After another quiet night we were on the road by 8:00. It was foggy and overcast. That did not improve.
Today we saw sand dunes! Not the shabby little things you see at Grand Bend or Sauble Beach but 200 to 300 foot high sand dunes. Most of the day we rode along beside these things...at least we think we did as the fog was thick at times making concentration on the road...in front and behind...important. The U.S. has preserved this area...sort of. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is 36 kilometers long. The reason for the 'sort of' is that the area is over run by ATV/Dune Buggy businesses. You can 'pay to play' or 'rent to play'! So I am not so sure how well preserved these dunes really are. The areas' economy is definitely based on these activities.
We also got to experience riding through some of the Oregon Coast forests. While taking a short 4 kilometer 'off route' road we wound through some 'pristine' forest. It was also the day for cyclists 'blowing' past us as we rode. The guy from Ottawa we met a few days ago we saw again today. Two other guys 'blew' past us and said hello as we were caught in their 'jet stream'. And a 4th stopped to talk to us just before our 'walk' across the Coos Bay Bridge. He is on a mission. He was from Canmore Alberta and wants to be in San Francisco in 10 days. And I cannot forget the 12 ACA riders who passed us again...yes we were ahead of them...only because I make Sue get on the road earlier than their tour guide does.
We are staying in the Parkside Motel in North Bend. It has laundry and that is its only redeeming quality.
Trip Distance = 70.05 km. Time on the Bikes = 4 hours 39 minutes. Average Speed = 15.05 km. Maximum Speed = 49.60 km. Wildlife Sightings = Great Egrets, Chipmunks (but different than ours), Kingfisher.
P.S. Today, we passed the 1000 kilometer mark for our ride.
Oregon Forest
Coos Bay Bridge...The Long Walk
Sand Dunes We Rode Past Today
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