I've been reading all about the heat wave in Southern California and Arizona. Today in Oregon is just the opposite -- kind of chilly.
We started the day chilly, 95% humidity and lots of clouds. I thought that we would get our first day of rain, but lucked out all day. The day started out damp in every way, however. You simply couldn't shed any perspiration through evaporation, so, until about 2 PM it was clammy and cold.
As you probably know, Tillamook is famous for their dairy products. As a result of that, the "raw material generators" take up abundant field space. You go through many miles of dairy farms for the first ten miles after leaving Tillamook.
Soon, we were again going along scenic coastal routes and many small towns. My riding companion for the day, Jeff, and I saw many deer. One even jumped over the road as we passed nearby.
We stopped at a little general store out in the boondocks somewhere for a snack. The owner said that yesterday a black bear had taken up residence to feed in a field across from the store.
About halfway through the ride today, we explored a bypass road from the main route that took us through an area called Slab Creek. This road took us into a rain forest that was primordial in nature. It lead us through a beautiful old-growth region where the trees were very close together and covered with hanging moss. It must have rained in the area just minutes before our arrival as the mist was still in the air, and the wonderful smell of the forest energized us for the rest of the ride.
Tonight we are in Depoe Bay. Our room (my room mate is Ken tonight) overlooks the Pacific. Apparently it is not uncommon to see migrating Gray Whales from right out our window.
It's on to Florence tomorrow and a lay over day there including another massage!
Today's stats: 65 miles, 1950 feet of climb.
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