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Published: September 10th 2018
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Oregon 2018. Reedsport
Breakfast at 7.30 for 8.39 start after a dreadful night fighting one of those sponge filled pillows which tried to fracture my neck. I ended up sleeping on a folded towel. Unfortunately it was also quite misty until about 11am which meant we missed some great views of this rugged coastline south of Yachats. One which is called the Devils Churn as it can be quite spectacular when the waves are driven into the narrow channel and thrust up into the air. Further on is Cook’s Chasm where water erupts through a hole in the rock like a geyser. By the time we reached the recently restored Heceta Head lighthouse it was starting to clear and we managed some good photographs from the Sea Lion Centre where coffee was available but no cake, only fudge - no more sugar please. At the Sea Lion centre there is a lift which Apart from a small diversion outside Yachats we were in the Highway 101 all day, which is not the best place to cycle, despite it having a good cycle Lane in the road. There was a short tunnel before the Sea Lion Centre where cyclists have to press
a button to operate the flashing lights warning motorists of your presence. We hit Florence at lunchtime and I kept cycling along the five lane highway thinking there would be a town with narrow streets and shops but nothing appeared so I dodged into McDonalds for a $6 banquet before I was left hungry. I found as I later went over the Siuslaw River bridge that there was actually a town with a port, restaurants and galleries etc to the left of the main road. Florence is known as the gateway to the Dunes where they offer quad bike rides, sand boarding and other tomfoolery activities that can polish your skin to destruction. It was then a bit of a slog up hill and down with the odd lake or two with sand dunes spilling into the road and RV’s by the bucketload. We were passed by some pickups with monstrous wheels like those you see in stunt shows running over cars etc and it looked like they were being used to blast up and down the dunes. Reedsport is like many American towns, a big wide highway with properties either side. Fuel stations, alcohol outlets, food outlets supermarkets, tyre
fitters etc. etc. The Motel is at the end of the strip and the Harbor Lights Restaurant is at the other so a nice walk to get the appetite up, if needed after 50 miles pulling a load up the hills. Luckily we dragged our washing in from the fence facing the sun and we were there soon after six, otherwise we would have been waiting hours. The meal was very good and the venue can be recommended. Outside were a Ford pickup truck so big that Deborah’s head was just level with the bonnet. Nearby the Sheriff was waiting in his truck with no lights on waiting for someone to give him a ticket, I suppose. Bedtime at 9pm tonight ready for breakfast at 7am and an early start for a harder day tomorrow into the hills away from the coast. Elk country we believe. Somebody has to do it.
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