The Pacific at last

Aug 25

We left Eugene early headed 80 miles to Florence. Our goal was to arrive and we'd figure out the details of seeing the Pacific later.  At about 5:30, I stopped to take a picture of the city welcome sign. there was a little old lady sitting at the bus stop next to the sign who said, "where you comin' from?". I told her we were just arriving at the Pacific from Yorktown, VA and her response was:  "Go north and see Sea Lion Cave".  Just what I needed: directions to do more.  That's okay though, because we're headed north anyway.

Aug 26

We slept in at a noisy motel situated at the intersection of hwy 126 and hwy 101...chosen for its easy location.  About lunch time, we took off for Harbor Vista Park where we would finally see the Pacific.  It's about a quarter mile of loose sand between the parking area and the water edge, so Betty had to wait but I got my feet wet.

We skipped around and high fived and took photos.

Before long the fog off the headland moved on land and settled into a misty but steady rain.  We pedaled the 4 miles back to town and took up residence in a motel with a jacuzzi...yum.  This would be the first rain we've pedaled in since  Illinois!

Tomorrow we head north in a rare case of south wind.  It's four days of riding to Astoria, then 90 miles more to Portland.  Along the way, there are multiple campgrounds with showers and small but service-rich seaside towns.