Saturday, July 11, 2009
Route Notes: Out of Tillamook
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Follow the 131 out of Tillamook (In the city it is Third Street, turn right onto it if you are heading south on hwy 101.) "Cycling the Pacific Coast" wants you to take the long way around, but unless you really want to see the lighthouses, stay on 131 until you get to Whiskey Creek Road. Follow Whiskey Creek Road to Netarts Bay Rd. This puts you back on the book route.
Upsides: shorter, very scenic.
Downsides: potentially more climbing (all very easy grades), no lighthouses.
(Robert)
Summer Grifter IPA
(Disclaimer: I wrote this review after imbibing perhaps a few of these. Thus the, um, poetic description. It sounded really accurate at the time.)
This beer lives up to it's name. It starts out strong, coming up to you with a smile and finishes with a sly wink that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. Seriously though, it's hoppy even for an IPA. Good with the Pacific Coast Corn though, with the lime and all.
(Robert)
Crossing Paths
7-10 was bright and clear, but due to a laundry stop (Steve took care of this for all of us) we didn't break camp until about 2pm. Ride was good, fast for about the first 15 miles, then hilly with a tunnel. The tunnel was far less scary than the Astoria Bridge. At the Nehalem Bay campsite we met two women walking the Oregon coast. Their trip is also expected to take about 30 days, and they left 8 days ago from Portland. Eden and Kendra were really welcome company after 14 days on the road with the same 6-8 guys. Eden does biochem, which is right up John and Daniels' alley. I didn't catch Kendra's interests, but she broke out some marshmallows which was nice.
Sadly, we won't be seeing them again, as we cover about three times the distance per day that they can, and they aren't hiking along the freeway. They did leave a charming note, so we'll have to get in contact after our respective tours are over to see how each fared.
Today, 7-11, we're looking to hit Tillamook and visit the cheese factory there. Should be excting, I've been there before, but I hope that it lives up to the memories and the hype I've been telling the rest of the dudes.
Another interesting note: Dried sweat will bleach out bamboo shirts (and wool jerseys) fairly quickly. Rinse them nightly to prevent this.
(Robert)
Sadly, we won't be seeing them again, as we cover about three times the distance per day that they can, and they aren't hiking along the freeway. They did leave a charming note, so we'll have to get in contact after our respective tours are over to see how each fared.
Today, 7-11, we're looking to hit Tillamook and visit the cheese factory there. Should be excting, I've been there before, but I hope that it lives up to the memories and the hype I've been telling the rest of the dudes.
Another interesting note: Dried sweat will bleach out bamboo shirts (and wool jerseys) fairly quickly. Rinse them nightly to prevent this.
(Robert)
Tacos La Provindia
$4.50 for a burrito, 1-2 miles south of Tillamook Cheese Factory on Highway 101.
The group rated this roach coach higher than the last, citing the $.50 cheaper burritos and the the side salad as pluses. The rice and beans were better, but my asada was a little overcooked. The side salad is chopped lettuce and tomato without dressing, leading me to believe that it is actually intended to be added to your burritos as you see fit. Either way, it was a reasonable burrito at a good price.
The tacos however were the hit of the day with multiple people returning to order more. Almost every meat available was ordered, and satisfaction was expressed by all. The onions were sauteed in some delicious mixture of oil and pure flavor, and are almost worth ordering on their own. The locals also recommended this stand highly, "... The best restaurant in town!"
(Robert)
The group rated this roach coach higher than the last, citing the $.50 cheaper burritos and the the side salad as pluses. The rice and beans were better, but my asada was a little overcooked. The side salad is chopped lettuce and tomato without dressing, leading me to believe that it is actually intended to be added to your burritos as you see fit. Either way, it was a reasonable burrito at a good price.
The tacos however were the hit of the day with multiple people returning to order more. Almost every meat available was ordered, and satisfaction was expressed by all. The onions were sauteed in some delicious mixture of oil and pure flavor, and are almost worth ordering on their own. The locals also recommended this stand highly, "... The best restaurant in town!"
(Robert)
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Tour Delirium
After riding all day, eating dinner, and perhaps drinking a little, you may suddenly find everything absolutely hilarious. Likewise, lounging about in a park, eating cold cuts you may be struck by a case of the giggles. This is nothing to be alarmed by, it is simply a common side effect of touring known as "Tour Delirium." The combination of good food with vigorous exercise leads to this condition, and experts generally agree that it is not life threatening, or (unfortunately) a permanent condition.
Further research has shown that this effect is generally achieved with a group of 6 or fewer, but more than two.
(Robert)
Further research has shown that this effect is generally achieved with a group of 6 or fewer, but more than two.
(Robert)
Astoria
Ate a huge breakfast at "Dock by the Bay" in Bay Center, Washington. It was an excellent, and oyster heavy meal, with portions large enough to keep us going for the rest of the day. I got the "Docks Hangtown" which was a 3-oyster omelet, hash browns, toast, with two strips of bacon on top for good measure. The oysters came out of the adjacent bay, and were very fresh, and the toast was warm and buttery. Really one of the best breakfasts I've had so far.
You may be put off by the $2 cost of the pancakes, but the cost is entirely proportional to the size- these pancakes are a full inch thick in the middle, and roughly 12" in diameter. You could easily make a meal out of one of them, two if you are particularly voracious.
We didn't have to eat for another six hours, which is astonishing. Normally we snack frequently and have a meal every for 3-4 hours of riding.
For dinner we found a taco truck in the parking lot of the Texaco across from the Astoria Maritime Museum. (An excellent museum, we didn't stop in this time but I've been there before.) It was recommended to us by a local as being good and cheap. When we arrived it had all the earmarks of a good taco truck: authentic spelling and a family manning it.
The carne asada burrito was ok, having good meat but being heavy on onions and light on everything else. However, for being within spitting distance of Washington and for $5, it was a really good burrito. So if you are ever 13 days out of CA on a bike tour, and need a burrito, look for the taco truck on 17th and Marine.
(Robert)
You may be put off by the $2 cost of the pancakes, but the cost is entirely proportional to the size- these pancakes are a full inch thick in the middle, and roughly 12" in diameter. You could easily make a meal out of one of them, two if you are particularly voracious.
We didn't have to eat for another six hours, which is astonishing. Normally we snack frequently and have a meal every for 3-4 hours of riding.
For dinner we found a taco truck in the parking lot of the Texaco across from the Astoria Maritime Museum. (An excellent museum, we didn't stop in this time but I've been there before.) It was recommended to us by a local as being good and cheap. When we arrived it had all the earmarks of a good taco truck: authentic spelling and a family manning it.
The carne asada burrito was ok, having good meat but being heavy on onions and light on everything else. However, for being within spitting distance of Washington and for $5, it was a really good burrito. So if you are ever 13 days out of CA on a bike tour, and need a burrito, look for the taco truck on 17th and Marine.
(Robert)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
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