DAY 5. Garabaldi to Lincoln City, Or

Today turned out to be our favorite ride of the trip to date.  We continued along the Oregon Coast through wonderful seaside towns and over some big climbs that gave us incredible views of the ragged coast.  Our first climb over Cape Mears was closed to cars and trucks because of a landslide that took out much of the road, leaving just enough for cyclists to get through.

We stopped for coffee in Netarts.  The owner of the cafe was telling us the area gets on average 12 FEET of rain each year.  That's a foot a month or almost 1 inch every day!!  I need to double check this statistic since it sounds like the town would have floated away by now under those conditions.  We have been so fortunate having spectacular weather so far.  We hope it lasts.

At mile 55 today we needed to decide on which route to take into Lincoln City; we could take old route 101 (the alternate route) or remain on RTE 101 which shortened the overall distance from 69 miles to 64 miles but had a BIG, LONG climb.  Tim and Michelle decided to take the alternate route and I decided to tackle the climb and shorten the distance.  (We were warned by a shop owner that the climb was steep and long, so much so, that there was a bus that transported cyclists and their bikes to the top of the climb).  Michelle and Tim remarked at how beautiful the alternate route was and, in fact, the shop owner was correct in his assessment of the climb, Steep and Long.  It was a 2 GU (Roctane) climb!

We arrived at the Hotel in Lincoln City around 3:00 pm.  Michelle's sister Marna made the trip from Hillsboro, Or to meet us......so kind of her to make the 2 hour car ride to check up on us.  

Tonight will be an early night, tomorrow is another 78 mile day.

Best to All,

M and Big