Brookings, OR to Tillamook, OR

Okay I am not sure what people are saying when they say there is a heat wave going on out west.  Far from it on the actual coast.  It was freezing today!!  Today started very cold and foggy.  There was very heavy dew on the bikes but at least they got cleaned - LOL.  Towels at the motel - well - they are rather dirty!

We wore our rain gear this morning as the mist was too heavy and we would would have been soaked before too long.  Today it was Gary’s turn to lead the ride and he had planned a number of stops to lighthouses.  It was a long day and we were not able to make all the stops but the stops we did make were well worth it.

First stop was just on the side of the road between Brookings and Gold Beach.  Beautiful views.  It was teasing us by being sunny and we thought it was going to get warm.  It did for enough time for us to ride down the road for about 1/2 hour and get warm and then we took our rain gear off (or some of us did) and then it was nice until just after lunch.  And it got cold again!

Next stop was at our first lighthouse Umpqua River Lighthouse.  We all thought it was very weird to have a lighthouse that was so far inland.  It is still operational today!  

We stopped for lunch at Florence and we had wanted to go to Moe’s but the wait would have been an hour or more.  The downtown was very busy and as it was lunch it was hard to get a spot.  The restaurant next door to Moe’s was the International C-Food Market.  We were very persistent and we were able to get a table within about 10 minutes even though they were not taking names and didn’t seem to be very organized.  LOL.  I guess you could say all of us divided and conquered until we got two tables.  LOL. Food was delivered quick and we had great service.

As there are a lot of bikes that have what they call a shark nose fairing at the front of the bike (for those non-bikers) - the group has been taking some pictures that are in front of sharks.  This painted mural was in the restaurant and we soon gathered around and the selfie-stick came in handy again.  

I have to tell you though Joyce who is married to Ken and rides on the back of the bike has an amazing neck gaiter.  Well this poor child was horrified as we were riding out of the parking lot and she turned to her mom and said “OMG there is a dog on that bike”!  Her mom simply said “Well sometimes they do that!”  Well I started to laugh out loud.  Too funny!  I have posted a picture of her as you really have to look twice when you first catch a glance.  Too cute!  

After lunch we headed to the one other lighthouse Gary wanted to stop to see.  Heceta Lighthouse was on top of the hill and next to it was the Heceta Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast.  The parking lot was down at sea level and everyone but me decided that they wanted to hike up to go see the lighthouse.  I knew it was a long ride today and there was no way I was hiking up another path today.  I took pictures from below and then put my towel down in the grass and had a little shut eye.  I was glad I did and was refreshed for the next very windy leg of the route today.  

There were a number of bridges along the ride today and man oh man it was so windy.  The gusts as we came around corners was enough to really move the bikes around.  The bridges were amazing though and the pillars on some of them were very cool.  

The views along the coast when the sun was out were spectacular today.  We are staying in Tillamook and Patrick’s sister and husband along with another couple met us here and will be with us for a couple of days.  Tomorrow we are going to the Tillamook Creamery to taste cheese and perhaps have an ice cream.  Looking forward to that.