A Very Windy Place
June on the southern coast's banana belt has been very pleasant, getting very little rain from May until September but the wind can be harsh at times. Cycling the Oregon Coast is better done north to south to avoid the winds from the north.
We stayed alert for the cross winds from the ocean that could knock us over if we weren't paying attention. Our 20 mile bike ride along the Beach Loop circles back inland to Bandon between some huge Oceanspray cranberry bogs with trees blocking the winds.
The small town of Bandon by the Sea doesn't look like it has a lot to offer at first glance. On our arrival, I was starting to wonder if it was going to feel like longer than a month. It didn't take much effort to find plenty to keep us busy and happy.
The small town of Bandon by the Sea doesn't look like it has a lot to offer at first glance. On our arrival, I was starting to wonder if it was going to feel like longer than a month. It didn't take much effort to find plenty to keep us busy and happy.
Port Orford is 26 miles south of Bandon and our previous ride on the Wild Rivers Scenic Bikeway along the Elk River can be seen here. We couldn't pass up the chance for a repeat on the scenic bikeway on our return to the coast. Port Orford never disappoints us each time we visit.
The road along Elk River is as blue as the Caribbean Sea. The ride back downhill to Highway 101 required peddling because of the wind off the ocean blowing up the valley. Did I say it gets windy here?
The blue water in Elk River
PNW Coos Bay mountain bikers and the BLM and made a plan to work together on a planned mountain biking area. This was another way to use the resources for the community and tourism other than for just logging which opened in June of 2018.
We rode some of the 18 miles of Whiskey Run on Oregon’s South Coast through a coastal forest on ribbons of clay dirt, with moderate climbs and gentle descents. The tree canopy shelters us from the warm sun, connecting to the beach with views of the ocean and stunning coastline. It’s a beautiful location just 10 miles north of Bandon with beginner, intermediate and expert terrain.
Outside Magazine recently had an article about the positive economic effect the trails are having on the local economy.
We rode some of the 18 miles of Whiskey Run on Oregon’s South Coast through a coastal forest on ribbons of clay dirt, with moderate climbs and gentle descents. The tree canopy shelters us from the warm sun, connecting to the beach with views of the ocean and stunning coastline. It’s a beautiful location just 10 miles north of Bandon with beginner, intermediate and expert terrain.
Outside Magazine recently had an article about the positive economic effect the trails are having on the local economy.
We took advantage of Bullards Beach State Park great evening interpretive program that varies five nights a week with some interesting speakers from local businesses or historical societies.
The Fiddlers were a hoot and quite entertaining. Soon everyone was clapping and singing along.
The Fiddlers were a hoot and quite entertaining. Soon everyone was clapping and singing along.
A biologist for Ocean Spray gave a very nice presentation but even better were the samples he left.
The Western Snowy Plover is a small endangered bird that nests on the sand of Oregon's beaches in the summer. It has many predators. USFW and Oregon State Parks work together to improve habitat degradation caused by human disturbance, urban development, and introduced European Beachgrass. Bullards Beach has two groups of interpretive hosts that monitors and educates people in the protected 12 mile areas of the beach daily during the nesting period.
Unfortunately, we didn't get to see a fluffy little Plower.
On a morning walk, we came across a birdwatching couple from England. They were so excited about the US birds and how different they looked and sounded.
Bullards has a hiker/biker campground for people touring the coast. Many start in Vancouver, BC heading towards San Diego or even South America, coming from all over the world and a wide range of ages. One 70 year old lady was traveling the coast on her bike alone. She looked pretty content and fit. Occasionally, we run into a rider from the south heading north that regrets that route.
Washed Ashore
Washed Ashore is a non-profit community art project founded by artist and educator, Angela Pozzi in 2010. The project is based in Bandon, Oregon, where Angela first recognized the amount of plastic washing up on the beaches she loved and decided to take action. Since 2010, Washed Ashore has processed tons of plastic pollution from Pacific beaches to create monumental art that is awakening the hearts and minds of viewers to the global marine debris crisis.
A traveling exhibit can be seen at many museums across the US.
Eel Lake Trail
We took a drive to Tugman State Park north of Coos Bay for a badly needed hike. The rain eased up shortly after we got on the trail.
We watched an osprey flying over the lake. He dived and pulled a fish out of the lake. As he was flying away, he didn't return to his nest as we expected. Then we heard the wind whistling through an eagle's wings as he attacked the osprey. They both went into the lake and neither came out with the fish. They both flew in separate directions. If the fish survived, I bet he had a story to tell his buddies. "Dudes, your not going to believe what happened to me today."
I couldn't resist sharing a few more Circles in the Sand photos. Over the past month, There have been 13 exhibits on Bandon's beach, each with different art as a labyrinth.
Our job as relief yurt cleaners was fine, no kitchen or bathroom. The best part was that once we were done, the day was ours along with the morning before the people vacated the yurts. Here at Bullards Beach, many of the hosts, which we enjoyed, return year after year from Oregon's valley that gets hot in the summer.
Off to La Pine for the fabulous 4th...
Off to La Pine for the fabulous 4th...
