The Route
Thanks to "Riayn" for the snazzy logo!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Coast and wine country
We had a beautiful day yesterday as the attempt to vacation continued...granted this also included 85 miles of riding :) we rode out of cannon beach for a coffee stop in Manzanita, a quaint little beach town. Then continued down the coast to Tillamook. Here strawberries were purchased from a fruit stand and the self guided tour thru the tillamook cheese factory led us by the free samples a couple of times...we then headed to the blue heron cheese factory who specialize in brie...mmmmmm! We sampled mustards, jams, sauces, and wine and enjoyed bread and cheese for lunch at a picnic table in the valley. Wine a depressent? Not so...we still had 45 miles to go! We took a longcut out to the 3 capes scenic route where we rode on lush windy roads to a lighthouse and seaside views. And best yet Barry sealed the deal with a new job!!! In spandex and a grasshopper helmet in the middle of nowhere...now that's skill! :) we attempted to camp at a forest campground in sandlake, which it ends up sand dunes are a haven for atv's and gas guzzling. Cruising in on our bikes we realized that just maybe we didn't fit in here. Apparently they ride and party all night, not so great for the tuckered cyclist. A local shared news of a great beach spot, county park, and brewpub less than 10 miles away so we charged up on some smartes coutesy of the tillamook chamber of commerce and adjusted the route to find our happy place. We camped next to some cyclists, enjoyed a beer from the #1 brewpub in the nation (hence the $6 price...crazy!) And slept with hundreds of bunnies. Apparently a couple years back someone thought it would be nice (or not) to drop off a couple bunnies. Well, these bunnies did it like...well u know and a couple years later we have bunnies galore! We woke this morn and headed out on a tree canopied road up and over to the willamette valley and wine country. A nice 55 mile ride until we realized it was 100 degrees and we had reason to complain (high of 109)...don't worry people this did not deter our motivation for wine tasting! We also crashed stacy's friend kendra and new hubby tom honeymoon by hitting up a couple tastings and enjoying a fabulous spanish tapas style dinner together, it was great that we actually crossed paths!! McMinnville has a cute little downtown and is the perfect spot to end the vacation portion of TDL....tomorrow we head back to Portland 1900 miles post departure :)
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