Pacific Coast: Day 4, Elk Creek Camp to Home! 40 miles, by Emily

July 14

Today we ride home.    We left home on our bikes, and arrive home on our bikes. How cool is that!

Quick breakfast (the hot cereal, though good, is getting old by day 4) and loaded up to leave, early.
 Ahead is what appears to be a challenging climb on the map.  But once we started, it wasn't that bad. Maybe we're getting stronger.  Once we crested the mountain, we screamed downhill, FAST.     Amazing how what took so long to go up, melts away so quickly.  The descents were much steeper on this side of the mountain, and we both talked about how glad we were to have done the route we did which took us up the other side instead.

Traffic was heavy and only grew heavier the longer we road.  At the bottom, we had miles of rollers to get to Banks, OR.  On the way we stopped at a pond to rest a bit from the heavy traffic and the shoulder that disappeared on curves and bridges.  We watched dragonflies, hundreds of them of different shapes and colors.  The pond was covered with lily pads.

In Banks, we stopped at a shopping area with a coffee wagon near shade and trees.  The bagels from Tillamook came out, with peanut butter, the jam, and cheese.    Delicious.  I got a chai from the coffee wagon, and we stopped at the Subway to fill up ice water in all bottles.

Looking good after 4 days on the road!

Feeling good, too!

Horizontal in the dappled shade feels good.

Looking west, to the coast range we climbed. Can't smell the ocean any more.....

Jay's loaded bike.

Our break tree in Banks.

From Banks to Hillsborough the way led through farm roads and hay fields.  Very pleasant, low traffic, brilliant sun.  We saw an enormous dust devil, a tower of dust rising up into the air like a mini tornado.   A bit further along, we saw a HAY Devil!  Like a dust devil, but made from hay shards. Incredible    In Hillsborough, we got water and Jays coffee treat and then boarded the light rail to Portland.  At first, we were alone on the train, but then people started filling it up and we needed to find a safe place to have our loaded bikes.  

Jay on the empty train.

I was so glad to get off the train and start riding again, even though I was beyond tired.   Jay asked if I wanted to stop and have Indian food on the way home. I said, without hesitation, "No!"   A bit later, Jay asked, "Want to do Yum Bowl?"  Without hesitation I answered, "Yes!"  So we did.   

Yum bowl.