November 9: Not the End of the Road Afterall

Today’s ride might have taken me to Roads End State Recreation Area on the Oregon Coast, but that wasn’t the end of the road for me. Opting to take the long way home, I headed north along highway 101 to Tillamook and then east through the Tillamook State Forest back home.

Heading west in the fog this morning on highway 22 and then 18, I passed farmlands, orchards, and vineyards bursting with fall colors. Neatly lined rows of nut trees and grape vines sported leaves in brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Weather-beaten barns in brown, red, and grey settled into the hillsides, with dust-covered thin glass windows and cracked boards and splintered beams testifying to their longevity.

Arriving in Lincoln City, I gassed up before heading down NW Logan Road to the state park. This spot on the coast has always seemed somewhat magical to me, providing an unobstructed view of the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean in the distance and a bubbling brook winding its way over round, grey, brown, and black rocks to the sea in the foreground.

The large sandy beach is nestled between dark rocky cliffs to the north and sand dunes to the south, creating what seems like a private viewing area of the white-tipped waves crashing onto the shore and then receding back to the salty depths of the sea. Seagulls swooped and swirled above me as I walked along the water’s edge, felt the wind in my face, and listened to the roar of the water.

Deciding I wasn’t ready for the day to end, I elected to head north along highway 101 for an hour before heading east towards home, giving me more time to enjoy the fresh salty air, twist and curve through thick evergreen trees, pass through small country villages, and take in the sights of livestock grazing at a variety of dairy farms.

Arriving in Tillamook, I headed east on highway 6 through the Tillamook State Forest, following the meandering waters of the Wilson River as I made my way towards home. Bright foliage on the deciduous trees along the riverbank colorfully framed the blue-grey river waters to my left. Filled with joy at all the beauty around me, I sang praise songs, prayed for loved ones, and focused on thoughts of gratitude. What a restorative day on the bike.