Portland to San Francisco Bike Trip - Day 5

Day 5 Stats - August 23, 2006

• Reedsport to Bandon
• 54.12 miles, 2280 ft. elevation gain, 290.53 miles total (11,200 elev)
• Ride time 4h 03m, trip time 5h 21m, start time 08:54am
• Average speed 13.3 mph, max 30.9
• Cities visited: Reedsport, Winchester Bay, Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston, Bandon
• Total flats to date: Aimee:1, Pam:0, Preston:1

Woke up to overcast skies after a good night's sleep. Ate delicious breakfast (pecan French toast and sausage) at the Rosewood B&B and then on the road just before 9am.

Ride today seemed very short, probably because we were whipping through the miles aided by a bit of a tailwind. Bike route took a 20 mile detour from Hwy 101, very hilly but fairly low traffic and some lovely views (marred somewhat by large clearcut areas). Sun came out just before noon and we got quite hot working the hills.

Ate lunch at 1:30 pm at a non-descript pull-out along the clearcuts. We sat cross-legged on the dirt and gravel next to a blackberry bush, but we didn't care. It felt good to sit down and bask in the sun.

45 minutes later, we'd made it to Bandon! The LaKris Inn ($71/night) is definitely a step up from the classic roadside motel. In addition to nicely tended gardens and benches outside, each room has a unique theme (our favorite was the safari theme).

Showered. Napped. Cruised the Internet. Watched Star Trek: Next Generation. Explored Bandon Dunes, the world-class golf course a few miles north on Highway 101. Felt good to be done early and to have some free time to relax.

Around 5:30pm, we explored Bandon's Old Town. Quite a nice place. The waterfront walkway has an enclosed sitting and eating area, with beautiful log carved benches and a giant table. We were all truly impressed with the waterfront. Bandon clearly is more affluent than many other coastal towns.

Dinner at Thai Talay. Quite a surprise finding a Thai restaurant at a small coastal town, but the food was outstanding. Had lots of leftovers. After dinner, watched the sunset a few minutes down the road. Enjoyed the evening light on the nearby rock formations and on the driftwood on the beach.

Very cold at the beach. Should have packed more warm clothes!