Home!

The long drive home yesterday was a miserable one. After stop and go traffic in the area of University of Oregon (Ducks vs Missouri football game?), the weather took a turn for the worse through the coast range - very rainy and foggy with poor visibility. Near collision, too, when some fool thought he'd pass an oncoming car on a curve, completely ignoring the solid double yellow line and stupidity of making such a move in the first place. Thank goodness hubby was hugging the fog line at the time!

I slept in today, and boy, did it feel good. My agenda today is to do LAUNDRY. I believe I'll need to find some tongs to pick through the pile, though. I also want to insert some photos into some of the earlier posts.

This morning, my son (who also rode Cycle Oregon with us), sent me a couple links - a photo and video of most of our "Team" crossing the finish line on the last day (he's a much faster rider and finished well ahead of us). We're wearing our local brew pub jerseys (Fort George), and did our best to promote the business during the ride.  I'm the plump rider with the hydration pack on her back. Below the photos, you can see us in the few seconds of the video.

CO Day 7

Day 7 – September 17: Riddle to Sutherlin

“Water to Wine” (52 miles)

Today’s finish reminds you of the diverse splendor of Oregon riding. You’ll pass pastures of sheep, cattle, llamas and horses. You’ll fly by lumber mills, roll through river valleys and ascend along hillside vineyards. The middle part of the day follows a local wine-tour route, including a stop at the picturesque Melrose Winery. After the rollers spill out into a broad valley, you’ll follow gently rolling swells into Sutherlin, capping a memorable week.

Rest stop at the Melrose Winery. 18 miles to go! Beautiful - must come for a visit again.

Later: Did it! Great ride, and it feels good to accomplish such a big physical challenge. Good to do it with friends, too. Wonder what next year's route will be?

Wow! What a killer day. Gained over 5000 feet in elevation today, over 78 miles. Here I am, photo taken along the descent. Guess I was too tired to suck in my gut...

Later: Back in camp, and boy, does my butt hurt. One day to go! Eating voraciously now. :-)

6:30 a.m. - we'd hoped to get up earlier today, but didn't. We've got the toughest ride of the day ahead of us. My lower lip's sunburned - and swollen :-(

CO Day 6

Day 6 – September 16: Powers to Riddle

“Stairway to Heaven” (85 miles)

This is a quintessential Oregon forest ride. Climb gradually under a shady green canopy, alongside a boulder-strewn stream, then turn toward the sky for a sturdy climb past waterfalls, before smoothing out for a glide into the aptly named Eden Valley. After lunch the major climb of the week awaits, but the serene surroundings offer a worthwhile trade-off. And it’s (nearly) all downhill after that, including an amazingly smooth run-in that follows Cow Creek for miles of pick-your-pace pedaling.

Well, the description of the ride said something about being "nearly downhill" for the last 25 miles or so, but I want to add that there was a wicked headwind slowing us down and taxing the muscles in our legs - so don't you go thinking it was a breeze!  Here's a glimpse of a small portion of camp in Riddle at the end of the day:



Sitting here finishing a huge breakfast, then will head out for a FLAT 60 miler - yay!! Tomorrow is the day we've all been having anxiety over.

CO Day 5

Day 5 – September 15: Bandon to Powers

“Pedaling Pastoral” (60 miles)

The theme of the day is tranquility, as we traverse low-traffic roads through pastureland and along gentle waterways. Start with a backroads route from Bandon to Coquille, and then enter a Mad Hatter maze of turns on what seems like a dozen roads that all have the same three names (watch your signage!). It’s a pleasant multidirectional meander through dairy farms and pastures. After lunch in Myrtle Point, take a magic carpet ride into Powers – rollers, swoops and views down to the Coquille River as we approach town.

Paul, Chris and I at one of the rest stops. Another beautiful day.

CO Day 4

Day 4 – September 14: Bandon – Port Orford Layover Option

“Parks in Paradise” (56 or 67 miles)

After the rollout along scenic Beach Loop Road, enjoy a surprise: glassy-smooth pavement and good shoulders along Highway 101. The optional side trip to Cape Blanco is a must-do, taking you past headland mesas and cranberry bogs to the cape’s rugged shoreline and majestic lighthouse. Our lunch spot at a park in Port Orford features trails leading to the beach. Retrace your way back up the coast for a new view of the same great scenery, and then find more fun back in Bandon.

Except for Kyle, the rest of the team chose to remain in Bandon on our layover day and explore this quaint little beach town. Here's a look at the beach just blocks from the CO campsite:

CO Day 3

Day 3 – September 13: Reedsport to Bandon

“Cape Crusaders” (76 miles)

Start off rolling past dunes, marshes and lakes along Highway 101, before turning off to swoop and loop around Kentuck Bay. After climbing up and over to Charleston, enjoy lunch at stunning Shore Acres State Park as waves crash against rocky outcrops and seals bark on the way out to Cape Arago. After lunch, take on the Seven Devils – short, steep pitches that will test your resolve – before descending to Bandon for a cruise through the dunes and on into Old Town.

Up early, and it's sprinkling. Not cold, tho, so that's good. I had in my head that this was a shorter mileage day (wishful thinking on my part?)

CO Day 2

Day 2 – September 12: Cottage Grove to Reedsport

“Roller Coast-er” (90 miles)

Today we taste one of the truly sublime coast routes. From the handsome downtown of Cottage Grove, pedal incredibly smooth backroads into tiny Lorane, and then glide through a tunnel of trees on Siuslaw River Road. Yes, there’s a climb and a summit, but you’ll be so euphoric you won’t mind. After lunch it’s a steady ride through the “Chapel of the Coast Range,” a forest-and-river cathedral. We follow the Smith River to Reedsport as it grows placid and wide.

Dinner under the tent: