Oregon is a beautiful State. Huge forests and just millions of green trees, which means one thing - it rains a lot here! We awoke to a foggy and rainy morning, and cold to. We plan to check out late so hopefully the weather will improve come mid-day.
We are continuing our ride north up Hwy 101 to a town called Astoria.
Last night we stayed in Florence at a Best Western Hotel right on the estuary 'The Pierpoint Inn.'
On our ride up with stopped in Coos Bay for a coffee at a McDonalds. Not our normal practice but the weather was starting to become overcast and we were definitely starting to feel the cold and so a "Macky-D's $0.99 Cent Half-Gallon Coffee" has instant appeal! We got talking to some Canadian 'Snow-Birds' (a.k.a seniors, retired, and heading south for some sun) and we shared our story and where we were headed which was Vancouver BC and explained our plan to ride up through Seattle. The Male Snow-Bird strongly recommended avoiding Seattle and taking a ferry from Port Angeles over to Victoria on Vancouver Island then riding across the island to pick up another ferry at Nanaimo to take us into Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver BC. It would be far more beautiful and far less hectic and stressful than running the gauntlet of the Seattle Freeway system. Sounded like a great plan.
During dinner last night we met a really nice guy called Denis in the bar who was travelling to see his 99 year old mother and chatted to him for an hour or so about our travels and the UK which he had visited a number of times. When he left we discovered he had paid for all our drinks without us knowing! How kind some people are - we felt both most grateful and guilty we did not get a chance to buy him a drink back.
Wonderful views from the room. We were told that sometimes at high tides pods of killer whales can been seen swimming up the inlet.
I've always been of the opinion the California/Oregon border was determined by where the rain starts. They say we Oregonians don't tan ... we merely rust. Hope you find the sun soon. Have a fun and safe ride to Astoria.
ReplyDeleteCheers Glen, love that quote! We did find sunshine all day today as we rode up to Forks. - It all looks very beautiful in the sunshine - green forests and blue skies, white beaches - stunning.
DeleteUnderneath the Astoria bridge in Astoria, is the Triangle Tavern, a divey little joint, and I always go there when I'm in town. They used to serve a local brew called, "Bill's Swill", made by a local guy.
ReplyDeleteSadly didn't get here, but we did have a few pints in Astoria which we great. The bridge was very cool to ride over this morning - lucky we are not scared of heights!
DeleteThere is a reason we call that rain "California Mist" - because it missed California.
ReplyDeleteYou will surely have a beautiful ride today. Highway 101 from Florence to Lincoln City is some of the best of the riding in Oregon, provided traffic isn't bad.
Highs of 75 today, your weather should be better.
Brilliant! Great saying which I shall use from now on having experienced Oregon. Washington State today was sunny and warm - looked very beautiful.
DeleteMy wife Maurya and I met you outside McDonalds in Florence. Happy to see you posting your adventure online. We will follow.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, give me a call. You have my number.
ReplyDeleteBob Walker, formerly from Florence, now in Idaho Falls.