Day 59 Eugene to Florence Pacific Ocean

Sunday, July 17, 2011

WE DID IT!!! 4,109 MILES, 59 DAYS

Miles  65.09     Total   4,108.82 miles     Daily Avg.  69.64
Avg Speed  15.7 mph    Max Speed  34.4 mph     Alt Climbed 1319 ft

Our second day of cool and rainy weather.  We left the hotel in rain and 56 degree temperature.  The thoughts of us finishing today made everything about the ride wonderful.  We even enjoy the sprays and splashes coming off the trucks and cars as they speed past.  Within a mile of leaving the motel we were soaked.  The ride took us through dense rainforest's with tall spruce, fir and pine trees, the ground was covered with moss and ferns.  With the weather today we could see why everything was so green. 

Our route required us to ride through a mountain tunnel.  Oregon is so cyclist friendly they provide a button before entering the tunnel which lights up a sign warning motorist that cyclist are in the tunnel and lowers the speed limit to 35 mph while we are passing through.

Once we passed through the tunnel we are in the final 20 miles downhill ride to the Oregon coast.  We pulled in to Florence at noon and were greeted by Joey, Justine, her husband Jim and children Joan, John and Justin.  The kids were holding homemade congratulatory signs noting our accomplishing and tossed confetti and silly string.  What a terrific greeting from a wonderful supportive family.  Following the celebration in the parking lot we carried our bikes over the sand dunes onto the Pacific beach to dip our front wheels into the Pacific Ocean to signify the journey's complication.  Joey, Kelly, Roxy and I soon took our own dip into the Pacific and shared a champagne toast to a safe conclusion of our journey and to celebrate the memories and life of our beloved wife and mother Sharon.

I would like to thank everyone, family, friends blog followers for your support and time you have spent following our blog.  I hope you have enjoyed our journey as much as we have.  It has been an incredible adventure which will provide many future memories.  America is a beautiful vast country with many wonderful and friendly people.  The kindness and interest of the American people we met are some of the more memorable experiences which I will always remember.

Thank you to everyone who has made or has considered making a donation to the The Thomas Palliative Care Unit Kelly, Joey and I greatly appreciated you thinking of Sharon as we made this cross country trip.

The Thomas Palliative Care Fund
VCU Massey Cancer Center
P.O. Box 980037
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0037

Breakfast of Champions.  We can't get enough of these

The Tunnel Button

The Tunnel Cyclist Warning Sign

Our final climb, big deal after the Rockies

From Va Beach to Florence

The Jubilant Trio

We did it!!!

I am happy!!

Time for a family swim to celebrate

Champagne and salt water in the eyes do not mix well.

Our toast to a safe ride and to celebrate Sharon's joyous life

Even I have some tan lines after 4,100 miles

Day 58 Blue River to Eugene

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Miles  48.67     Total  4,43.75 miles     Daily Avg.  69.72
Avg Speed  15.8 mph      Max Speed  26.0 mph   Alt Climbed  492 ft

We awoke to typical Oregon weather, cold and raining.  We set off with a light drizzle which soon changed to a heavy down pour.  Within a few miles we were drenched through.  As long as we kept riding we were comfortable.  The ride was flat and we made good time to Eugene.  Our plan was to ride a few miles past Eugene and camp for the night.  The cold and rain changed our minds.  As soon as we arrived in Eugene we stopped in  Starbuck's for a cup of coffee and called Joey who was around the corner at the Eugene Saturday Market.  We quickly got together and checked into The Timbers motel two blocks down.  After a warm shower we played tourists in the "Track Capitol of the USA" home of the University of Oregon.

The Eugene market, held each Saturday from April to Sept.,  spans 4 city blocks, offering local farmers, artisans and musicians the opportunity to peddle their goods.  The crowds, quality and variety of items for sale made for a fun afternoon as we sampled foods and purchased some gifts.

After spending several hours at the market we stopped in the Steelhead Brewery for a sample of their local brew.  On the way back to the hotel a visit to the Voodoo Donuts, as seen on the food channel, was a must.  A regular donut cost about $2.00, but at the time we walked in they were offering $5.00 boxes of donuts, the box contained a sampling of at least 2 dozen donuts.  The donuts dripping with chocolate icing, covered with rice krispies were our favorite.

Late in the afternoon my sister Justine and her family joined us at the hotel.  They are from Florida traveling along the Pacific Coast Hwy and decided to celebrate the conclusion of our adventure with us.  After getting settled into the motel we toured the downtown area, visited the Ninaski Brewery for a beer and had a wonderful dinner at a Italian Cafe a block from the motel.  It is wonderful to have them join us for our final ride on this 4,100 mile bike ride.

The evenings relaxation

That's a big tree

The Farmers Market

The Farmers Market

The Farmers Market

Beets never looked so good

The Farmers Market

Big Radishes

Voodoo Donuts $5 special

The Farmers Market

Voodoo humor

Eugene biker friendly town

Interesting art work

Our groupies



Day 57 Redmond to Blue River

Friday, July 15, 2011

Miles  69.92     Total  3,995. 08     Daily Avg.  70.09
Avg. Speed  15.0     Max. Speed  33.3   Alt Climbed 3261 ft

Departed Redmond early for a 20 mile ride to Sisters, a small tourist town at the foot of McKenzie Pass.  We met up with Joey for breakfast and a tour of the town.  This is a nice little town with many art galleries and tourist shops. 

By 11:30 we had seen everything there is to see and began our climb of a volcano.  Leaving Sisters we had a ten mile climb to the top of McKenzie Pass, 5,324 ft.  The road began with conifer trees lining both sides of the road, but little grown cover, as we climbed the trees became more dense and the ground was covered with ferns and rhododendrons.  We came around one steep bend and the view opened to a large lava field stretching into the distance.  The lava field continued for the final 3 miles of the climb to the summit.  From the summit we began a 20 mile descent down to 900 ft.  The road was not particularly steep.  The sharp turns and switch backs required our attention and kept our speeds down.  It was a beautiful descent through dense forest.


Approach to Sisters

Sisters

Downtown Sisters

The lava fields

Lava fields atop McKenzie Pass

Lava fields




Almost to the top



Mid July and snow is still present



Sisters peaks



St. John's Wort plant

 





Bridge over McKenzie River



McKenzie River Bridge



Day 56 Mitchell to Redmond

Thursday, July 15, 2011

Miles  69.92    Total  3925.16 miles       Daily Avg.  70.09 milesAvg. Speed 14.8      Max Speed   29.2     Alt Climbed  2976 ft

Following breakfast at the Bridge Creek Cafe,  in Mitchell we left town and had a quick descent of 700 ft before starting a long climb of 2,300 ft to the top of Ochoco Pass,  4720 ft,  a full ½ mile  vertically higher than we when we started the climb .  The 8 mile descent and the flat ride into Redmond for the final 35 miles made for another terrific day of cycling.  Blue skies, warm temperatures with a cool breeze made for a terrific day.

We are in Redmond for the evening sharing the Greenway Motel with the other cheapskates in the area.  After laundry and an oil change for the Toyota we hit the town.  There is a RV Expo at the fairgrounds this weekend which has attracted thousands of RV’s from around the country.  Now we know where all the RV’s, which have been trying to run us off the road for the past few days were headed.   The RV drivers are dangerous, usually older, retired, never driven anything larger than a minivan, now  with Myrtle sitting next to them hollering not to hit the crazy guy on the bike.  

Joey and I drove out to the RV Expo,  where thousands or RV’s were parked in the parking lots and fields surrounding the fairgrounds.  With all the vehicles we expected to see people everywhere.  Yet there were very few people around.  We realized it was 4:30, about the time of the early bird specials or everyone was inside their RV watching their 40 inch TV’s.  All in all not a real social group, we did not witness any large parties.

We made our own happy hour visit to the Diego"s Spirt Kitchen where we enjoyed our best meal of the trip, shrimp ceviche and fish tacos at happy hour prices.  Later in the evening we visited 7^th Brewery, a local microbrewery where we enjoyed a cold beer and pizza.  A great day as we get close to the finish of this adventure.

Breakfast in Mitchell



Fresh and cheerful group



OR countryside

Tomorrow's hills



Pond along roadside



The Cascades up ahead



 Snow covered Mountain

Day 55 Mount Vernon to Mitchell

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Miles 62.36     Total 3,856.29     Daily Avg.  70.11Avg.  Speed  14.1  
Max Speed   32.1 mph     Alt Climbed 2628 ft

Last night we camped at a state campground in Mount Vernon along Route 26.  Today’s ride took us through Picture Gorge along the John Day River.   This was a 2% grade as we rode through steep rock walls for 5 miles and turned south from the John Day River.  The landscape changed to a more arid rocky desert terrain.  Gone were the lush pastures and irrigated farmland we saw long the John Day River, 30 miles behind us.

At 30 miles we arrived at the town of Dayville and took a short break before starting the 20 mile approach and climb to the summit of Keyes Creek Pass,  4,357 ft.  Once at the summit it was a 6 mile downhill coast to Mitchell. 

The town of Mitchell was almost destroyed on July 11, 1904 when a sudden cloudburst over the desert above us resulted in a wave of water 30 feet high; it rushed down the narrow ravine in which part of the town is located.  With the exception of a handful of buildings, the entire town was destroyed.  A restaurant, general store, and a city park, where we are camping tonight still exist.

Prairie City



Ride out of Mount Vernon

 

Coming out of the Gorge



Picture Gorge

Picture Gorge

Mitchell, OR