[ETC-Discussion] OR coast

[Dave Van Horn]

Sorry about the blank posting, I meant to post an update during our ride but 
Al Gore's invention ate the content.

Kelly and I biked the OR coast last week on our singles. We started in 
Astoria on Sunday and finished on Thursday in Crescent City, CA, the closest 
place to the OR/CA border where you can get a one-way rental car back north. 
The weather was fantastic and the views spectacular.  We followed the ODOT 
bike map, available at visitor's centers and online at 
http://tinyurl.com/yzhav2h

Overall, the route is not nearly as bad as some have suggested. Although it 
is mostly on the shoulder of Hwy 101, the shoulder is generally pretty good. 
In 400 miles, there were only a few spots that were uncomfortable, on a few 
shoulderless bridges and in a few towns like Lincoln City, Newport and 
Florence. With populations of 7,000 to 9,000, these are "big cities" by the 
standards of the Oregon Coast, with "big city" traffic.  But the bridges do 
have walkable sidewalks and the ODOT map offers alternative routings through 
these towns, alternatives that have less traffic but steeper hills than the 
main road.

The ODOT map says the route involves 16,000 feet of climbing.  On Hwy 101 
the climbs are generally long and steady but when the route deviates from 
101 there are some much steeper grades. You'll want to bring your climbing 
gears, especially with touring loads.

Dave VH