Day 11 | a day to celebrate
Distance
55.4 miles
Elevation Climbed
2,569 ft
Landscape
Dunes, different varieties of forests and occasional mountain backdrop
Weather
Sunny, 70-80+ F
Lars’ Notes:
Happy birthday Lise! While Kirsten and I rode, Lise played golf at Florence Golf Links. An 82, that would kick my butt! Today, we started along the familiar 101, from Reedsport to Bandon. The dunes were ever present for most of the morning. We were passed by several trailers towing Dune Buggies, apparently a popular pass time, we could also hear them charging though backroads and dunes to our right. I must admit I prefer the peaceful approach of walking or riding to enjoy the landscape.
We rode a long stretch that had the beach, out of sight to our west, that was mainly wooded. Long and straight with gentle undulations. This was a bit hypnotic and I found myself intrigued by the things you notice on a bicycle that are not seen when in a car. Subtle differences in the pavement can make a huge difference biking. You have to be hyper alert, what may be minor inconveniences for a motorist can be a real hazard on a bike. The annoying potholes that may cause you to spill your coffee or soda can cause major problems or injuries if you hit them at 15-20 mph on a bike. Unnoticeable shards of glass or loose gravel on the shoulder can puncture a tire or damage a rim. There is also a whole bunch of weird stuff, flattened snakes, chipmunks and squirrels, bungee cords, busted coolers, an assortment of footwear, trailer pins…hey I could use that (I didn’t stop)…and a myriad of other junk that we needed to avoid.
We veered off Rt 101 for a bit to ride the Seven Devils Rd. It was as advertised, all of our climbing happened on this road, some 12-15% little devils! But, as always, the view is worth the climb. No ocean views, but breathtaking mountain views, wildflowers abound and wonderful silence (the road was nearly empty) except for the peaceful sound of song birds and the relaxing hum of the wind.
We finished the day’s ride in Bandon, a quaint coastal town where Kirsten and I enjoyed an iced latte and did some shopping (remember Lise’s birthday!) until Lise arrived from golfing to pick us up.
Kirsten’s Notes:
Today we celebrate Mom’s birthday because not only is she the most loving, generous and supportive Mom a girl could ask for but she’s the only way this biking adventure my dad and I are on is possible. Behind the scenes of each of these biking days she is carrying our day-to-day stuff, food and bike upkeep/repair tools from location to location and driving us to start and end our rides so we can enjoy the comfort of (someone’s rental or a motel) home on the road while maintaining a continuous route from Canada to Mexico. We love and appreciate you Mom!
Cycling for at least 4 hours everyday is starting to feel like a routine – it is our day job for a month after all. What used to be switching between outlook, zoom, powerpoint and excel to move a project along is now shifting through my entire gear set many times throughout the day, optimizing speed based on road conditions, hill grade, wind, leg fatigue; coordinating with drivers on how to share the road with narrow or sketchy surfaced shoulders; taking in the ever-changing scenery, wildlife, weather and personal physical state as it comes; and sharing snacks and observations with my dad. Why can’t I make a living doing this all the time?
We had a toasty day on the bike today with temperatures over 80 degrees and was the first day we didn’t wear windbreakers at all or even for the majority of the day. I love the heat so no complaints here but I have some funny fingerless glove tan lines forming that are only going to become more distinct…stay tuned.
