Homeward Bound

Another longish drive down the scenic US 101 back to San Francisco for our return flight. We stopped in Santa Rosa for lunch,

 temporarily said goodbye to the 101

as we went around San Francisco Bay and over the Richmond Bridge, 

before rejoining it again for the final leg into SFO and home.

So it's time to bid a fond goodbye (and thanks for all the fish) to Il Giro di Pacifico. Hope you enjoyed the ride as much as we did!

Eureka!

UI picked Eureka mostly for its name but also because it was on the coast and within reasonable driving distance to the airport. I had also picked  slightly classier accommodation for our final two nights and Carter House Inn didn't disappoint. Set in the "historic" Victorian part of town, its gothic architecture echoed those of its surrounding neighbours.

This one is now a private men's club...

After our evening stroll, we enjoyed a complimentary glass of wine (the hotel has a renowned cellar apparently) and retired to bed.

I had fully intended to join Jon on his round the Humblodt Bay ride the next morning but decided that a cycle through the fog wasn't the most fun thing to do so didn't! I am really pleased that we didn't plan too much time at the coast in this area, the fog makes everything grey. However, we did some more exploring around the old quarter and then went out to the coastal nature reserve, saw some Plovers and Sanderlings and got temporarily lost amongst the dunes!

 Eventually, we found our way back and returned in time for our complimentary wine and a sumptuous dinner accompanied by a very fine Pinot Noir.

Elk Picnic

As we headed south on good old Route 101, we p,p,p picked up a picnic and looked for a place to enjoy it. On the promise of Elk spotting (only animal not seen yet and Liz says that they are everywhere!), we hauled into Orick. 

Without an Elk in sight, we then hiked 5km to see some decidedly average waterfalls. 

The walk back was fun through some magnificent redwoods but still no Elk to be seen.

It was only as we were driving out that we saw the Elk - loads of them!!

We eventually had our picnic in Trinidad - not in the Caribbean, but about 20 miles short of Eureka, where we find ourselves now.

Two more sleeps to home - can't wait to be back!

Rogue River Ride

Mrs 'A' created her first route in Strava (for those uninitiated, Strava is a motivational fitness app), up and around Rogue River, close to Gold Beach (Oregon), about 40km.

A consequence of a very uncomfortable bed, was an early start - and what a ride! Ospreys were 10 a penny, as we circumnavigated the River.

The first nest was silhouetted against the morning sun.

Then a pair enjoying the sunshine.

Mrs 'A' climbed some epic gradients too, and came face to face with some big trucks.

Mr 'A' cycling off into the sunrise.

Then back for breakfast but via yet more Ospreys.

What great start to the day!

Sunday...

We drove on Sunday... and drove and drove and drove... That is all (apart from this light house in Newport.)

Oh, and Mrs 'A' lost a hat in the wind...

There were also some great rock-pools:

Edward Crabhands...

We have discovered that Edward Scissorhands' cousin, Edward Crabhands, is alive and well and living in Lincoln City...

There She Blows!

With the sun out and encouraging us to desist from our laziness, we headed to Depoe Bay, to visit the Whale Watching Centre. A lack of parking spaces, in some way a result of an infestation of pirates (don't ask), meant that we overshot and ended up at Whale Cove. As luck would have it, this was at the same time that the local Gray Whales had come to search for food. We spent the next hour, watching the whales track up and down the coast, while we tried not to get sun burnt or feel too smug at getting to see whales, up close, without paying to go out on a boat!

As if this were not enough, a snap of a flying seal, sealled the day (see what I did there?...)

We could only top this with Chowder and fries at The Sea Hag (http://www.theseahag.com) - it's where all the pirates hang out, apparently...

Seals, Salmon and Sunshine...

The Sun is back! And no better way to start the day than a walk down the beach to watch a large group (what is the collective noun?) of seals, vie with anglers for salmon. 

Then to the Pacific for a paddle...

Evergreen Plane-fest!

What to do on a wet Friday in Oregon? Go to another Aircraft museum (albeit via yet another one on the way, at Tilllamook...).

The Evergreen Air Museum (http://evergreenmuseum.org) is home to Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose - a unique 8 engine float plane (the Hughes H-4 Hercules). Maybe less impressive now in a time of A380s and A400Ms, it is nevertheless both remarkable and unique. But the space created to house it lends itself as an umbrella for almost 200 air and space exhibits - imagine my frenzied excitement.

Lunch under the wing of the Goose led to an afternoon of fascinating insight - it was possible to trace many aircraft type's development through time, with the vast array of types on display.

... such as the Delta Dart and Dagger...

Next door, Evergreen had converted one of its old 747s in to a water park - ingenious. 

We conclude the day with a a fab meal at the Bayhouse Restaurant in Taft, Lincoln City complete with tasting wines from Oregon. A refreshing and rewarding find, which we can't recommend highly enough!

Not so Scenic Drive.

The weather is rubbish, but we can't complain after 3 fabulous weeks of glorious sunshine. En route to see the Spruce Goose, but stopped to take in the view on the scenic drive - bit disappointing, but can see how amazing it would be if the sun were out!

Apparently, at Gammon Launch...

Mad Manzanita...

80km over the hills to the Pacific - hot, windy but worth it. Disappointingly, only 4 Strava segments on the whole route! Work to be done when I get back....

To the seaside!

We managed to escape Portland easily and were soon on our way west to the coast. 

With 50 miles still to go, Jon took to pedal power to cross the Coastal Range and I drove backup.

Of course, as soon as he'd headed off the sun came out and the temperature rose. However, with Alpine like scenery and some great winding downhills we made it to Manzanita for a late salad lunch on the beach...

followed by some down time.

Portland Bill

The forecast was for temperatures in the 90s again so we ditched the bikes for air-conditioned public transport in the form of the MAX. 

Great value at $5 for an all-day pass on the MAX, buses and Streercars. In no time we had arrived downtown and after mooching around and spending rather a lot of time in the enormous Apple shop, we made our way out to Washington Park. We had intended to walk through the Hoyt Arboretum but it was too hot so we took the bus to the Japanese Garden instead. 

What a lovely way to spend a hot afternoon. So shady and tranquil. Perfect.

Then back down the hill in a streetcar to our favourite bike shop and then back for an early night.

Off to the coast tomorrow and hopefully some cooler weather.

So Much More to Portland.,,

Tempted...

Bike Bags

For Mum!

Portland Cycling - Tick!

Well, maybe cycling in the high 80's wasn't the most sensible of ideas, but it had to be done. Out of necessity, if nothing else, to Western Bike Works (https://www.westernbikeworks.com) to get a quad lock for my iPhone, to simplify navigation (https://www.westernbikeworks.com/product/quad-lock-iphone-6-bike-mount-kit). What a game changer - navigation made easy, and helpful as my Garmin 800 went U/S before left for the US.

Then to Clever Cycles (http://clevercycles.com) - not the sort of bike that I would ride, but an amazing selection of 'different' bikes - check out the Xtracycle (http://clevercycles.com/bicycles/cargo/xtracycle) and the Yuba (http://clevercycles.com/bicycles/cargo/yuba).

We then hit the sky tram (read ski lift) for a view of the city.

But the highways were almost as busy as Seattle.

Ride back was not so much fun - but job done.

Portland Bound.

Having decided that we couldn't face another mountain (Mt Rainier), we are whizzing south to Portland. 

Never wanting to drive around Seattle again, we were not looking forward to 'breaking out' during rush hour - but it has been surprisingly straight forward (kiss of death...)

Anyway, satisfying one question posed, here is a pic of the Jeep we are driving

(and will never drive again... Ever).

Mrs A poses with said Jeep, during a brief coffee stop in Dupont.

Manic Monday!

To prove that you can never have enough pictures of aircraft I spent the day at Everett Field, looking at some WW2 heritage aircraft, and then visiting Boeing's Production facility.

The Flying Heritage Collection (http://flyingheritage.com) has a small but amazing collection of airworthy warbirds.

You get the idea. And there was a lot of stuff that I only remember from comic books when I was much younger...

Sadly, no cameras were allowed on the Boeing tour, but it was still incredible to see so many large aircraft being assembled in one location, not to mention 3 of the 4 Dream Lifters!

Whilst his Lordship was off doing his plane thing again, I caught up on some culture by visiting the Seattle Museum of Art - a surprisingly small and eclectic collection of English silver, First Nation artefacts and Japanese Tea Ceremony paraphernalia with one or two pieces of modern art.

Then having done a small amount of shopping (:-)) I returned to pick up some laundry and stumbled into the spa next door completely by accident and had to have a pedicure, bliss!

To cap it off, we found an amazing Sushi restaurant close to the hotel - like Yo Sushi, but way more grown up!

Check out the Salmon skin crackling!

Tomorrow, Portland!