Today's trek was westward, beside the Willamette River, a journey to the edge of the continent. We began on the bike trails of Corvallis, next to fields where researchers are apparently doing important biology experiments.
While riding a gravel road to a winery serving as a snack spot, I'm greeted by feathered foul with a freer life than their brethren (or sistren, as the case may be) in Corvallis.
Stopping for lunch in the quaint little town of Toledo (no relation to its much-less-adorable namesake in Ohio), the rest of the gang opted for barbecue while Deb and I planted ourselves at the picnic table outside Gracie-Mae's cafe and savored the lunch special: quiche, salad, and a cookie.
At last, we reach our destination: the not-so-bustling international shipping town of Newport. Is it just me, or is there something ironic about the sign's declaration that "this ConnectOregon project is funded by the Oregon Lottery"? I guess it keeps folks from having to worry about the fact that port revenue can be something of a crap shoot.
In town, Deb and I ride down a long spit sticking out into the river. At the end, we find a power plant and a missed opportunity to dig some clams.
Climbing through Yaquina State Park, we get a view of the Yaquina Bay bridge, known by West Coasters as the Newport bridge. The three-quarter-mile span was completed in 1936, and, like the Golden Gate bridge, was a New Deal/WPA project. Also like the Golden Gate, the Yaquina Bay bridge has art deco flourishes and graceful arches. Quite the stunner compared to the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge. Maybe if we had a modern WPA...
As we ride the remaining miles toward the beach, the stiff breeze becomes a howling wind, which we have to fight our way through. It's worth all the sweat and pedal pushing, though, when we see the view from our hotel room.
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