A morning tour up the Penninsula that is home to Long Beach, revealed cranberry bogs, some newly planted. Last night we saw a mural in town of a cranberry harvest and Jules was determined to find the farms. Riding back and forth across the Penninsula, we finally found them. understated but very much in production, they lined a back road. Similar to our bogs, we felt like we were back home.
Exiting Long Beach, we followed the coast south on 101. Noon found us sitting by the Columbia River where it poured into the Pacific near Cape Disappointment. A huge driftwood tree was our entertainment as we climbed over it. The setting of ocean, river and rocky shore was enhanced by a brilliant sun. The air can be either warm or cold at any time and the two never seem to mix. So, facing the sun, we kept our jackets on to the cold blasts of air from the water.
We crossed into Oregon over the Astoria-Megler Bridge. At 4.1miles long, it is an engineering feat of truss and cantilever design. It also was the last link in the Pacific Coast Highway, stretching it from Olympia to Los Angeles.
Our taste for coastal oysters, honed at dinner the night before, drove us to search for an oyster bar. Several stops were fruitless, but we did get to witness an old steam train chugging by. Finally Jules found a real gem. The Pacific Oyster Company, a seafood distributor and restaurant sat along the water in Bay City. Freshly delivered and freshly shucked oysters satisfied our craving, for the moment. A trip behind the the plant gave witness to the freshness of our food as oysters were delivered and raked onto a conveyer belt.
In Tillamook, known for its cheese, we left 101 on a side trip. Following 131, we passed cheese makers sleepily chewing their cud, then dove back down to the ocean. The rugged Oregon coast immediately captured us. Flying high above impossible stone monoliths that jutted from the ocean, we then plunged down to ride along windswept shores. At Oceanside by Cape Lookout, we found our digs for the night in a small motel with a stunning view. Dinner at the restaurant next door presented us with more oysters, fried this time, and a new delicacy - sturgeon. As we watched our first Pacific sunset (the fog has stepped in on all others) we raised our glasses and toasted to oysters and Oregon.
Some days we cover miles of road, taking in a myriad of sights. Today we took a stroll on our bike, savoring everything this coast has to offer. Uninhibited by schedules and time restraints we can wander at will, meandering down forgotten paths, making new discoveries. We are not tourists - we are travelers.
Newly planted cranberry bog
Bogs in production
We found a driftwood tree
The Bridge to Oregon
Rugged Oregon Coast
Steam Train
Can't get any fresher than this
And this is what we ate
Fried oysters
Pacific sunset
Home for the night
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