Jul 11, 2024
Ten years ago, I embarked on one of my biggest adventures… cycling the entire Pacific Coast, from border to border. Since then, I’ve revisited sections of that ride time and again. And to be honest, I have some habits… tried and true places to camp and eat and even throw back a few. So to celebrate ten years of the pod, the Oregon Coast makes a lot of sense. But celebrating the past sometimes means looking forward, so maybe we shake it up…. remix the ride. On this episode, a preview of the tenth anniversary ride, the Oregon Coast Remix.
Oregon Coast Remix Preview
The ride
Lincoln City - Crescent City
A couple of fast forwards (PDX-LC, Port Orford-Brookings)
Reasonable mileage
The remix - new to me campsites each night (except the last one - more in a moment)
Pros - even though this a familiar ride, the tick tock of it isn’t so it’s going to be totally different. New challenges, new rhythms. Ability to spend time in the coastal towns differently. No Sunset Bay!
Cons - I’ll miss out on some classic things like South Beach SP. Would have liked more time. Not in proper bike shape for the ride?
Unknowns - there are h/b campgrounds, but are they any good?
Ride to Union Station, Portland
Bus to Tillamook
Ride to Pacific City?
Bus to Lincoln City
Ride hits so many new h/b campgrounds
Final night… wanted to do Cape Blanco, but in retrospect it’s just too much to get up there (steep and narrow road). Luckily, Humbug Mountain is close enough to Port Orford to bike back to grab the bus. Only campsite I’ll stay at that’s not new to me (barring disaster/change in plans)
Fast forward Port Orford to Brookings and then another bus to Crescent City airport for my car (puke avoidance tour 2024)
The gear
The Safari - same bike (well same frame and a few of the OG components) as the one that road the coast in 2014
Back from the shop and hopefully riding perfectly
Fully loaded, even bringing a stove
Flying with the Dogsbody bag (which has definitely paid for itself at this point)
Two rear panniers
Fork bags, but using the eVent bags instead of those skinny bags that came with them
Will be the closest to a "4 pannier" setup I’ve ever done
Handlebar roll (new bag)
Lots of capacity, but will try to keep amount of gear and clothing to a minimum. May look heavier than it is?
The challenges
Not in the best shape
My usual stops won’t make sense so I’ll be improvising a bit
The upsides
Brand new campgrounds - new sights to see and new perspectives of the coast
Different rhythm to the ride makes it closer to new
I’m in this for fun, not breaking speed records… hoping to stop at a few cool places I usually pass by
Might have some surprises. It’s the ten year anniversary adventure, after all!
Tour Journals start… next week!