PCH – Day 2

28 Aug 2014 Pacific Coast

After a good night’s sleep at Taryn’s place, Peter and I set out do what we came to do: ride bicycles for lots of miles while eating whatever we could get our hands on. We accomplished both goals today.

To get from Corvallis to the Paciﬁc Coast, we decided on a route that would get us close to Florence. We ended up winding our way along various small highways for a little over 90 miles. With the sun out and the temperatures rising, we took many short breaks in the shade.

If Peter doesn't watch out this Corvallis barn might eat him. — If Peter doesn’t watch out this Corvallis barn might eat him.

The heat also meant that we needed to refill our bottles often. The first place we stopped showed signs for a library, a rather unexpected type of building for its middle-of-nowhere location. An elderly couple chilling on the library’s unassuming stoop greeted us and were kind enough to give us two bottled waters and directions to a shady picnic spot.

After some lunch and a good rest, we lit out. About an hour later, we stopped at a small farm building advertising espressos, frozen yogurt, and fresh produce. If you know me at all you know that I’m a sucker for frozen yogurt. Once I saw those magical two words on the sign, my heart skipped a beat.

While we were enjoying some shade and snacks, a pair of ladies in their 50s pulled up in a car. One of the ladies came over to chat with us and as soon as she got a good look at Peter she acted like me when I see frozen yogurt. First she complimented his teeth, which was weird but kind of funny. Then she noticed the salt stains on his cheek and said she’d like to lick those off him, which was totally awkward and really funny, for me at least. I was tempted to invite her to sit down with us just to hear what else she’d want to lick off Peter.

A large beer and chips & salsa are perfect appetizers for an enormous serving of Mexican food in Reedsport. — A large beer and chips & salsa are perfect appetizers for an enormous serving of Mexican food in Florence.

The rest of the day wasn’t even close to as interesting as that interaction, so I’ll be brief. The last 15 or so miles was tough for Peter, who hasn’t been riding often. Ninety miles with little saddle time is quite a feat. We made it to our campsite at dusk and joined a merry bunch of PCT hikers and other cyclists under a canopy of mossy Douglas firs in the fog.