May 31, Sunday, We’re Off!

Photo: Tom and I have just dipped our rear tires into the Pacific at Ft. Stevens State Park on the Oregon Coast, ready for a similar front tire dipping in the Atlantic in 11 weeks or so

Mike, Karen, Tom and I comfortably overnighted in Gary and Peggy’s recreational vehicle. The next morning, while Mike and Karen headed back to Seattle, Gary and Mark took Tom, Jeff and I, and our bikes, in Gary’s motor home, to Ft. Stevens, Oregon where we met Tim, Kate and Girls and then dipped our rear wheels into the Pacific Ocean, anticipating a similar ceremony in the Atlantic Ocean near Yorktown, VA in eleven weeks or so.

We started heading east from the park, with tail winds pushing us forward, but to our dismay, we’d soon discover that tail winds are a rare occurrence for eastward bike riders! We all stopped for lunch at the Lumberjack Rest. after 20 miles or so, and then we stopped again at mile 40 where Kate, and girls picked up Tim. Jeff, Tom and I continued for a total of 61.5 miles where Gary had to rescue us because Paul’s old legs were cramping up so badly that I could hardly walk. I suppose I spent too much time sitting on the train, partying the night before, and oh yea, I didn’t bike at all for the two weeks Linda and I spent visiting Pam in Korea just before this trip started. Stand by for more lame excuses later, but at least the cramps never returned after day one.

Tom, Jeff, and I re-boarded the Intruder motor home, where I bothered them with periodic screams of pain from the cramps. We headed back to Gary and Peggy’s house to rest our legs (especially mine).