sept 4-7 counting down the or coast

Yesterday ryan and i cycled 48 miles from south beach to carl a wash bern state park. The road was narrow and shoulderless. Land yaghts and Rv's sped past us on there way to sindicated plugged in labor day bliss. As we slowly but surly earned our cracks in the pavement one revolution at a time. We were greeted with a very comfortable setting of old growth and helmolock camping and close by facilities at the park. Two canadians arrived later, it was nice company in our grove of trees. Camp was set up in recod time! With boards and suits tready we slipped off down and across the road to the beach access just to find the surf smallish and choppy. We were there so we suited up, paddles out and had a great funny session in the not soo great surf. Two hurs later the water glassed out, dinner was on our minds and stomachs! Noodles , cheese, broccolli, and summer sausage! delicious and filling. Night came quickly, followed by hot choc warming our sleepy bellies. Drizzling rain throughout the night pattered on our tarps for a great nights sleep.

Sept 5
Chilly , rainy, tired yes! perfect rest day. Ryan plucked away at his ukalaly while i made some coffee, brewed and relaxed we devised a plan.
1.breakfast
2.check surf
3.hitchhike into town for supplies
4. hitch back
5. surf
6.eat and sleep

1 2 and 5 happened, no one picked us up , we waited over an hour and gacve up on the labor day crowed and moved on with our plan.
lunch and mid afternoon naps brought renewed energy ! Packing the trailer for the beach in hopes of good surf! Nothing but a washing machine, we paddled out why? because this is what the trip is about.


Sun 6 sept

Laborday weekend! The morning brought cloudy skies, wind from the south, and tain from above. OUt goal was a place called elbow lake sp. 26 miles of "easy riding"! The head wind however and rain had a different plan for us. We stopped in florence or for a greasy spoon breakfast, aka gut bomb! the next portion of our ride consited of narrow shoulders, speedy rv's driven by retired blind pilots and more winds!!
Somewhow we missed our campground , the illusive elbow lake! Imediatly signing our fate to another 15 miles to apossible atv and rv haven near windy cove or, not exactly what we wanted after such a blustery day!
We peddled on trhought the now parting clouds, all the way to the full to the brim rv bliss campground. They were full, so we rode on up a massive hill to a lighthouse state park with hike and bike camping! Up the hill we went, tired, hungry cold, and beat down ready to rest our weary bones.
Ryan took off and out of site while my body and mind battled untill i gave up, puked, and pushed my bike the last100 yards to the state park. Home for the night at last!
Settled in now, fed rested, and ready for slumber, today was a day of firsts, first flat tire, first super head wind, and rain, and first miss of a campsite, thank goodness we made it!
.. side note after hanging with other bikers...
YEs it is nights like these where strangers make strange and normal connections. Where stars again show with cloudless skies, where wine and fig bars are consumed as delicatesins in such a small cycling world. A simple world each individually devulged in a huge way of purity and love for simplicity, making peace with our complexity. Beuty is prevelent and allive here!

Tues sept 7
the filtered sunlight welcoming us through the morning trees was a great begining to our day! Our ride began up hill feeling particualarly difficult. later realizing my bakc wheel was no longer in true and was rubbing on my frame. Still ridable ryan and i pressed on just happy for sunshine and not to be stranded on the side of the road! We made our way to basendorf beach where we hoped to find great surf! Cresting over our final hill we were greeted by the sounds of crashing waves! We had arrived!! ONce there we found our campground was too expensive and found another two miles down the road call sunset bay state park. We peddled there unloaded our camping gear, loaded back up our surf gear and headed back the two miles to the break!
It always feels soo good being in the water after a long day on bikes! Our 2 hour session was much needed and at this point so was dinner!