March 20 - A Great start to Spring Break!

What a perfect way to start Spring Break! I found out late last night that I was free to ride today and decided to make the most of it by heading to the ocean for some much-needed wind therapy. I love the views at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City and had a free gift card for a meal there as well. So, I plotted a loop to the coast and back taking highway 18 west and then highway 6 east.

Grant Myers and I headed south on Interstate 5 to the Ehlen road exit and then west to highway 18 where we passed numerous farmhouses, fields, and orchards. I loved breathing in the fresh country air and enjoying the feel of my new bike as I swooped up and down gently rolling hills. Of course, I did have to test my clutch to make sure the bike was able to shift and accelerate properly. I am happy to say that everything now appears to be in working order.

I think my favorite part of the route west was when we hit highway 22 around Gran Ronde. This road, also aptly called Three Rivers Highway, became much more curvaceous as it hugged a variety of rivers nestled in moss covered trees. Near Dolph we forked left on the Little Nestucca River Road and followed that body of water all the way to the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge into Pacific City.

In Pacific City we stopped to admire the views of the Pacific Ocean, Haystack Rock, and tree-topped rugged cliffs before heading north on Sand lake Road through the Sand Lake Recreational Area. From there we took highway 101 to Tillamook and then highway 6 east through the Tillamook National Forest. Although we did get rained on periodically going over the mountain passes both directions, the majority of the ride was clear.  What a refreshing and rejuvenating day!