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| Just another Oregon Beach Sunset! |
Beginning of
August
Not able to wait out the fires blanketing the area in smoke
I decided to cut my losses and carry on westward through Oregon. Exiting Crater
Lake Park I cruised by Diamond Lake where I considered going for a mountain
bike ride. However, having recently quit smoking I didn't wish to start again
by inhaling all that wild fire smoke. So I drove on.....
I have to admit, that after being in the high and dry
altitudes for some time, I was yearning again for a little of that somewhat
damp and salty air I'm more accustomed to. Not to mention the more luxurious
oxygen levels I was looking forward to as I started slowly descending from the
high altitudes of the great plains towards the pacific coast and sea level.
There haven't been many periods of time in my life when I haven't been within
"smell shot" of an ocean and after battling dry sinuses and crusty
cake like boogies I was ready for some coastal exploration, especially in a
scenic environment such as Oregon.
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| Oregon Coast Lamp |
For you "East Coast Folk" I-5 is the equivalent to
I-95. For all you "non-coastal folk", both aforementioned interstates
run the length of their respective coasts from north to south. Or south to
north for those of you who are dyslexic. So when you start to see signs for I-5
you know you've made it back to the west coast. Additionally, the "Pacific
Coast Highway" or "101" snugly hugs the coast and parallels the
I-5. So when you hit the "101" you "Really Know" you are
back on the west coast. Or at least you had better "recognize!",
because if you don't you'll quickly find yourself swimming in the Pacific Ocean.
That is if you survive your plunge into the ocean!
All kidding aside, driving the "101" is one of
those routes you really should try to complete in this lifetime if you have the
opportunity. There are many scenic mountain routes which are arguably as
pleasant and impressive, but you'll be
hard pressed to find a more impressive coastal route on this planet. I'll even go
out on a limb and say any other planet, at least any you'll have access to anytime soon! If you do decide to take the
drive allow me to offer a little advice: try not to be the one driving. It's
difficult to take in and appreciate all the scenery while driving and even more
difficult to explain why you drove off the cliff while taking it all in!
My first night on the pacific northwest coast hit me with a
nostalgic wave of deja-vu. The smell of the forest, the dampness of the air,
the eerie feeling of wild eyes in the distance gazing upon me, all gave me the
sense that I was back in Dharamsala, India during the monsoon season. It was a
pleasant feeling, all the more so since there are fewer venomous snakes and
temperamental monkeys here on this continent!
Bigger isn't always better and in this case it was
completely coincidental that I made my way to Siltcoos Lake which at 3,500
acres happens to be the largest freshwater lake on the Oregon Coast. There I
did a Mountain Bike ride which comprised of a 1.5 mile out and back trail along
with a 2.5 mile loop which was so fun that I did it twice. Note to riders: If
it's damp, I suggest not trying to corner the first bridge and recommend walking
it instead! Just like I did, right after I picked myself up after having my
wheels yanked out from under me faster and harder than a horny pubescent school
boy discovering the wonders of his anatomy. Other than that caution it is an
easy and highly enjoyable fast ride through old growth Sitka Spruce, Douglas
Fir, Cedar and Hemlock. Secondary note: enjoy the Hemlock, but don't ingest it!
I spent my second night on the coast near Waldport, Oregon
to be prepared to do the "Burnt Timber" ride the next day, which
according to the mountain biking websites, is mainly a climb, but is worthwhile
since it ends in a great 3 mile descent along Bear Creek. Both google maps and
the forest service maps showed "you can't get there from here!", but
since the bike websites highly recommended it I figured all was good. Well after doing all of the climb I couldn't
locate the trail to descend on. I was only able to find trail #3487 which,
although was also not on google maps, looked like from the GPS that it would
run parallel, if not run into the trail I was hoping to be on. Well, to cut to
the chase, it didn't. In fact, it looked like it hadn't been used by a living
soul in at least ten years! For some reason this didn't faze me. The fact that
it started out as overgrown double track and then got completely overgrown with
tall grass also didn't faze me. That the occasional thorn bush would reach out
and grab and arm or leg..... well... that started to faze me, but I was determined.
Abruptly discovering the slippery branches dastardly hidden in the tall grass
and lying parallel to the trail which is a sure recipe for losing the bike out
from underneath of you really started to faze me, but I ushered on.
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| Following the rafters towards the coast |
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It was at about 1/2 a mile from the main road that I was
trying to get back to that things shut down. Large downed trees blocked the
trail every few feet which after climbing over all of them only led to a dead
end. I was faced with nothing but a thick jungle of dense thorn bushes. The GPS
showed I was only 1/4 mile from the main road, but try as I might, unashamedly
thrashing my bike out in front of me in lieu of a machete and trying three
different directions while only making it about 30 feet in each, I gave up and
backtracked. Later in the van, as dots of blood along my arms and legs oozed
out as evidence of the evil thorn bushes encountered, I realized that it would
have been a really bad idea to try and hike it out through the thorn bushes
even if I could have somehow managed to fight my way through them. Even if I
did wind up making it close to the road, making it down to the road would have
meant sliding down a 40 foot nearly vertical drop. It was that steep all along
the road! Needless to say, I have lost all faith in Trails.com and
Dirtworld.com who suggested this ride! In the future if google maps and the Forest
Service maps (neither of which are very reliable) don't show a viable route, I'm
Not Doing It!!!
So my planned 10 mile ride turned into a 20 mile ride. Other
than the extra calories being burned which I won't miss, the day did provide
some perspectives. Actually three:
Firstly, in a visual sense by looking up at the immense towering Douglas
Firs reaching high into the sky. Secondly, in a historical sense by realizing
how long those and other stately trees have been alive to witness their local history, if only a
narrow view of it. Thirdly, in a survival sense by realizing how damn easy it
is to get yourself lost and helpless even if you can manage to get within a few
feet of where you want to be!
So close, yet so far.....
Oh well, another day older and little wiser.....I hope!
