Keep The Ocean On Your Right

Day 14: Tillamook to Neskowin

Today's Distance: 54 miles (including backtracking mileage)

Total Distance: 614 miles

I started off the day in good spirits.  I knew it was supposed to rain today and I was ready for it.  When I got going it was only cloudy and sprinkling a little. I hoped it would stay that way, but I knew it wouldn't.  On this part of the Oregon Coast Bike Route you leave the 101 and take The Three Capes scenic route.  Bad day to take a scenic route. And as I would find out later, "Cape" is just a 4-letter word for big ass hill next to the water!  This route has 3 of them apparently.  It seemed like as soon as I got on this route, it started raining harder and the farther I went the harder it got.  Eventually I started my first climb of the day. I thought at the time that I was climbing up the first cape, Cape Lookout.  When I finished the hill a lot quicker than I anticipated, I was surprised, but I never checked my map.  I  went downhill on a long, curvy road and finally when I got to the bottom I realized that I was going the wrong way by a lot.  Some couple pulled-over to make sure I knew where I was headed and I told them I need to be going south.  They confirmed I was definitely going the wrong way and then gave me the advice to keep the ocean on my right and I should be good. I obviously know that, but you have to understand my confusion because I rode so long with the Puget Sound on my left, it wasn't uncommon for me.

Somehow I missed the turn to Cape Lookout and went miles out of my way downhill.  Which meant I had to backtrack uphill.  I defiantly walked back up the hill because I would not give that hill the satisfaction of making me climb it twice on my bike.  It was so disheartening knowing that I just made an already hard day, even more difficult.  The 3 Capes route was now the 4 Capes for me, but I had no other choice but to press on.  On my way to Cape Lookout, I had to battle the wind for a few miles without the protection of the trees.  It was now pouring, with no signs of letting up and windy as I've ever ridden in.  When I got to the Cape Lookout campground at the bottom of the hill, I decided to see if there was an office or something so I could try and dry off a little.  The best I could find was a roof over some picnic tables.  I wrung out my gloves and socks as I watched the storm grow worse. The waves looked like a hurricane was about to hit.  I was so brought down by all this that I actually considered for a moment calling a taxi or taking a bus south if I could.  I doubt those were even options at this point, but either way I decided to keep fighting and head up this cape.  

The weather actually felt like it cleared up when heading up Cape Lookout because it's surrounded by dense forest and it's a natural barrier from the wind and rain.  The weather didn't change the fact that this is a long, steep hill though!  As soon as I hit the summit the weather picked back up. I started heading down the hill and I noticed a girl on the other side of the road crossing over to my side.  Her name was Willow and she was trying to head south but I had to be the bearer of bad news and let her know she was going the opposite way.  She missed a turn like I did and paid for it by having to climb a hill for an hour and then turn around right when she hit the top.  After passing on the "keep the ocean on your right" advice, we decided to ride together as far south as we could get.  Willow is from Toronto and biking from Astoria to San Francisco on her own.  Super impressive and I notice right away that she rides on flat ground much faster than me. I might have her a little on climbs but she is obviously the better cyclist.  We rode up to Pacific City and stopped to grab something to eat.  A couple from Washington came up to me while I was eating and let me know they saw me going up the cape earlier.  They seemed really impressed and were the encouragement I needed at the right time.

I started thinking more positive and coincidentally it cleared up for the last 10 miles we rode.  We got to Neskowin just before dark and we both decided we didn't want to camp in the rain tonight so we split a motel room.  No funny business, just being fiscally responsible.  Today really tested me but I'm glad I pushed through and had a somewhat productive day. I only technically did 1 of the 3 capes but it just wasn't possible given today's conditions.  I'll get to the other 2 tomorrow...even though the forecast looks even worse than today. 

What Did I Learn Today?

•You're gonna mess up some times and it's going to suck some times.  But you can't give in to that  "all is lost" feeling, all you can do is correct your mistakes and keep going