I’m doing this partially for myself. Routine is comforting and in trying to gain some sort of routine I’m writing down my policies and procedures.
Things to do when I wake up:
Pack up items inside tent (including rolling sleeping bag and mattress)
Get dressed in tent
Exit tent
Check food bag to make sure it was not stolen by masked bandits (raccoons)
Boil water for coffee
Warm water for drinking (water gets very cold at night)
Eat PowerBar
Perform bike check (with all bags off) consisting of:
- Check the lever in both wheels to ensure they are still firmly attached.
- Adjust brakes to be closer to wheel
- Work on at least two adjustments (e.g. seat height, front handlebar bag, shifting cables, etc.)
- Check fenders
- Inflate tires to 100psi (I usually lose about 30 psi every 24 hours)
Make sure water bottles are completely filled (one with sports drink mix and one water)
Take picture of self for blog
Pack up everything except for tent, tarp, sleeping bag, mattress, solar charger)
Take down tent
Pack up tent, tarp, sleeping bag, mattress, solar charger
Check panniers for loose bungee cords and safety latches
Turn on blinking lights
Turn cell phone to loud
Check phone to see what day of the week it is and mentally plan for the amount of cars
Take a last look around campsite for anything I may have forgotten
Depart camp
Contact folks if I did not the night before
Guidelines for riding my bike:
- Safety first
- Take a break every ten miles for five to ten minutes (stopping to adjust something or taking a picture does not count)
- When one water bottle becomes empty I must stop at the next point that has water
- Stop to make adjustments as needed (some adjustments are low priority and can wait until at the camp site).
- 70% of weight should be on the back of the bike
- Wave at all school bus drivers
When I arrive at camp:
Turn off blinking lights
If I have a cell phone connection (doubtful) let folks know where I am
Unpack solar charger in order to continue charge
Remove all bungee cords from bike (bungee cords and wheel hate each other)
Set up tent
Unroll sleeping bag and mattress (unless mosquitoes are present then this should be moved until bed time)
Unpack needed goods for the evening
Change out of bike clothes into dirty clothes
Prepare dinner
Review map for following day’s ride as food is being cooked
Eat dinner
Write blog entry (unless absurdly tired)
Add description to pictures
Clean dishes
Clean up site
Brush teeth
Lock up bike (just to be safe)
Walk around camp ground or read (be sure to smile and say hello to everyone as they may be useful in case you need something or have problems)
Use bathroom
Read (optional)
Sleep
About my day:
I had some problems at the start: speedometer didn’t work, my front handlebar bag kept sagging even after I worked on it for a good amount of time, and I departed at 9:30 (I would like to try to leave by 8AM). But my legs felt a little stronger and the wind was at my back.
The coast line was beautiful but, as noted by the Adventure Cycling Association Map #2, this portion had the narrowest shoulder so far of the trip (big by Southern California standards). The drivers seemed more in a hurry today but still overall nice. I rode through a tunnel today (the road was empty enough that no cars past through). The only problem was that the tunnel was uphill (crazy but true) and freezing. When I made it out I was exhausted and my right pannier hit the side barrier at 6mph (slow enough to dismount and not let my bike fall). But this was extremely frustrating as it was on an uphill and my bike required a bunch of realignments (wheels, brakes, fender). I fixed the wheel and rode to the next opening 1/8 mile later to safely fix everything else.
I passed Sea Lion Cove, which gets its name from all the sea lions (too many to count). Yachats seems like a modern version of Rockaway.
In addition to nonstop trees and coastline I also crossed over a few bridges as you’ll note in the pictures. Oregon takes great pride in their bridges. Each one seems to have a story.
Nate Jessup hailing from Central California has answered both trivia questions correctly – congratulations Nate.
Physical evaluation:
One of the two nerves in my left pinky is a little damaged from the amount of pressure I applied to the handle bars yesterday so I changed my hand position and it felt a lot better. My upper back is the sorest part of my body – my knees and butt seem to be holding up ok. Nothing to worry about at this point.
Special thank you
A special thank you goes out to all of you sending me messages (i.e. email, text, phone calls, comments) it means a lot as at times I get lonely enough to read my spam mail. I turn my phone to loud and anytime I pass an area in which I get reception it goes off. I’m sorry I don’t respond to the messages.
Favorite quote of the day:
I get asked a lot about what I’m doing and there are a lot of various responses but this was my favorite today: “Man, you have balls. I’m not into bikes but maybe I should drive my car down the coast. I’m really into cars, that’s why I love this job so much. Praise Jesus.”
- Chevron gas station attendant
Cities passed:
Seal Rock (pop. unknown)
Waldport (pop. 2,050)
Wakonda Beach(pop. 0?)
Yachats (pop. 617)
Florence (pop. 7,263)
Breakfast:
Reeses candy bar
Coffee
Breakfast #2:
Two bagels from Chevron
Lunch:
Lunch was complicated as there was no restaurant to think of between Yachats and Florence (plenty of motels and wooden sculptures for sale). Instead of one meal I ate a two PowerBars, one bag of cheese Ruffles, and a RedBull
Dinner:
Freeze dried Beef Stroganoff along with three Advil and a PowerBar for desert.
Trivia question: Oregon is the only state with an official nut, what is it?
Thanks for reading,
Sellers
[My internet connection is very weak at the moment. The picture quality will be improved at a later point.]
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