly, but very pretty.
















...I arrived at m.p. 19, junction of 101 and 53 at 12:45, car mileage 265, and no rain, Wheeler one mile away.
...I continued to Wheeler and past, then returned back two miles where we met at 1:00. Left Wheeler (car mileage 272) at 1:25 in "a bit of a drizzle." Good spirits!
...I arrived in Garibaldi, at Bozzi's Restaurant at 1:45, car mileage 285, and Karen arrived, WET, (Dad concerned) at 2:25.

...resumed at 2:35, just nine miles from Tillamook, our destination for the day. Just south of Garibaldi it started raining hard.
...I stopped 5 miles from Tillamook to check for Karen's coldness; the radio reported temp. in mid 50's. Rain let up some; she was all for going on to Tillamook.
...at 3:05 I arrived in Tillamook, checked in at Mar-Clair Motel and turned up the heat! Miserable rain. (car mileage 295).
...at 3:30 Karen arrives, water dripping all over--forehead, hair edges around helmet, nose, chin, glasses and clothes! We spent the afternoon and early evening in our small room drying clothes off of two small wall heaters. No way really to hang clothes, so Karen rigged up the two waste baskets to drape clothes over, as the available space too small to place chairs in front. How cozy! The bike also helped as a dryer rack.
...dinner at motel restaurant approx. 6:30.

Mon., April 13, '98 Tillamook
...up at 6:50, high clouds, mostly clear, cold (ice on car), wind chill 32, no notable wind for the non-bicyclist!
...at 7:50, temp up to 42.
...8:20 Karen off, 8:30 I left (car mileage 295), stopped at "our" usual rest area 6 mi. south of Tillamook. Weather has changed--very nice; sun and no wind. Karen shed some clothes.

...rendezvous points for the day:
6 mi. rest area, next one 25 mi. Pacific City, another 25 mi. to Lincoln City, 1st traffic light then 1 mi. to depot Bay and 15 mi. on to Newport at Penny Saver Motel.
...9:10 AM at junction for bike route to Pacific City (car mileage 308)
Highway signs say:
Northbound:
     Tillamook 11
     Astoria 77
Southbound
     Hebo 8
     Newport 58
Other signs at same junction (Sand Lake Rd)
     Sand Lake
     Cape Kiwanda
     Pacific City
Note: Radio report at 8:45 AM at Kansas Creek on cut-off (hwy detour) "a mess"...due to icy road conditions a cross-the-road wreck, with traffic stopping. Maybe we were lucky?
 Note: While waiting at Sand Lake junction a driver stopped at 9:30 and asked if I had been waiting for a bicyclist. He reported seeing a bicyclist making roadside repairs. I got a bit excited, doubled back at up to 70mph and spotted Karen at 9:35 (m.p. 74 car mileage 310). She had a flat and had already replaced the tube she was OK and we were on our way again at 9:45 and back to junction at 9:50, car mileage 313.















...10:10 I met Kelly Donahue, on her bike headed from Astoria to Florence on a camping tour (I believe she told me she is from Eugene).


...at 10:23 at m.p.8 met Karen, car mileage 324. We had a look at the ocean, a few miles North of Pacific City. I took a walk on the beach and Karen proceeded up a hill and out of sight.
...after my walk I proceeded to catch up with Karen; she appeared to be cleaning her shoe soles which are made to make connections to her bike pedals (?)






...11:05 resumed driving, car mileage 327 at Pacific City, lunch break and Karen and I visited with Kelly.









...12:05 left Pacific City, car mileage 330, Karen's bike 100. 12:15 at junction of Hwy 101, signs say Neskowin 7, Newport 45.

12:45 arrived Neskowin, rest stop.
Lincoln City
1:20 Lincoln City, "D" Lake, car mileage 350 Karen arrival 2:00; ETA was 2:00
2:28 left "D" Lake
 3:25 Depoe Bay; I arrived but no Karen! car mileage 364. She had been waiting North of Depoe Bay and I missed seeing her: probably Boiler Bay.
4:05 I arrived N. Newport at Ocean View Dr. car mileage 375.
4:40 Karen arrived, and proceeded to motel The Penny Saver (where many pennies had been saved in construction costs). The room was so small one would have to back outside to turn around! Beds against wall with very narrow space between! I'll just close out by commenting with "very cozy facilities." It was clean, the beds were comfortable.

Tuesday 14 April, Newport

...up at 7:00, overcast, lite rain. Decided to take our time in leaving; maybe it will clear up; not very cold.
...Karen left, 8:45, J. left 9:00 car mileage 385.
...9:15 J arrived Ona Beach, car mileage 394. I noted how beautiful the park was; took several pictures.

9:25 Karen arrived. 9:45 off again. 9:55 Driftwood Beach, 399. Had peanut butter and jelly (jam--huckleberry) sandwiches for snacks. Note: peanut butter and jam sandwiches is a major item in our menu! Fortunately, it's a favorite food. At 10:25 headed for Smelt Sands Beach, Yachats.







...10:40 I stopped at Beachside, our favorite campsite during our camping days. Took pictures for memory-sakes.
Beachside State Campground












...11:00 a.m. Smelt Sands, Yachats; 11:15 Karen arrived;

Smelt Sands
 11:25 off for Carl Washburn St. Park.
...11:50 J. at Washburn Park, car mileage 424 12:25 Karen arrived.
...12:45 off for Florence










...1:00 Sea Lion Caves and continuing
Climb up to Sea Lion Caves

...1:30 Florence City sign! 1/2 of trip!
...2:00 I arrived home after delaying along the way, incl. Elks, so Karen could get in first. She was here! 1st half of the trip successfully completed! and what an experience and great trip for both of us. Except for that 1st day the weather has been good to perfect.

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