November 11: Beautiful, Bumpy Backroads to the Beach
Bumping and jostling down highway 6 on my way to the beach today, I passed a sign saying “Rough road next 25 miles”. Grinning, I leaned into the curve, thinking that it was just eight years ago when I passed the same spot on the back of a bike and thought I’d never have the skills to ride my own. What a difference the last few years have made.
Having just spent several glorious hours following the coastline a couple days ago, I decided today to spend a little more time inland on my way to the beach, veering off on highway six at North Plains and following the Wilson River into Tillamook.
As the road narrowed and I left traffic behind, I savored the solitude created by the thick strands of mostly naked tree branches arching up over the road, their downed fiery red, brilliant orange, and bright yellow leaves lining both sides of the route.
Breathing in the fresh earthy scent of the wet foliage and moss-covered branches, I took in numerous delightful glimpses of silvery, rippling river waters through the fog enshrouded trees lining the riverbanks while I navigated around cracks and potholes in the pavement.
Turning south short of Tillamook, I proceeded through bucolic farmlands sporting bright red barns set in fields of green. Wispy layers of fog created skirts of white on the rugged hills in the distance, a flock of thousands of birds lifted off into the sky next to me, and the scent of farm animals filled the air.
Making my way along the bright blue waters of Nestucca Bay and past the rolling green hills of Pleasant Valley and Happy Hollow, I turned off onto Logan Road in Lincoln City, rising over a crest to gaze at the breathtaking sight of the vast expanse of bright blue Pacific Ocean in front of me before pulling into Road Ends State Recreation Site on the shoreline.
After strolling along the firm damp sand, admiring the frothy white breaking waves, crossing a rocky creek bed, and wandering through the grassy sand dunes, I headed west on highway 18 through nut and fruit orchards and vineyards. What a great day on the bike!
