BON ANNIVERSAIRE.

What a sleep. Being in a big beautiful bed brought the best bedtime. My awakening was rather early, which has been preferred during this trip. Shockingly, at least to my recollection, this was the first time I had ever stayed at a BNB. Regardless, I joined the owners and other guests down in the kitchen for the breakfast portion of this proposed package. All I desired was a yogurt, various berries, a homemade muffin, and a few helpings of coffee. While consuming this precious morning energy, I chatted with Bob. He was a nice older gentleman that has spent his life living on the West Coast. He was both fascinating and funny. We chatted about many things, but my favorite was when he hitchhiked from California to Florida back in the sixties. After packing up my things, I did what I knew best. 

It was still early, which was wonderful. The sun was not at its highest heat, and the breeze was busy. I was sincerely satisfied to be surrounded by so much foliage. The scenery was an odd combination of lush trees and dry dusty landscapes. These tall pines provided some shade on the street. However, it was readily available if you pulled over and made your way into the forest. This little luxury was not allowed the past few days. You would be surprised by how much rejuvenation the shade brings. After a few miles of pedaling, I came across my favorite sign in the world. If I had to guess, this sign is beloved by bikers ubiquitously. It is a simple yellow sign with a black-slanted semi-truck. This means the descent is about to be FAT!

The sign did not lie because I was zooming down for maybe ten miles!? I might have worn down my breaks a bit, but it was the best. During this daring decline, I saw two bicyclists and several motorcycle packs. This was the first time all trip that I had found cyclists on an old highway. We smiled and waved to each other. The motorcyclists must look down upon their slower two-wheeled friends because they were not as friendly. 

Finally, I rolled up to a small cafe that doubled as a grocery store. The pickings were limited, but I managed to refill my pantry for tonight's dinner. What the hell, I decided to get some lunch too. I chilled out and chomped on a mushroom swiss burger and some potato salad. The coffee was terrible, and I ended up dumping most of it. Fellow bikers arrived and joined me at my table. The two Portlanders provided me with some pertinent information. I learned that Oregon has several scenic highways dedicated to cyclist and have bike-friendly areas all along the route. They also informed me an application called RideWithGPS. I have yet to install it, but it allows you to download maps to your phone with biker-friendly locations, campsites, and what have you. This is perfect for areas with little to no reception, exactly like today. After our enlightening chat, I continued to the campsite. 

It was not far at all. After setting up camp, I found a little trail that led to a baby beach alongside the river. Although tiny, it was full of fourth-of-July families. The company was not bothersome to me. For several hours, I swam, read and relaxed. My next mission was to contact my folks to inform them of my safe arrival. I had no bars, and neither did anybody else. My solution was to bike down the highway until service was accessible. It did not take long to get one bar, and I sent Jeff a text to ensure my safety. My mind was at ease, knowing my parents would rest a little easier this evening. 

I made my way back to the river, this time with soap and my hairbrush. It was about time for a bath. Feeling cleaner than I was, dinner was prepared. This included: one can of sardines, leftover potato salad, a bag of beef jerky, and some trail mix. Many of the campsites have banned open fires due to the dryness of the region. This makes cooking a warm meal a little more difficult. I do not really mind. Finding firewood and maintaining a fire is a lot of work. After my dinner, I read and wrote the night away. Let us see what tomorrow brings. Another easy route today, here you go.