Day 37: August 17th, 2010 (Route: Cape Lookout Campground to SouthBeach Campground, OR)

Day 37: August 17th, 2010 (Route: Cape Lookout Campground to SouthBeach Campground, OR)
Technical Data:

Distance, miles: 68.88
Ride Time: 5:20:42
Work, kJ: 3166
Average Power, watts: 162
Normalized Power, watts: 210
Average Speed, mph: 12.71

Woke this morning ready to go! So much rest the last couple of days I'm ready to get back to work. So this morning I really wanted to get a move on as I didn't wanted to get bothered by the kid that rolled into camp last night. This morning I could tell it was going to be a gloomy day yet again. Mentally thinking I sure cannot wait to get to sunshine whether that be further south in Oregon or until I get to California. Since it was gloomy I decided to avoid taking a shower this morning as I really didn't feel like walking to the shower and if I got on the road early I could hopefully be at my next destination (SouthBeach Campground) within 5-6 hours. With all these hiker/biker sites in the camp grounds there is no need to shower every time as I know I'll have one available. When traveling in the central US I wouldn't have forgone the shower however this morning I knew I would have the facilities available after a long day of riding so to the road I go.

Rolling out of camp I head up the road I hiked next to the day before. Foggy and cold, I'm thinking just keep pedaling to warm up. Nothing like a 2.5 mile climb first thing in the morning at 5% grade or so towing a 50 lb BoB. I didn't think the day before about the route ahead of me as planning on this trip has been a 50/50 shot in the dark. Knowing all the details leaves little room for excitement and adventure. I used to be a huge fan of planning everything out, however I'm glad I'm able to see both sides of the the spectrum with planning to the smallest minute detail to not planning at all, giving me a broad outlook on things! Heading up this climb I pass four cyclist, not sure where they are going but they are traveling light so I'm assuming out for a day ride. I hope they are on vacation as riding in this weather everyday would get old, however I'm sure you get used to riding in this weather when you live in a place like this. If you love to do something you'll pretty much do it anywhere you can. I really enjoy riding my bike, however riding in the cold all the time can cause me to move inside and ride on the trainer. Being raised in a warm climate I tend to like the warmer weather for outdoor riding. I'll always ride whereever I may end up for sure, inside or out.

Up the climb I could see the weather and it didn't look good. I worked a little too hard coming up the climb too, I was putting out close to 300+ watts for the entire climb. I think it was becuase I saw some people and wanted to put a good effort into catching them. I tend to always surge a little when I see people, I do this when running too. I do this subconciously when just riding, however when racing Ironman I mentally prepared not to surge and to ride at my own pace. I figured this would get me later in the day as efforts like this at the start of ride can come back and haunt me later for sure. At the top of the Cape I rolled down at my 25-30 mph governer and just keep cruising. I figured SouthBeach would be close to 60 miles or so, not a long ride by any means.

Thoughts were just thinking about the ride today, just focusing on the narrow shoulders, bad weather, and the thick traffic. I think everyone took an extra day for the weekend, however then my thoughts reverted back to it being summer in the NW where everyone is trying to get their vacations in. Busy or not I was going to ride and get in what I could of sight seeing with the gloomy weather. This type of weather sends me into a bad attitude most of the time as I prefer the sun, however its my choice on receiving the good day or making it bad with my thoughts. I made the best of the ride and really tried to enjoy what I could see but it the ride turned out to be a grind! A dead day to be honest for a while, it was foggy and about 55 degrees and truly miserable considering what I have gotten to ride in so far. I just kept pressing on. I sure needed a few up drafts throughout this ride as I did have moments where I was thinking warm place to sit and read a book would be nice to have today!

I kept on riding and hitting some scenic areas I'm sure of it, however I was looking at fog! The thick fog us Midwesterns read about that sits in the coastal bays for days. I couldn't see more than 15 feet in front of me! Combine the small shoulder with all this thick fog and no lights, I was getting pretty concerned for my safety at this point. At moments on rides I will not think about this at all however, when conditions like this come about I begin to get really concerned leaving the mind think of all the negative things that happen. I know that living in the moment during these times can be tough as I am human and not superhuman so I feel the ever present danger. I stopped a couple times on this stretch to try and see some sights however nada, nothing in the fog!

Then I got my updraft, I stopped at this cove to really just go to the bathroom and it hit me. A whale comes up from the depths of the cove to brighten my day, not noce but two short breaths to dive again, never to be scene again through my eyes. Happened to be a family there taking photos of the steep cliffs along the Oregon Coast line, they got to share this moment with me that I needed so much today. Days like today remind me of all those days in the corporate world where you have meeting after meeting. The feeling of not wanting to be there however you have no choice but to continue to push on to the next stop. Life throws many challenges at ya and its moments like these that really help out! Nothing like seeing a whale in the wild to get me out of my negative thoughts for the day! (I saw this whale right outside of Depoe Bay, and according to another gentlemen I saw later in the day, there is a pod of about 60 whales that hang out in these coves during the summer months.)

Pushing on out of Depoe Bay area I get back on the 101 and continue to ride, around a bend and into the rain now. Luckily I stopped and donned my rain jacket! 8 miles to Newport and I'm there early so I plan on just hanging out at a coffee shop and warming up as it has been one interesting day of driving! I could see the beach on this eight mile stretch however all I keep thinking about is getting into town, so many beautiful views missed along this 70 mile stretch of coastal highway, but what can you do when its raining out. It's funny how one reacts to the environment when living outside versus having a warm place to call home. Enter the city of Newport and head straight to the local coffee shop, change and down some warm apple cider. Since I don't drink coffee I stick to other warm drinks that I usually partake in during the holiday and winter months!

It took a little while to hit a comfortable temperature internally before getting to my pc to start writing. Again I was behind on writing as so many people to chat with at the camp sites, I really am missing those solitary moments in the plains and mountains states when I was alone. Funny how you can be surruonded by so many people then you want to be alone, then other times when your alone and you want to have some company! We are creatures of accompaning each other and I need that, however finding the balance is the key...

After hanging out at the shop for a long time I decide its time to head to the campsite, the state parks out here are all full due to the nature of season, however always a room for a cyclist! I roll into the site and there is my German friend Tobias that I have scene a couple of days before, it was great to see him, he just rolled into town and was ready for a nice cold brew! Gotta love those Germans! What I like about foreigners is they don't take drinking to the extreme as most Americans, don't get me wrong I know many that over indulge however since they drink at an early age its not a high priority to get completely intoxicated like a ton of people I know. It's more a social thing and that I can respect versus the other side of the spectrum. Again everything is great in moderation...

To dinner time, noodles with a little salt for added flavor and tonight some added Tuna (Thanks to Julie) for a treat. I have two pouches left of Tuna and its so nice to have some meat on the trip. I find it so difficult to get enought protein for recovery on this trip. Over the course of the last couple of days riding I have been focusing on preserving my nutrition products for my larger days which isn't fun to be honest, I have hit many walls of low blood suger throughout the rides. To sleep I head to get up tomorrow and hopefully get to Florence to have camp set up before 1 and do some chores. Gotta love chores on the road...