Golden Gardens 5 pm tursday Sept 29

All hail the autumn sun. The season is changing and I'm entering the final quarter of a terrible year. Perhaps I am getting closer to something better. I wish.

Mt Baker from the Damfino Lakes trail

A spectacular fall day called for a spectacular hike. There is the promise of winter fast approaching in the chilly air and frosty ground, but I feel blessed to know how to find places like this. Tomorrow I return to the classroom to teach. It's sad to say goodbye to summer but time marches on, indifferent to my desires and concerns, so I must live in the moment.

Outside Cafe Besalu in Ballard

I'm not fond of dogs in cafes, but this 3 pack of pugs, 2 oldsters and a young one made me smile on this beautiful Fall morning. I could even forgive the light one for standing on the human's bench, because the old guys were so mellow. I'm running errands on Tongling the Red because I need to do maintenance on my touring bike after its big ride (800+ miles!) on the Pacific Coast.

Home for harvest

During my 19 days away, my vegetable garden kept going. A nice consolation for the sadness of something fine having to end.

Leaving Portlamd on Amtrak

Nice alpenglow on Mt Hood a finale to my Pacific Coast bike trip, closing the circle by returning to my starting point. The riding was exhausting and difficult at times, as was the Hwy 101 road conditions and traffic of logging trucks and enormous RVs. But it was worthwhile, spending long hours by myself, turning the cranks in time with my thoughts. This year has been terribly difficult for me and will continue as such, for how long I cannot know. I am left alone, to pick up the pieces of a life I never expected to change with such sudden cruelty. It is perfectly possible to weep and ride my bike at the same time, without crashing, because I've done so for 18 days. I grieve that these beautiful scenes are mine alone, and no longer can shared. Love is not kind. It is not fair. I must distrust it for the present. Things are so very confusing.

Farewell to Florence and the OR coast

The view from a coffee shop under another of Oregon's 1930s engineering marvels. Then 60 miles to Eugene and the end of my adventure.
It's been worthwhile.

Newport Bridge

The traffic much more bike aware thank goodness, compared to Astoria.

To the lighthouse

Cape Yaquina

Thursday morning start from Beverly Beach

Torrential rain but clear in the morning, so a godsend when riding busy Hwy 101.

Cape Lookout

Rainy camping but nice beach

Tillamook Cheese in Tillamook, OR

The factory is mobbed with visitors. Not sure why, given the growth of artisanal cheese products. Perhaps that's just a Seattle thing.

Handy Creek Bakery Wheeler OR

Lovely use of shadow boxes to display family treasures.

Day of rest in Astoria

In Frites and Scoop, a Belgian fry and ice cream parlor. Yet another Astoria place riffing on handmade Oregon, lots of crafts made from recycled materials and coffee shops with well stocked magazine racks, carrying titles on farmers markets, hand built bicycles and felt crafts. A change of pace for me and it feels pretty good to be actively doing nothing in a waterfront town.

Astoria's Chinatown

Such a sweet image.

Mural in context

Charming mural on the Astoria Riverwalk

Some local art that reminds me of what the Flemish painters of the C17th would choose to do with Astoria's salmon cannery past.

Astoria-Megler Bridge at sunset

A spectacular end to an intense Saturday of riding

Safely in Astoria after riding the bike unfriendly bridge over the Columbia.

In Bay Center Willapa Bay

A lovely sentiment for long biking days.

Ruby Beach

A misty ride in a gorgeous part of the world. Not raining. Cool pleasant riding temperature and a ride full of sweet memories of the Clearwater Hoh. There is salt in the air and plenty of salty tears for me during this whole trip. To the past, thank you; to the future, yes.

Sol Duc Campground

Big trees and small people

Last call for Nielton book lovers

An old Timberland Regional Lubrary bookmobile. Made me smile as I rode by this morning.

Lake Quinault dawn Friday 11 Sept

Bogachiel Peak and the High Divide

From the lovely 18 mile ride along the upper Hoh valley.

Ediz Hook Port Angeles

Some very superior driftwood art to brighten up a dismal day.

Still life with kelp and bike shoes

Chimacum, WA

A very nice upscale grocery store inside, along with great local produce. A gorgeous day, too. Finally.

West Beach Road Whidbey Island

Very scenic riding from camp at Deception SP.

When the sun shines

Chuckanut Drive is lovely. Well if you don't like the weather wait a minute.

Edison Bay View Road Thursday

Why the heck not. The weather is a capital A, as in godawful. So I'll do corn on the cob somewhere down the line.

Chuckanut Drive on Wednesday evening

The Pacific NW is delivering its legendary weather for day one of my adventure cycling trip.