Day 30: August 10th, 2010 (Route: Independence, OR to Tillamook, OR)

Day 30: August 10th, 2010 (Route: Independence, OR to Tillamook, OR)

Technical Data:

Distance, miles: 102.35
Ride Time: 7:10:32
Work, kJ: 4189
Average Power, watts: 159
Normalized Power, watts: 188
Average Speed, mph: 13.96

Forecast: Cool, cloudy with winds out of the NW

Sleeping in a construction lot was ideal last night, waking was tough as I was pretty tired from the short day before. I know that all these days in a row is catching up to me, just a couple more days and a lot of rest ahead of me and I'm looking forward to it. Waking up to a large pile of dirt and an apples falling around me was pretty cool though. Who would have thought I would be sleeping in a construction lot?

Once up I did the normal routine, except this morning I pick fresh blackberries! What a treat it is to wake with fresh berries less than 20 feet away. I really wasn't in a hurry this morning as the bike shop wasn't going to open until 9 or 10 and its 6:30AM so what's the rush. The ride is close to 12-15 miles or so to the shop I think as I have no idea on what shop I'm heading too. To the bike I go and its cloudy, where has the sun gone? It's chilly and I'm ready to fix this bike issue, I'm thinking its a chain problem which won't be that bad, quick fix and I'll be on my way if the cassette is okay.

Rolling out of Independence I kept thinking you're heading the wrong way, you need to be heading NW vs. NE but I need to get to a shop as I can't continue on without a chain! Cruising out of town, I'm suprising feeling pretty good besides the chill on the hands. The roads in this section were pretty clean and I was enjoying the ride to be honest! Approaching hwy 22 where I would take a right and head into Salem came up really quick, I was trying not to stand or put too much power into the drive train as I didn't want to slip the drive chain so I keep it pretty moderate on the way to ensure I made it!

Once into Salem, over a narrow bridge from West Salem I roll right into town and a bike shop is right on the corner! I think, this is ideal!!! The kid in independence mentioned a bike shop on the other side of the bridge and he was correct, good to know he knows the area. I roll past and the shop opens at 9, I keep thinking I'll be out of here by noon for sure! Little time to waste before the shop opens so I ride down town. Riding through town in the AM was a good deal for me, traffic was high but I came up on the "Waffle Guy". Just cruising down the road, and this waffle vendor yells at me if I have had breakfast, I said no and sure enough he say's "I'll make you a waffle". Since one of things on this trip has been trying to receive gifts I couldn't turn him down!

I pull over and chat for a bit, down a waffle with peanut butter and blackberries and a little syrup, wrapped up! I have never eaten a waffle like this, yet ever scene a waffle vendor before. The cool thing was the young man running the stand was wearing a CSC cycling jacket and used to race cyclecross, I new he had to be cool! After sharing some stories and chatting for a bit, he mentioned he would like to tour someday and ride to every professional baseball stadium and catch a game! I thought this would be a great thing to do! Reminded me of Aaron and Laura's story about riding to the center of every US state! What cool ideas!!!!!

I think I would like to combine my idea of climbing the highest peak in every state by adding riding to them! What a way to see the country.....

Back to the shop I stop in and get down to business! I mention the problem to the mechanics in the shop and sure enough the chain is shot, its not even measuring, I new that as I could feel it! The next question was what about the gears, how are the teeth? They do mention when you cassette is shot to add a new chain as they wear together, however I wasn't sure about the front teeth. After a long conversation and observation of the current gears I have I decide its going to best to change the cassette (11/25), chain, and front chain rings (53/39). I'm running some big gears for touring, the mechanic thought he might not have a 53, however I lucked out and he did have one in stock. Not the brand I was running but sure enough, one that would work!

I mentioned I wanted to do the work so I could save on labor cost and they agreed, still a long road ahead and I need to conserve as much as I can! I changed everything out which was a piece of cake! I needed to pay for the items now, $135 bucks for parts was the damage. New chain $28, new cassette (12/26 - they didn't have a 11/25) $35, new 39 gear ring $35, and a 53 $55 - at 15% off cost for parts and since I did my own labor I was able to save as much as I could, I added a few more patches to the purchase as I new I was going to need them on the road for the next couple of legs.

Heading out of the shop it was now 1:45PM and I had covered maybe 25 miles of riding and I was not happy about leaving at this time, but what can you do when you're on the road? Just ride I thought, ride as far as you can and see how you feel. I made the mistake of not running my nutrition today as so much was going on. I rolled out of Salem thinking I could cover as many miles before I needed a break or before I made it to Tillamook which was close to 100 miles away, I really wanted to be in Tillamook tonight even if it cost me riding into the night, however I don't have lights so I know that wasn't going to happen. I rode and rode until I needed to stop for a break. Stopping at a small cafe on the route to the coast I stop for a bit. I stopped too long to be honest, but I was tired and really kicking myself for not staying on the nutrition!

After refueling and taking in as much water as I could I decide to hit the bathroom for a shave and brush my teeth again as I had some sugar and I need to stay on my hygiene. This is in the normal routine in the mornings and evenings, however I had my kit out so I thought I would go ahead and routine it again. I really need to push on I kept thinking but I also kept thinking but I'm so comfortable just sitting here! I have coverd 55 miles today and really enjoying the new drive train! 45 miles to Tillamook and its 5:15 and I'm thinking at 15 miles an hour I can make it by 8:15, however I figured I would need to push it faster than that as its getting late and I need to be off the highways by then. I push off with a goal in mind, restocked and GU full in the tank I'm thinking I'll push the pace a little to ensure I get there in time.

Pushing the pace felt great, actually it felt great to work a little this afternoon. I was feeling pretty good and the terrian was in my favor, there was a little climbing but not to much aso iw as able to really cook it for some of the first 20 miles or so. Terrain is scenic, I had to stop and take a few pictures on this stretch which kept me thinking I can't slow. If I'm going to make it before dark I need to keep moving. Mist starts rolling in, cold and unknowning of the terrain ahead, which I love, I push on. Legs feeling pretty good as its rolling terrain which I love and windy! The road surfaces were ideal for riding too, little wet and with old balding tires I was leary however dark was approaching soon.

Passing dairy farm after dairy farm I know I'm getting closer to Tillamook. I'm thinking this is a sure thing, I'll find a campground or park just before dusk and crawl into my tent and slip into some dreams. I haven't really dreamt, well ones that I can remember since I have been on this journey, o' wait there was a couple night in Colorado Springs, CO where I did dream! Dreamt of that girl I wish to have in my future...but we don't need to go into any details. It would be nice to hit some REM sleep on this journey, exspecially once I hit Astoria which the plan for tomorrow.

I'm cruising now and really enjoying the ride and pushing the pace as much as I can with BOB in tow. I had to stop to go to the bathroom and kept thinking about Ironman racing and how I just go on the bike, I was thinking about it then thought you have to shower somewhere and where is an unknown place so just stop. I really was thinking killing the momentum was what I didn't want! Stop at this filling station and go as fast as I can, however something did catch my eye, a couple locals in a truck were having a good time and I wasn't sure what was going on. Laughing and looking my direction when I came out to my rig? I wasn't sure but I had a suspicion they were up to no good.

I push on with bottle full, I hadn't drank since I left the last stop which I thought I'm going to pay for that one tomorrow for sure! It's getting dark by now and I'm about 15-20 out from Tillamook so I have to stay on it, one more leg and I'm in Tillamook. The next stretch was pretty dicey as road construction and a narrow shoulder and I was really having to push it! I was having so much fun though, racing with a BoB to ensure my safety and not having to ride in the dark was necessary tonight!

The ride was an enjoyable one and I cruised into Tillamook all alone, the roads were pretty bare being a Tuesday night and later in the evening a lot of people must be getting ready for bed which I will do in just a few. Rolling into Tillamook at dusk I planned on getting some Tillamook Ice Cream because so many people have talked about it. To Safeway I head and pick up a quart and half of ice cream, I figure I'll eat the whole thing but I'll have to pace myself so I don't get sick. I also went straight to the bargain rack in the back of the store to see if they had any pasta or other item that might strike my fancy. I scored in this Safeway as they had some peanut butter for a little over a dollar and some pasta for forty cents. O' how you have to stretch that dollar on the road!

I ask the clerk about a local park and she mentioned to just stay on 3rd street and you can't miss it. So pedaling pretty much at dark holding a quart and half of ice cream I venture to the park. A nice little park, full of trees and play ground equipment, rather bright for my sleeping desires but what can one do? I found a great spot in the far back corner to make sure i'm out of sight as I don't want to get kicked out of the park. Looking for sprinkler heads I pitch my tent and position my bike so that if anyone attempted to steal it, it would wake me and there would be no theft. Getting settled into the tent I was pretty excited as I had this ice cream to devour and I was starving!

Half way through the ice cream I could feel the stomach start to churn a little so I slowed down! Read a little and then continued into the ice cream. Tillamook Centennial ice cream is what I purchased and it was pretty good however I was hoping for more brownies and caramel to be honest! The ice cream is more creamy then I had hoped, that or it just wasn't cold enough since I waited so long after taking it from the freezer. I wasn't able to finish the full container but I did put a pretty good dent in it. I keep thinking it would be great to have shared this with someone instead of allowing the remaining to go to waste, however I couldn't finish it as I didn't want to have to wake up in the middle of the night having to puke instead of using the restroom.

Lying there for a while thinking about how full my stomach was I doze off, thinking about the last section of the first leg of my journey will be over. A feeling of sadness and joy hit me at the same time, kinda bitter sweet I think...