Newport
81.8 km today, 912.4 total
It was another cloudy, grey day, and I kept expecting rain. On the road early (for me), before 0800, but soon stopped for a hot chocolate. Took a few more brief stops at pullouts along the coast, then lingered for 2 and half hours or so at Depoe Bay, to watch the whales from shore and have lunch.
There were good views of several whales from the parking lot right off the highway, looking down into the bay from atop the rocks. At one point a grey whale was swimming only about 20 m away! It took a while to get the knack of spotting them (usually looking for a spout was the best way), but I quickly picked up the technique, and know there were at least 3 in the bay, since at one point I saw 3 spouts simultaneously in separate locations. Probably several more though, given the frequency of sightings. Usually, you'd just see the spout and a bit of their back, but sometimes a tail would show if they were diving deep.
I hung around a while, hoping another would approach closely, talking to some of the other people hanging about, then headed across the street for lunch.
Watched for a few minutes after lunch, but then decided to keep going, along Otter Rock Road, off 101, which was a pleasant road with scenic views. I stopped at Cape Foulweather, the Devil's Punchbowl, Yaquina Head Lighthouse and others, admiring the views. I kept running into two couples from Miami, driving the coast, and talked to them for a while. They were actually glad that they had missed the warm, sunny weather, since it gave them a change from Miami weather, and a chance to bundle up in warmer clothes.
Continued into Newport, cycling through town wandering about for a while. When stopped at the bridge looking at the map and pondering whether to continue or not, a couple of women cyclists passed headed south, not saying hi, or hitting the "Bikes on Bridge" warning flashing signs. I rode back and activated the lights for them, and then after a few minutes decided to cross myself and set up camp at South Beach and showered.
Newport Harbor
Then I headed back into town to do some laundry, practicing my Spanish with some Mexican fellows at the laundromat, then riding back in a brief, light rain shower after dark, stopping at a convenience store on the way for some snacks, and a bottle of local beer.
It was another cloudy, grey day, and I kept expecting rain. On the road early (for me), before 0800, but soon stopped for a hot chocolate. Took a few more brief stops at pullouts along the coast, then lingered for 2 and half hours or so at Depoe Bay, to watch the whales from shore and have lunch.
There were good views of several whales from the parking lot right off the highway, looking down into the bay from atop the rocks. At one point a grey whale was swimming only about 20 m away! It took a while to get the knack of spotting them (usually looking for a spout was the best way), but I quickly picked up the technique, and know there were at least 3 in the bay, since at one point I saw 3 spouts simultaneously in separate locations. Probably several more though, given the frequency of sightings. Usually, you'd just see the spout and a bit of their back, but sometimes a tail would show if they were diving deep.
I hung around a while, hoping another would approach closely, talking to some of the other people hanging about, then headed across the street for lunch.
Watched for a few minutes after lunch, but then decided to keep going, along Otter Rock Road, off 101, which was a pleasant road with scenic views. I stopped at Cape Foulweather, the Devil's Punchbowl, Yaquina Head Lighthouse and others, admiring the views. I kept running into two couples from Miami, driving the coast, and talked to them for a while. They were actually glad that they had missed the warm, sunny weather, since it gave them a change from Miami weather, and a chance to bundle up in warmer clothes.
Continued into Newport, cycling through town wandering about for a while. When stopped at the bridge looking at the map and pondering whether to continue or not, a couple of women cyclists passed headed south, not saying hi, or hitting the "Bikes on Bridge" warning flashing signs. I rode back and activated the lights for them, and then after a few minutes decided to cross myself and set up camp at South Beach and showered.
Newport Harbor
Then I headed back into town to do some laundry, practicing my Spanish with some Mexican fellows at the laundromat, then riding back in a brief, light rain shower after dark, stopping at a convenience store on the way for some snacks, and a bottle of local beer.
posted by Matt at 13:29
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