Day 2 – Toledo, Wa to Cathlamet, WA (Rain Day)

41.4 bike miles – 15 car miles

Alex: After a good rest in good lodging, we started the day in good spirits.  The rain had let up and the beautiful ride in the country was just what we needed.  Breakfast included wild blackberries growing alongside the road.

We stopped for snacky lunch at Shell station in Castle Rock.  While having a conversation with a couple of former truckers/hunters, Steve managed to touch off a mini brawl between them about the location of Westport.  We sheepishly rode away while they were still going at it.

Rescued!

50lbs+ ?

Brawl?

One word best describes the afternoon ride…wet.  We spend the next several hours treacherously straining up and sliding down hills in the rain.  With 20 miles to go we found ourselves on busy stretch of highway, which would have been questionable had visibility been normal.  After 5 miles and several near misses, we decided this is not how or when we wanted to die.  We pulled off to the side and managed to flag a ride the
last 15 miles to Cathlamet.

Today reality caught up with the notion of peacefully camping our way down the coast.  The camping gear was just adding too much weight, and with the “hills” of Oregon looming, we needed a change in philosophy. 

Steve: My cousin John lives in Portland, and we had hoped to get together during the bike trip at some point.  Tonight was his best opportunity, and I felt bad that we had not covered the distance we’d planned, making his drive longer. But John didn’t seem to mind and drove out to meet us in the only restaurant in Cathlamet.  We had a good visit, and we sent him home with a nice parting gift, a slightly used bike trailer filled with camping equipment; and two garbage bags full of Alex’s stuff.  We’re anticipating a good day tomorrow with our lighter loads.