March 13 - Horn Public House and Brewery in Depot Bay and the extra long way home

Good food, good friends, and good riding! It doesn’t get any better. Met up with several friends at Latus to take the long way to the coast. Mike Webb led us west on highway 22 then south on 223 to the Ritner Creek Covered Bridge for a great photo opp. From there we went to Philomath to meet up with several more riders from the Twisted Misfits including Gene Lord, Chris Johnson, and Tony Clawson. Gene led fourteen of us through lots of great twists and turns on highway 34 through Alsea to Waldport and up highway 101 to Depot Bay.

We dined at the Public House and Brewery, perched on a small cliff in Depot Bay. Our second floor tables gave us fantastic views of both the bay (the smallest in the world) as well as the Pacific Ocean. I had not eaten there since visiting in August of 2017 when the town was one of the first in the US to see the total solar eclipse. The clam chowder is home-made, creamy, flavorful, and contains just the right amount of spice, chunky potatoes, and fresh clams. The halibut fish and chips was also homemade, with tender, flaky, and moist fish nestled in a lightly breaded and perfectly deep-fried crust.

After eating, Chris Johnson led us north on highway 101 then east on 229 through TONS of amazing curves to the Siletz Road House in Siletz. I had so much fun I decided to turn around and do the ride in reverse, going along with Grant Myers and Leo Guzman Fernandez back to the coast again. The three of us then headed north on 101 through Lincoln City and then east on highway 18 towards home. I feel so incredibly blessed to have riding friends that enjoy the curves and taking the long way home as much as I do. Leo and Grant asked me to lead the way going back. I was determined not to, but Leo was more determined than me! I definitely have room for improvement (next time I will try to find a place to pull over that doesn’t have supersized potholes) but enjoyed getting the practice. It was dark by the time our trip ended, but thanks to Leo’s great advice my super bright fog lights lit up the road like a semi.