Coastal Contemplations index In June 2016 I spent two weeks touring on the Pacific Coast. A leisurely tour, the emphasize was on the scenery, the environments and contemplation. As usual I blogged the tour here as it went on the links of which I have collected here. Additionally I took over a thousand photos on this tour and a selection of these from each day have been uploaded to Flickr. Links to each days photos…
in beads of dew one by one my home village -Issa all things must pass I made one last stop in The Whit at the New Day Bakery – which was great – before I made my way to the Amtrak Station. This being the beginning of the Amtrak Cascades route the train was ready and waiting for me. I pulled off my bicycle bags and helped the porter left it into the baggage car. I found…
in summer cool ambling down my road to hell -Issa a step east On this day I would leave 101 for the first time since joining it in SW Washington. I was riding to Eugene which was a fair piece and since I desired to spend some time in the city I left early. It was partially blue skids when I left camp but it clouded up as I made my way north (still on 101 for…
dancing butterflies— my journey forgotten for a while -Issa the butterfly flies anyway Umpqua Lighthouse State Park was the southern most extent of my journeys. In fact I had gone beyond the road where I needed to start heading east. So this day requires back tracking north for a ways. But I was going to camp just before the turn east so this was going to be a short days ride. I began by heading…
where I saw a pretty bird… they burn the mountain -Issa without intentions This day was mostly clear, with an unusual southerly wind blowing white streamers of clouds across the blue canvas. On the road I almost immediately reached Yachats where I stopped at the Bread & Roses Bakery and lingered over their fine coffee and baked goods. Departing I found my rear tire flat. I fixed that in Yacharts but all of this found…
plum blossoms— in my account book I enter “cash for sake” -Issa beach to beach It rained all night only ceasing upon the dawn. So it was a damp morning of packing as I broke camp and headed south. A scant distance Down 101 I came to Newport and the turnoff to Yaquina Head Lighthouse. A classic lightouse right at the end of the headlands overlooking the dramatic and rocky coast. There were vast amounts…
low tide in a soft, soft rain… darkness coming -Issa between showers This was another day predicted to be filled with a series of fronts moving through so I decided to stay at Bevery Beach Campground and explore the coast. Considering that I’d moved along this section of the coast pretty fast yesterday Ithis would give me a chance to check out what I missed. As I left 101 to Otter Crest the clouds that had been…
today too, today too living in mist… little house -issa a long day’s journey into…evening I awoke to the sound of drizzle pitter pattering on my tent. Now the sound of rain on the tent is an experience not to be missed, but I did intend to pack up and leave Cape Lookout today. It fell off after a spell and I jumped out and put everything I way. Then I moved to the campgrounds covered pavilion…
in spring breeze his stole billowing… a monk comes too -Issa wind and waves I decided to stay another night at Cape Lookout, so that I could explore Cape Mears which I’d missed yesterday. Taking a leisurely morning I enjoyed the first bright blue dawn in a couple of days. The sun was already quite warm as I made my way back along the Three Capes Route. mornings clouds — white thumbprints on blue paper…
blown forth by the spring breeze… pilgrims -Issa drifting down the coast There was some early morning rain but then the front moved by and the sun cand out. I lingered in camp, drying out and recombobulating things. So it was nice and warm when I returned to the road and continued drifting south. The wind was with me, pushing me and the occasional stray cloud down the coast. I rode steadily for about an hour…