Tour de Dog a la Costa

Instead of taking the well marked, heavy used route from Eugene to the Oregon coast (Route 126), I went with country logging roads. The decision was a great one and led to unspoiled forests (when they were not cut down), rushing streams, and few motorized vehicles. After a few climbs and a below-freezing night of camping, Chiva and I made it to the meandering Smith River which we followed to the Pacific.

Following a gusty night on sand dunes near Winchester Bay, I setoff on a marathon 80 mile day. At Mom’s Kitchen in North Bend, I ate a delicious and on-the-house breakfast and was informed I could “try the best hotdogs on the coast” if I made it to Langlois by 6:00p.m. I was immediately sold and jumped back on the saddle. Shortly after the town of Charleston came a section of road known as the seven devils. Unaware at the time, the name is for the seven steep and tortuous hills I was about to face. After expending all my energy on those downright wicked climbs, I lugged into the town of Bandon. It was now 5:15 and eleven miles of pedaling remained. I got some badly needed energy from my trusty Larabars and Ola Loa vitamin supplements and went for it. When I finally arrived it was 6:15, and the store door was locked. Fortunately for me and my voracious appetite, the owner and cashier showed mercy and fed me 5 hotdogs that were worth every mile! I also grabbed a bag of Doritos, a quart-sized container of whoppers (malted chocolate), and my usual milk. Never before had I faced such intense hunger!

Dealing with coastal Route 101 is rewarding yet dangerous at times. Many scenic beaches and vantage points are along the way but trucks are constantly zooming by on all too often narrow shoulder. The weather has been fantastic, and I am trying to cover many miles.

Chiva and I are currently in Gold Beach and taking the day off. Last night, Jean Stump, an 85 year old local great grandma, thought I needed a shower and bed and took us in for the night. It has been wonderful conversing with Grandma Stump, her two great grandsons, Kenny and Tyler, and her three cats. A day to recharge after three nights of cold camping and four days of biking was more than welcomed.

Special thanks to:
Beth Peterson, Eugene (fed me fish tacos multiple times)
Dan Wirth, Eugene (biked and conversed with Dan for 10 miles)
Brad and Bobbiy of Mom’s Kitchen, North Bend
Langlois Market Hotdog Team (fed the monster)
Port and Starboard Restaurant and Lounge, Port Orford
Port Hole Café, Gold Beach
Great Grandma Stump, Gold Beach (treating me like one her own grandsons)

Enough writing…here are the pictures of this stretch (pictures with Grandma Stump and Gold Beach to follow next post):

Old ship in Gold Beach with the Rogue River Bridge in background

An unfortunate site on the logging roads

The route is very well marked

This one has had a lot of beach time over the last few days

These loud friends always seem to be in such a hurry

Crossing a bridge into North Bend...was very narrow!

My favorite picture of this section

Just in time for a sunset

An excellent map I referred to several times on the backcountry roads

Camping along a fork of the Smith River

Somewhere back on the hilly logging roads