[ORRando] Three Capes Pre-Ride Report

[John Henry Maurice]

The morning of April 12 began with clear skies, cold temperatures and no
water bottles.  It seems that I forgot them in the refrigerator at home.
 Luckily, Safeway was open and I purchase two bottles of water that would
fit on my bike.  As such, I was a bit late leaving the Grand Lodge in
McMinnville, but it was before 7:00 am.

Riding in the cold, morning air was awaking.  I longed for the sun to rise
up above the low clouds in the east so that I could feel it's warming rays.
 Being early in the morning, traffic was very light and soon I was climbing
up Timber Road (note: this has been deleted this year due to a re-route).

Back on Hwy 6 heading toward Tillimook, there was the usual Sand Traffic.
 In addition, the gravel laid down due to the snow this year still covers
most of the highway shoulder adding a minor annoyance.  We need another
good, hard rain to wash the gravel off of the shoulder.

Once I exited river valley and got into the pasture land of Tillamook
County, I found that Hwy 6 into Tillamook no longer under construction -
nice, wide and smooth shoulders.  However, the west wind tough.

I bought 'real' water bottles from True Value in Tillamook - nice people.
 I did the usual re-supply at Safeway and then continue to fight the wind
out Bayocean Rd.

Shopping at the info control, I noted the correct response on my card and
then began the Cape Mears Road climb.  The pavement was yucky until I
reached the road closure.  I walk through the short portion of gravel and
continued on to find additional pavement cracking that I do not remember
from last year.  Also, I found a company laying conduit along side of the
road.  There machinery has added lot's of mud and other debris on the road
so I had to carefully pick my way.

At the far end of the road closure, they have the road blocked off well.
 But you can walk around on the west side as it looks like someone has
moved the barrier to the side.  Both descents (Cape Mears and Cape Lookout)
on the coast have potholes and rough sections.  Please pay  attention!

Speaking of Cape Lookout, I want you to know that I got passed on the climb
by a runner.  He dropped me like a stone.  <sigh>  I hope he was training
for Badwater.

I ate a sandwich in Pacific City where I learned that the Little Nestucca
Road was closed.  The nice ladies in the cafe could not tell me how closed
the road was, only that lead paint abatement was occurring.  I decided to
see just how closed the road was as that is the purpose of the pre-ride.
  Well, after climbing up five miles I came to the bridge that was closed.
 I searched but I could not find a way past the bridge.  It was completely
wrapped and boarded.  I would have needed a bowie knife or sawzall to break
through.    So, my only option was to head back to Hwy 101 and take it to
Hwy 22 at Hebo.

The five miles of Hwy 101 that I rode was quite (it is not vacation season
yet) so the narrow shoulder did not bother me.  Please note that the
re-route has riders on only the last two miles of Hwy 101.

Hwy 22 was very nice.  I was afraid I would see a lot of sand detour
traffic, but it was quiet for the most part.  Soon, I was back on the route
heading toward Grand Ronde.

I found that some road work on Hwy 22, repairing some of the grooved
pavement - but there are still potholes to be aware of.  Must have been a
hard winter on some of the roads.

Now, the west wind really pushed me along all of the way from the coast
until sunset.  I was very lucky to have it.  I passed through Grand Ronde
(stopping at the Casino Gas Station), Willamina, Sheridan without incident.
 I was working hard so I could 'Light up" in Sheridan and I was successful.


The rest of the ride as without incident; quiet nighttime riding on quiet
roads.  I arrived back in Forest Grove at 11:30 pm with 205 miles.

I hope the official ride has as nice as weather as I did.  This year makes
up for last year when I rode through a very hard rainstorm heading toward
Tillamook.


-- 
John Henry Maurice
www.onyourleft.net
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