The stretch from Waldport to Alsea and about five miles after that follows a stream uphill. Very little development, since most of it is in the Siuslaw Natl Forest so all in all, it was a very pleasant ride. I stopped for the night just before the climb over the coastal range and did that this morning. Sort of strange - going up the road was almost straight and pretty open - also 3 lanes - 1 a passing lane so people can pass all the logging trucks. The other side, however is 2 lanes all the way down with a lot of turns and shaded areas - lot of fun. Oh - it was cloudy on the west side and sunny on the east, so I am certainly away from the coast weather.

3:00 PM, Dallas
odometer : 1478.5?

Still have a head wind, not nearly so strong, but enough to make riding difficult. See how it does in the next couple of days. Also warm - according to a bank sign its about 85. Maybe I should get a light and ride at night!

You need my projected route, I guess. From here I'll either go to Rt 22 and then to Rickreal, or perhaps I can find a side road short cut to it. Once there, Follow 99W to 18 to McMinnville. Things are confusing from there to 47 (I think there's a way) and follow that at least to Clatskanie. Can't say beyond that until I get to a Washington map. Almost 1530. Guess I'd better get going - things should get cooler from here on.

June 17, 9:50
odometer now: 1520.3

Would you believe I've now decided that inland headwinds are now too strong? I'm now at McMinnville some place like that - 12 miles north of Amity. I'm going to take the bus from here to Seattle and decide there what I want to do. Oh - from what I hear riding down the Columbia River is also all headwind. Better planning would have prevented all this - I probably would have flown to Seattle. But then again I might have missed a chance of a job at Intel.

Currently, I'm in a laundromat washing just about everything I have. I'm spending the night in a nearby motel, so I'll be clean again once I leave Seattle. Think I won't have any hassle with bike - the bus terminal got a note from Greyhound recently saying bikes must be in boxes, therefore they take bikes. I got a box from an alley behind a Schwinn store, so should be all set.

There are surprising numbers of Mexican descent farm workers here. In Amity, I noticed several signs, including telephone instructions that were bilingual. I'm fast, there is only one other person besides myself in here that speaks English normally. I say this is surprising because this is the first area I've seen with Mexicans around. Oh - another hint - I've noticed a lot of Mexican food offered in restaurants around here.

2009: It's curious how well I remember details about this trip. I didn't recall Klatskanie, but that's not surprising given that I never got there. Until 2003 - we bicycled through there between Portland and Astoria! That was a rather forgettable leg, but looking at the map I few memories are coming back. Oh well, on the bus to Seattle I think a passenger pointed out Mount St. Helens, but I'm not certain. In 1974 it would be just a mountain I had never heard of.

'

Mary's Pass, 1,232 ft

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Written 2024 June 5, last updated 2024 June 5.