Day 8: Florence,OR to Port Orford,OR
Miles on the Road: 100
Weather: mid 50's....this is getting offly redundant. But today is was actually clear skies and SUNNY! Giddy Up!
Wind: Fairly decent TAILWIND the entire way!
# of times I got whacked in the face by some sort of insect: 3
# of time that it hurt: 1
The two worst words on the entire planet for a cyclist: "OVERSIZED LOAD" referring to the oversized trucks that
occasionally drive by us on 101. Basically, when you see the smaller pick-up truck with the flashing lights that say these two words, your behavior is similar to that of an ant just prior to a rainstorm. First you panic, then you ask yourself how this can be happening. Then, you try to get to the edge of that road shoulder asap, if not completely off the road. You then hope and pray you don't get side-checked into the bushes or rocks by whatever oversized item is on that truck. Today, we avoided a bulldozer.
Summary of Day 8........
Great ride today, great ride. If it's possible to ride 100 miles on a bike and it be "easy," than today was that day.
We had a great tailwind, superb temperatures, and the terrain was on our side as well. We did have two substantial climbs today, but after that we really had some nice rolling hills.
What made the ride today, however, without question, was our encounter with "Glenn," the man with dressed in the orange vest riding the three wheeled bicycle. (see pic above) Before I say anything else, let me just go ahead and say this: I hope that when I'm 80 years old that I'm like Glenn. It's true to say that he probably "isn't all there," but what made Glenn special is that he had a love for life, and a love for the road. Everyday he rides his three-wheeled bike down highway 101. And here's the best part, he waves to EVERY SINGLE CAR THAT PASSES.....on both sides of the road. No joke. We saw him do this. He's got a mirror so he can see the cars that are behind him. The guy is enthusiastic. He said that once he road too far down highway 101 and someone from the senior center got mad at him. How cool is that!
Ok, so that adventure of this trip is that sometimes we stay in 1400 sq ft captain's suites for free, and other times we pay big $$$ just for tiny pad with a bed and a futon to sleep on. Tonight was the latter. (see pic above)
Too say that our accommodations this evening are "cozy" might be somewhat of an understatement. But hey, you gotta love the town of Port Orford (pop. 1,190)
I'll sign off tonight with a poem that was found in the bathroom of a shell gas station here on the coast of Oregon.
I guess it's ok for me to post this because my family has always been into "poddy" humor. Well, at least my Dad and I have.
My three older sisters have always tolerated it I suppose.
Title: "A Toilet Poem"
You were driving down the road,
and you felt you had a load,
You saw our big Shell sign,
And you pulled in just in time,
We gave you what you need,
Now we ask this tip you heed;
Like any other pot,
This one can't hold a lot.
So as you're fillin' up the can
Reach back with your right hand,
And flush while you're still goin
To get the mess a-flowin'
You'll see when you're all done,
Two flushes are better than one.
SHOUT OUTS.......
* JoLynn Sirak......we are so so grateful for your continued assistance and persistence with our accommodations.
You Rock! Thank you.
3 Comments:
This comment has been removed by the author.
Make sure you check yesterday's post for a belated beard comment. Tom, I like that you're growing your beard out...It makes you look like Popeye's nemesis, Bluto.
Slappy
OVERSIZED LOAD... isn't that what they called your girlfriend in high school?
Post a Comment
<< Home