Day 10: My first flat + rough hills
I got my first flat of the trip while rolling out of camp. It had to happen eventually. Seems it wasn’t a puncture tho and just a flat tire.
So between sleeping late and the flat, and not having prepped the route for today due to no internet, it was nearly 9.30 before I began cycling.
The initial cycling was on busy roads, some of the busiest of the trip so far. But the start of the day was without hills and I was making good time… I just started to think “maybe my fitness is starting to improve” when bam, a fucking monster of a hill. And the Oregon coast had plenty more of those hills up its sleeve.
After stopping for lunch of fish and chips in Cannon Beach, the next roadblock was the Arch Cape Tunnel. You cycle to the entrance, press a button that warns drivers that bikes are in the tunnel, and then you jump on your bike and cycle as fast as you can through it. It is probably only 500 meters or so but the noise of vehicles reverberating around the tunnel makes it seem like there is constantly a big semi truck right behind you.
Getting through this unscathed leads to the 2 biggest climbs of the day. These were both pretty rough but I could use the excuse of “fantastic views” and “I need to stop to take pictures” to catch my breath. But the view was legit class tho.
On the 2nd last climb, I ran out of water. I thought I had packed too much but those climbs had me sweating. This led me to reflect on the value vs the worth of water. It might be free or a dollar a bottle but would have paid 20x that on that last climb.
Am now checked into Manzanita state park. Matt, Cris and Tyler from the last camp ground is here as well as a guy from the USA called Kerry. I also expect more to arrive. Will make some food and catch up with them. Speaking of food I am treating myself to a real fresh onion tonight. So that is exciting.
Good night!
