Mark. I love your documentary!!! I too am an avid cyclist and live just south of Eugene. I too hate the coastal traffic from Florence. I am looking at using a paved route from Reedsport up smith river and over through Loraine to Creswell or Cottage Grove. There are a lot of paved logging roads to avoid traffic but you pay a price with elevation gains. Veneta is pronounced with a long e. Just FYI. Would have loved to have met you and put you up at my place.
I met these intrepid travelers at their REI stop in Eugene, OR. They, their bikes, and their gear were shiny, spotless, and ship-shape. All systems go, and primed for adventure! I'm about Mark's vintage and recently retired-- he's setting a high bar for the rest of us ;-) Super nice guys, they are "tour magic" magnets-- invest in a couple more journals, Mark!
Love to hear the updates! I kept a journal on my Europe trip and I love looking back to see the little details. Continuing to send good, safe travel vibes :)
What glorious vistas! So glad to hear you all made it up the mountain and eventually got some rest. Do wish you had better connectivity, but maybe that’ll be possible later. Still, the Wild West is the most sparsely settled part of the USA, which means few towers.
Congratulations on coping with the first week. Don't feel bad about the bus trip. Back when I did fully loaded touring the goal of cycling EFI (Every F****** Inch) was never accomplished. By Virginia you'll have no regrets.
Just keep focused and rest when needed. It will get better. I think I had mentioned perhaps a truck ride through the tunnel on an earlier posting of yours. Good choice.
Close. MAYBE 70 versus 80 pounds, but it is hard to tell as we have made a lot of changes in the first month, and of course it depends on how recently we have resupplied with food and water.
