newport,or

I am in Newport, Oregon right now. I stopped at a really cool bike shop that has free laundry, showers, and a lounge with couches and Tv. The place is called Bike Newport. What a set up! I hear there's a swell coming in tonight so hopefully there will be more wave action! Rode out to a lighthouse today and will be headed south again once my laundry dries!

update

Hey everyone, 4 days in and I'm realizing that blogging along the way is much harder than anticipated, but sorry for the lag in communication. I'm in Depoe bay right now, about 7 miles north of Newport. I've Ridden about135 miles so far!ive met some great people, weather has been great, surf unfortunately is a bit too small to surf at every spot, but am having a great time! Because of difficulties in blogging, feel free to shoot me an email at surf95521@gmail.com if you'd like more frequent updates.

Leaving soon

Well, tomorrow I drive down to Vancouver with my room mate Eric. On Saturday morning, I will be teaching him how to surf, something I had promised all year. When finished, Eric will drive me to Astoria, my starting point and I will begin the journey, likely biking down to Seaside, OR. Before leaving however, I packed and repacked all my gear to make sure it fits and to make sure everything I am taking is essential. Here it all is: Gear: Surfing Gear- Board, straps x2, wetsuit, sweet colored wax, wax comb, leash, rash guard, towel Camping- Tent, sleeping bag, sleep pad (yoga mat) Jet boil stove, pots and pan, silverware, spices, cleaning materials, extra fuel, matches/lighter, thermals Clothing- Waterproof pants, wind breaker, thermal pants, board shorts, 2 longsleeve thermals, 2 tshirts, 2 boxers, 1 pair jeans, extra bike short, longsleeve bike jersey, extra bike jersey, 2 extra pairs of socks, microfiber towel. Initial food- Clif bars, Power bars, beef jerky, energy jelly beans, Cereal bars, Oatmeal, assorted nuts, Nuun electrolyte drink mix, and gum Extra- First Aid Kit, Bike repair stuff, tools, tire pump, CO2 cartridges, extra tubes, Ulock, cables and locks, wallet necklace, toiletries, addresses, and map

Updated journey, with notes

Astoria- Cannon Beach (possibly Seaside) (~25 miles)* (Surf seaside, Cannon Beach) Camping?

(Possibly Seaside) Cannon Beach-Nehalam Bay (~21 miles) (Nehalem Bay State park, hiker/biker sites) Surf Oswald State Park

Nehalam Bay-Tillamook/Cape Lookout (~32 miles) (Cape Lookout, hiker/biker sites)

Tillamook-Devils Lake State Park (~37 miles)* (Surf Cape Kiwanda) (Devils lake SP hiker/biker)

(Devils Lake)Lincoln City-Beverly Beach State Park (~20 miles)* Beverly Beach SP hiker/biker) Surf Beverly Beach

Beverly Beach SP- South Beach State Park (Newport) (~11 miles)* Hiker/Biker, Surf Beverly/South Beach

Newport-Beachside State Park (Waldport)  (~17miles)* Hiker/biker, Surf Waldport

Beachside state park-Florence (~30 miles),  Hotel, couch surf, campground

Florence-Umpqua bay lighthouse SP (~28 miles)* Hiker/biker, Surf here

Umpqua Bay SP-Coos Bay Sunset Bay SP (~29 miles) hiker/biker, surf here

Coos Bay-Cape Blanco SP (~50 miles)* Surf Cape Blanco, Hiker/biker

Cape Blanco-Humbug SP (~13 miles)* Surf Port Orford, hiker/biker

Humbug SP-Gold Beach (~23 miles)* Surf Gold Beach, hotel, couch surf, campground

Gold Beach- Harris Beach State Park (~27 miles)* Surf Harris Beach, Hiker/biker

Harris Beach State Park-Crescent City (~28 miles)

new design, new board

I finally worked out the new design of the surfboard rack. It included changing some angles and lowering it. What I found out was that this lower the top heaviness allowing me to have better control. I bought this new board from Craigslist, its pretty banged up, but it was the size and general shape I wanted, for a really good price!

Lake surfing?

So what do you do when the winds are howling from the south, it's pouring down rain, and your stuck in Seattle area???  Well, you go surfing in a lake of course!!!  From the 520 bridge to Juanita Beach park, there is enough of a fetch to create a surfable (choppy and inconsistent-yes) wind wave at the beach.  Rides are short, but water is warm, and it offers a useful training when biking is not a feasible option. Got a little face time, some cross stepping action, and a few wipeouts! Pictures only, however I did get some video last time I attempted this! 

Route plans as of now

Astoria- Cannon Beach (~25 miles)*

Cannon Beach-Tillamook (~40 miles)

Tillamook-Neskowin (~31 miles)*

Nesokwin-Lincoln City (~15 miles)*

Lincoln City- Newport (~23 miles)*

Newport-Florence (~50 miles)*

Florence-Reedsport (~22 miles)

Reedsport-Coos bay (~27 miles)*

Coos Bay-Bandon (~25 miles)

Bandon-Port Orford (~27 miles)*

Port Orford-Gold Beach (~28 miles)*

Gold Beach-Brookings (~28 miles)*

Brookings-Crescent City (~28 miles)*

*Surfing points