Woman Tours Pacific Coast Ride, reflections

1,525 miles, 73,808' of elevation gain, 20,317 calories burned, 24 days of riding averaging 64 miles per riding day.

   We had incredible good luck with the weather. Other than a little spitting one day, we had no rain and often had bright sunny weather. The only weather issue was the occasional fog.
   We were able to enjoy the coastlines with all their rock formations, spectacular beaches and jagged coastlines very often on quiet roads. Coffee shops, parks, restrooms and food stops were in great abundance making this a ride where stops could be enjoyed on a daily basis. For variety, we rode through magnificent Redwood forests even as we approached the end of the ride.
   Make no mistake, the rides were often challenging with the amount of climbing and some long mileage days, but we didn't seem to mind as the views often rejuvenated us along the way. Some days, we had significant challenge and a multitude of turns, but we all managed to stay the course and laughed and shared the day's riding.
   I will never forget the spectacular day riding over the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco with weather that is rarely seen there and feel blessed that our ride went so well. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this ride but only if you dedicate yourself to train for the hills as well as distance. The views, however, were a great reward for all the work before and during the ride.
   This photo was taken on the last day in Santa Barbara.

WT Pacific Coast Riding Day 24, Lompoc to Ventura

84 miles, 2,700' of elevation gain, temp range of 35 - 80 degrees under early fog followed by bright blue skies with a strong tail wind.

   Our last day of the Pacific Coast tour turned out to be a beautiful ride of 84 miles. Many including myself were cold to start with as a heavy fog had developed overnight and brought the temps down into the 30's but once the sun burned through, the temperatures warned quickly and we rode most of the day in our summer cycling clothes.
   The early ride went through some beautiful valleys and hills before paralleling the ocean for the rest of the day. We had the good fortune of strong following winds that reduced the effort level of riding 84 miles. We were treated to seeing a pod of dolphins in one of the coves.
   The route brought us onto several bike paths in Santa Barbara as well as a mixture of the Pacific Coast US 1 and the 101. The 101 was our least favorite because of the traffic and trucks but it was also the fastest.
   We arrived into Ventura by 2:30 and quickly got to packing our bikes and suitcases and going out to our last dinner together. It was a fabulous ride without a drop of rain and the views we all hoped for.

WT Pacific Coast Riding day 23, Arroyo Grande to Lompoc

45 miles, 1900' of elevation gain, temp range of 55-60 degrees under mostly cloudy skies with some spitting rain.
   Today's ride was basically an A to B ride with nothing particularly noteworthy. An occasional rain drop. Through farmland most of the ride. The last day of riding is tomorrow and as it is a long day followed by packing the bike and our final dinner together, may not post the last blog for a day or two.

WT PC 22, San Simeon to Arroyo Grande, CA

55 miles, 1200' of elevation gain, temp range of 58 to 82 degrees under mostly sunny skies

   We left San Simeon expecting a foggy overcast day but were pleasantly surprised to having clearing skies and a pleasantly warm day. We rode along the beach on a relatively flat road with a good shoulder. We left SR 1 at Morro Bay and took local roads eventually going into Morrow Bay State Park riding on empty roads along the Pacific Ocean and eventually into where Blue Herons nest. We were treated to a few of these graceful birds but alas this is not the breeding season so we only had a few.
   Eventually the ride took us past the well known wine areas of Paso Robbles and Solvang and the vineyards were everywhere. We stopped in San Luis Obispo for a delightful brunch and basically just coasted into Arroyo Grande (big hole) as the wind was pushing us all the way to the hotel

WT Pacific Coast Riding Day 21, Big Sur To San Simeon

66 miles, 4500' of elevation gain, temp range of 55-59 degrees with fog all day.

   The ride came out of the park and immediately went up. Clear skies at the park quickly gave way to fog sometimes quite thick and making it difficult to see more than 25 feet in front of where we were riding. Tough first climb was the prelude to a day of climbing with very few views. The road became less hilly after the first 50 miles so we could make good time for the last hour of riding. We were treated to a great sighting of Elephant Seals sunning themselves within 15' of the road. Impossible to take a tour at the Hearst Castle as the tours are booked months in advance. Most of us rode straight to the hotel and relaxed for the couple of hours we had before a wonderful meal by Michelle.

WT Pacific Coast Riding Day 20, Monterey to Big Sur

45 miles, 2900' of elevation gain, temp range of 54 to 74 under somewhat cloudy skies.
  We were treated to one of the most beautiful rides of the trip. We we left our hotel we were on the coast bike path within a few short blocks and were treated to a flock of Pelicans as well as several Harbor Seals sunning themselves. Still cant tell the boys from the girls.
   17 mile drive takes you along the coast past Pacific Grove and eventually into the exclusive area of Pebble Beach. Plenty of high end homes and the three famous golf courses but no Tiger. You don't get bored on this bike loop as the views are breathtaking of the ocean, rocks, jetties and kelp beds.
  After we left the 17 mile drive, bicycled into Carmel with more riding along the ocean. Eventually, however, we went a little inland and kept going south on Hwy. We did cross some of the most photographed bridges with those incredible spans on our way to Big Sur.
   We stayed in a State Park that has a lodge and several cabins that were quite charming. Dinner as well as breakfast was in the lodge and I must admit it was nice to sit at a table indoors. No wifi, cell coverage or TV at the lodge but we were all happy with the entire facility. We walked out onto our deck and were treated to deer and wild turkeys. All is well with our continued journey.

WT Pacific Coast Ride Day 19, Santa Cruz to Monterey

46.5 miles, 1,700' of elevation gain, temp range of 55 to 89 degrees with blue skies and an off shore wind.
  This was yet another day of beautiful blue skies and visibility to the horizon. We had an easterly wind at times that slowed us down when we were heading east, but as we rounded the bay and headed west, the winds gave us a wonderful push.
   The first 10 miles were more about getting out of Santa Cruz which is a fairly large metro area of 55,000 people so you had urban riding to contend with. Eventually, however, we rode into an agricultural area growing artichokes (10 for $1) and strawberries with the noticeable aroma of strawberries as we rode. Lots of pickers in the fields as the harvest season is in full swing.
   We jumped on the bike path at the 33 mile marker and we basically rode it to within 3 blocks of our hotel in Monterey. Lots of views of the Bay, sounds of the seals and flocks of Pelicans which added to the visual enjoyment of the relatively short ride. Our hotel is another Best Western n the style of a Victorian house with a wonderful happy hour and within two blocks of Cannery Row and the world famous Aquarium.I spent the afternoon strolling and enjoying the wonderful view of he bay and remembering scuba diving in this very same bay years ago. It is almost totally empty of tourist and the cycling path almost totally empty. The least amount of people I have ever seen here which is a welcomed change to the usual bustle of the area. 

WT PC 18, San Francisco to Santa Cruz

85 miles, 4300' of elevation gain, temp range of 58 to 75 degrees under clear blue skies.
   Woke up to a spectacular sunrise and off we went back toward the Golden Gate Bridge along one of the bike paths. The early morning light, made for special view of this glorious bridge as well as the entire harbor. Our route took us past lands end and through the Presidio and eventually along the coast road. Tough steep hills for the first 20 miles which tested both legs and brakes but the views made the journey all worth it.
   The ride went along the Pacific for almost the entire day and eventually the terrain became less steep and hilly allowing us to make better time while still enjoying the wonderful views and the smell of the salt water. Some traffic to start but once we past Daly City it dissipated rapidly.
   A hard long ride but we have been blessed with beautiful weather and eventually had a following wind.

WT PC 17, Bodega Bay to San Francisco

70 miles, 3700' of elevation gain, temp range of 55 to 83 under blue skies.
   We have been blessed with the weather and views. The ride started in rural Sonoma County and ended by riding over the Golden Gate Bridge to our hotel at Fisherman's Wharf. Rolling hills with a couple of long climbs in Sonoma followed by a series of bike paths and bike lanes brought us safely through some densely populated areas. The weather was absolutely magnificent. If you didn't like today's ride, you should take up bowling. This is bike country with bike shops and coffee shops every hundred yards
   After arriving in San Francisco, my step daughter picked me up and brought me to her house for the evening and all of the rest day. We ate and drank well and enjoyed another weather day of the gods. She and her husband live in Mill Valley. Great house, company, hot tub- well what more could you want?

WT PC day 16, Gualala to Bodega Bay, CA

49 miles, 3700' of elevation gain, temp range of 50 to 70 with considerable fog for the first 34 miles.

   We basically made a right out of the start hotel and then a left into the end hotel for two whooping turns all day. No challenges with the navigation but the rest of the ride had plenty. Heavy fog, torn up roads and all those weekenders driving home on roads without a shoulder. Some of the big motor homes were a foot away from our elbows with no where to go.Lots of climbing sometimes on steep grades with sharp hairpin turns for the first 34 miles.
   After Jenner, we crossed the Russian River and the fog was gone and in its place were beautiful beaches and views. We still had plenty of traffic but with the increase of visibility, we at least could all see ahead and be able to give the vehicles as much room as possible.
   I have been to Bodega Bay on a previous bike tour and it is still quite charming. We are staying at a splendid Inn right on the Tomales Bay and got in by 1 for a restful afternoon with some wonderful Sonoma wines.

WT Pacific Coast Riding day 14, Garberville to Fort Bragg, CA

68 miles, 5,000' of elevation gain, temp range 45 to 57 degrees with a combination of fog, haze and sun.

   We came out of the same town of Garberville with fog and damp roads and immediately went into more Redwood stands.we were on and off the 101 for the first 25 miles with varying traffic but once we went onto US Hwy 1, the Coastal Hwy. We went into deep woods with a 4 mile climb followed by a 12 mile descent. Ordinarily, I'm good on the downhills with little trouble but the roads were wet and green from the moss and algae growth that happens in areas with little sunshine. Lots of hairpin turns and it did get cold. I did manage to hit 61 mph on my computer but that had to be a mistake. Or not.
   Once we broke out into the sun we were right on the coast enjoying the views and pounding of the surf. Yippie!

WT Pacific Coast riding day 15, Fort Bragg to Gualala, CA

60 miles, 3700' of elevation gain, temp range of 52 to 74 degrees under totally beautiful blue skies.

   We had two turns today, a left out of the start hotel and a right into the end hotel. In between we had rolling hills with one 18% climb. To counter balance the climbing we had a beautiful day along the Pacific Ocean which was flat calm all morning and now has gentle breakers.Lots of kayaking people taking to the water. The road was in excellent condition and did a series of duck and dives into inlets. Birds, seals and the sounds of whales. The hotel is magnificent and located next to a superb wine shop so I'm sitting here sipping the Zeghesio Old Vine Zin watching the waves break and the sounds of the sea while some of you are working in Rochester.

WT Pacific Coast Riding day 13, Eureka - Garberville, CA

80 miles, 3100' of elevation gain, temp range of 45-65 with fog in the morning and bright sun in the afternoon.

   The ride took us through California dairy country the first 40 miles with the roads quite wet from the fog. Fernbridge was our first rest stop with a host of great coffee shops, public restrooms and lots of Victorian homes and hotels. Delightful small town America and then we went right back into the dairy country.
   At the 40 mile mark we turned onto the Avenue of the Giants where for the next 30 miles we were treated to magnificent giant Redwoods. They were thick and tall and having 30 miles of continues old growth trees was an amazing experience. avenueofthegiants.net 
   When the sun broke out, the lighting made the ride even more impressive. Lots of small towns for services and of course coffee.
 Eureka was OK but nothing special. It made for an OK rest day but the best part was to see someone I had share the Southern Tier ride last year. We spent several hours over lunch and sightseeing catching up and seeing her town.
   Really tired after today's ride but it was worth the effort for the experience.

WT Pacific Coast Ride Day 12, Crescent City to Eureka, CA

82 miles, 4,500' of elevation gain, temp range of 45-65, calm winds and bright blue skies

   Today was started in beautiful skies with a stiff climb right from the hotel. The views of the ocean were magnificent and we soon entered the land of the redwood trees. The growth is so thick, my gps could not always get a signal but who cared? We spent the entire first half of the ride within these old growth trees and tried not to notice all the climbing.
   The second half of the ride brought us back along the Pacific Ocean for more views and rolling hills. It was our most challenging ride of the trip with the last 15 miles on a bike path that ran along the dunes and waterways. We finished the ride by going over three bridges over Humboldt Bay allowing mover views in bright sunny weather.
   Tomorrow is our rest day in Eureka a city I have never visited. Meeting a friend I met during the Southern Tier ride for lunch and sightseeing.

WT PacificCoast Riding Day 11, Gold Beach, OR to Crescent City, CA

55 miles, 2,800' of elevation gain, temp range 45-68 degrees under bright blue skies all day!

   Today's weather was outstanding with clear blue skies and no where near as cold. We were all down to shorts and a light jacket by the first sag stop.
   The views of the Oregon Coastline remained quite striking with many off shore rock formations which continued into California. The route had us riding on 101, the Coast Hwy. The shoulders were quite excellent and the traffic a little lighter than some of the previous days.
  I did manage one high speed descent which was outstanding as the roads were quite good with  gentle sweeping turns. I came on this bike tour for the views and the views is what we had today.
   We are staying at a waterside hotel today with the harbor right across the street. A nice stroll with gorgeous weather and I'm sure we will enjoy another wonderful Patty meal.

Pacific Coast Day 10, Bandon to Gold Beach, Oregon

55 miles, 2500' of elevation gain, temps 33 - 54 degrees, heavy fog most of he ride.
   The best way to describe today's ride is FOG. We actually rolled out under clear blue skies and 33 degrees but within an hour, the ride was pretty much fogged in for the rest of the day. I did catch several glimpses of the Pacific Ocean when the fog was a little less dense and would assume that the views would have been quite impressive under clear skies. Nevertheless, the roads were good with light traffic.
   We all pretty much felt lucky to have had so many clear days and hope to have a clearing trend as the heavy fog makes for chilly riding. We are once again housed in a beachfront hotel with the sound of crashing waves.
   Patty, our chef, went down to the docks where the fishing boats arrive and bought this wonderful fresh fish. We had both cod and salmon cooked on a propane grill, with a mango chutney, fresh asparagus, salad and couscous. Birthday cake for dessert and we were able to eat in the breakfast room for warmth. The weather cleared and we all took a walk along the beach for a perfect ending.
   Yankee game tonight and I'm rooming with a Yankee fan from New Jersey.

WT Pacific Coast Ride day 9, Florence to Bandon, Oregon

77 miles, 3,500' of elevation gain, temp range 39-65 degrees under totally sunny skies.

   Lots of climbing today without many ocean views. We did have the opportunity to top at the Nat'l Sand Dunes Park but most of the ride was within forests along the 101 until we followed the Pacific Coast Bikeway which included 7 Devils Road. Perfectly named as we hit 13% grades on several of the 7 climbs and I was pretty toasted by the time we arrived at our hotel. Beautiful views of the Oregon Pacific Ocean in the last couple of miles with a wonderful Best Western on the beach.
   Crashing early as most of us were really tired by ride's end. Another wonderful meal by Patty perked us all up again with some funny stories and song after dinner.

WT Pacific Coast Riding day 8, Newport to Florence, Oregon

54 miles, 2,300' of elevation gain, temp range of 43-65 degrees under sunny skies.
   There is a pattern to our riding days. Cool temps to start out and then beautiful perfect riding conditions all day long. Views of the coastline dominated today's ride with many groups of seals along the way.

   We stayed on the 101 most of the day with good shoulders and moderate traffic. Pull outs were often and allowed us many opportunities for picture taking. We arrived in Florence before 1 and that allowed us to go see the historic downtown area and spend some time at a local coffee shop. Riding is up and down all day long but no heavy hills.

WT Pacific Coast Riding Day 7, Pacific City to Newport, Oregon

48 miles, 2700' of elevation gain, temp range of 32 to 81 degrees with a light following wind all day.

   Michelle replaced my broke cable and my Serotta was back to riding like a dream today. Yes another beautiful day. It was cold to start with but just a few miles down the road, we climbed and warmed up. Lots of pull outs along the ride making stopping to hard to resist. Hey its a tour.
   We did encounter a "road closed sign" on route and did what any cycle tourer would do, we stopped a local driver and asked about whether bikes could get through. Once he said "no" and there was fresh oil we turned back and took the 101. We did shorten the ride but the real disappointment was missing a local cafe landmark, the Otis Cafe.
  Lighthouses, coves, inlet streams, bridges were all part of today's experiences and a pod of whales.
  Rolled into Newport and we have a beachfront hotel, the Hallmark Resort. Each room has an Oceanside view with deck, full living room and kitchen and LAUNDRY. Today is a rest day and we are sitting having morning coffee with the sliding door opened listening to waves and the songs of whales.

WT Pacific Coast Riding Day 6, Cannon Beach to Pacific City

65 miles, 3600' of elevation gain, temp range of 45 to 75 degrees . Totally clear skies with light winds in the morning and howling winds out of the north in the afternoon.

   Yes we had an absolutely beautiful day of riding with views of the Oregon coastline which should be envied by everyone. I had just one little hiccup to my day when my rear shifting cable all but totally broke so I was riding a three speed bike on a heavy climbing day. Well it all worked out and totally enjoyed the scenery.
   We rode on the Oregon Pacific Coast Cycling route for most of the day which had endless pull outs so we could stop and see the scenery. As it turns out, we have also had indoor restrooms whenever I needed one.
   I had not realized that there was so many off shore rock formations until doing this ride.It really is a way of discovering America one mile at a time.
   There was no wifi at the hotel in Pacific City so had to wait an extra day to post.

Pacific Coast Rding Day 5, Long Beach, WA to Cannon Beach, OR

49 miles, 1100' of elevation gain, temp range of 45 to 77 degrees in glorious sunshine all day long.
   Someone is really watching out for us. Blue skies with light winds in the beginning of the ride with a strong tail wind for the second half. We went on the coastal bike path right out of the hotel. 5 miles of a brand new path which ran along the beach with views of the Pacific as far as you can see.
   Some of the group was anxious of the Astoria Bridge which spans the mighty Columbia for 5 miles as it can have horrible weather but not today. It was a spectacular day for the bridge part of the ride with relatively light traffic.
   The rest of the ride had a tail wind with glimpses of the ocean and no fog. It was a great day for saving our legs and the three of us riding together stopped at Seaside and found a delightful coffee shop with pumpkin bread. We still managed to roll in by noon. What a cute town Cannon Beach is with wonderful accommodations along the ocean. Kitchen, deck and free laundry. What more could a cyclists ask for?

Pacific Coast Riding Day 4, Elma to Long Beach, WA

84 miles, 2800' of elevation gain, temp range 33 degrees to 75 degrees with morning fog followed by glorious sunshine.
   It was our longest day so far but not as hilly. It started out relatively flat but the fog was quite heavy and it was cold. Visibility was not great but we had wonderful shoulders along the entire ride. I think Woman Tours must have arranged for street sweepers as they were that clean.
   Most of the ride was along rivers, sloughs and now we are at a beach side hotel having a great time. Most of us are tired but the warm sunshine is definitely lifting everyone's energy level. I imagine we will be leaving our windows open so we can listen to the pounding surf all night. Well, they do call it the Pacific Coast ride for a reason.
   Traffic has been relatively light as it is well past tourist season and a good choice of dates. So if your not here why not?
  

Pacific Coast Riding Day 3, Bremerton to Elma, WA

69 miles, 2,800' of elevation gain, temp range 52 - 62 overcast but dry
   The overcast skies were a good thing as it  kept the morning temps warmer than they had been. Within 2 miles of the start hotel, there was a climb of over 20% which no one even attempted. Once past that irritant, the ride became quite beautiful with lots of water views and homes well out of my price range. As it was early Saturday morning, the traffic was really light. As the day went on, we were on such quiet roads, vehicles were never much of a problem.
   We were rolling along next to a lake, when we had to make a left onto Trails Road with a warning of a steep climb. Some of the riders ahead of me made the mistake of stopping at the bottom of the hill. Whatever little momentum I had I was not willing to give up so I just got on the hill and went for it. I am currently using the Garmin 800 which gives me navigation but also gives me the % of incline. The bottom of the hill started at 9% went to 12 then to 15 to 18 and then I wasn't going fast enough to get an accurate reading. If I sat the front wheel was losing traction but if I stood the  back wheel did likewise so I had to try to keep an equal amount of weight on each wheel. Not easy. I was pushing and pulling on the pedals as much as possible and pulling on the handlebars to the point that several finger cramped. I was way beyond the F word before the mile climb.Eventually, I did get to the top. I was one of the few that didn't walk and was happy that I made it.
   Rode along Mason Lake as well as many other fresh water lakes. We did find a cute coffee house and had a latte while taking in the sights.
   As it turned out, the hotel didn't have enough double rooms so I'm in a single. What a great treat.
   I use Ride with GPS to map out the next day's ride and download onto my Garmin. It has worked out great for me as I don't have to deal with paper directions and it beeps at me if I start to go the wrong way. Didn't really need it on the Southern Tier ride as it was pretty straight forward, but this ride has many turns and sometimes the signs are missing.
   Tomorrow should be good weather.
  

Pacific Coast Riding Day 2, Port Townsend to Bremerton

55 miles, 3,400' of elevation gain, bright sunny day
   We had striking views today as it was picture perfect riding day. A little cool to start with as it was 40 degrees for the first couple of hours, but no on minded as the climbing warmed us up. Pretty much rural roads, with deer and views of the water and coastline.
  We stopped for a latte at a delightful little drive through and sat just chatting it up and enjoying ourselves. The ride today felt better than yesterday. We rolled into Bremerton where we will have our first rest day. Woman Tours decided to take the early rest day at a hotel adjacent to ferry and many of us are going into Seattle. I am going to see friends for the day and eat some seafood at Pike's Market.

Pacific Coast Riding Day 1, Bellingham to Port Townsend

75 miles, 3,700' of elevation gain, foggy
   Unfortunately, we had a good deal of fog for most of the ride. I'm sure the views would have been quite impressive with the San Juan Islands well within sight but alas we struggled with less than a mile of visibility.
   No, the ride is not flat. The hills are not long but we had several climbs well over 10% with a couple over 15%. We did arrive in time to make the 3 pm ferry and arrived in Port Townsend in beautiful weather so enjoyed the sights during the crossing. We spent the night in Fort Worden where we were assigned the officers housing. A little dated but really charming with all of us having our own room. No wifi but no one cared as we were outside taking in the sights. Our chef made an amazing meal and the 33 of us were happy even if it was a long day for some of our group as they got lost. Thank you Garmin 800.

Pacific Coast Day 1, Bellingham

Well, I've arrived in Bellingham, WA for the beginning of the Woman Tours Pacific Coast Ride. I immediately found the best restaurant in town for dinner, D'ANNA  which makes all its own pasta, sausages and Spumoni. This morning walked into the downtown to go to Mt Bakery coffee shop. The place that the locals go to and had their famous Eggs Benedict. What can I say. I've had enough calories for at least three days of riding.
The bikes, husband and Holmes all made the travel well. The smoke in Montana and Washington was really bad but no smoke here on the coast. Bellingham is where the Alaska State Ferry starts its journey northward and the town reflects the many people who come through for the cruise season. Over 40,000 people with endless coffee houses and eateries.
The weather is amazingly good today as it was yesterday when I arrived. Hope it stays this way.

Selirk Loop Ride, Day 11 Coeur d'Alene to Spokane

38 miles, 750' of elevation gain, 50 - 80 degrees under clear blue skies
   We walked around the resort for a short time and got a little latter start as the area was worth enjoying. The room in Spokane was not likely to be ready until 2 so we thought it best to sleep in and stay in Coeur d'Alene for a little longer.
   Once on the road, I cycled with the two tandems for a few miles. The entire ride was on the Centennial Trail which links Coeur d'Alene to Spokane and with the exception of  a few road crossings was straight forward. The most scenic was when we road along the Spokane River all the way to the back door of the Doubletree Hotel. Once checked in, I packed my coupled bike and am always happy to have it all fit back into the case.
   The bike tour was absolutely great with interesting riding, towns and hotels. Good company with the other 12 in our group. I would highly recommend riding the International Selkirk Loop to any cycle tourists.

Selkirk Loop Ride, Day 10 Sandpoint to Coeur d'Alene

62 miles, 1,800' of elevation gain, 48 - 76 degrees under bright sunny skies
   The weather broke and we had beautiful sunny skies for the entire day. I woke early and when I couldn't fall back to sleep, I decided to get on the rode and make my way to the resort town of Coeur d'Alene. The route was well planned out by Gary and Rita to keep us off any major highways except for one short stretch on US95 but that had a good shoulder. We rode over the river using an old bridge that was now dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians and enjoyed the views all around without having to watch for traffic and such.
   Once we left the Sandpoint area, we were on quiet back roads with Bald Eagles and Osprey nests with young Osprey poking their heads out of the nests. Deer also were a common sighting along with more mountain ranges. Since I left before the breakfast service started in Sandpoint, I did stop at a local cafe and visited with the waitstaff and had a somewhat delayed breakfast.
   I arrived in Coeur d'Alene by 1:00 and Dion had just gotten our room so we were able to deposit luggage and bike and go to the famous dessert bar located within the Coeur d'Alene Resort. We probably should have shared but we didn't and it counted as lunch for us. After a quick shower, we went up in a float plane and were treated to spectacular views of not only the lake, but the rivers and mountains that make up the area. With such a beautiful day it was the best afternoon activity we could have done.
   We were treated to a wine cellar tour of the resort by Eric the Sommelier. Their collection is about 15,000 bottles and with a glass of wine in hand we were able to view not only all of the collection but how the wine is organized and the temperature controls used to preserve the wine.
  The group had its last dinner at Beverly's, the signature restaurant of the Coeur d'Alene Resort and the food, wine and views were a special way of spending the last night as a group.

Selkirk Loop Ride, Day 9, Bonners Ferry to Sandpoint

44 miles, 1500' of elevation gain, mid-40 degree temps and pouring rain the entire ride.
   No one wanted to leave our B&B school house. The breakfast was outstanding. little cozy sitting rooms dispersed around the inn and the rain gave us more reasons to stay than go. Unfortunately, we needed to get to the next town so off we went. I rode with Dick and Janet today and the company was a great morale booster and kept me going through some tough weather and riding conditions.
   We were on a few busy roads and the spray from the big trucks were annoying and the traffic with the rain made riding sometimes less than safe. Nevertheless, everyone just kept going and we all finished into a beautiful hotel located right on the lake. Laundry is everywhere drying and bike has been cleaned again.
   The are seems to be lovely and hopefully we will go out exploring latter.

Selkirk Loop Ride, Day 8, Creston to Bonners Ferry

42 miles, 1800' of elevation gain, 55-68 degrees with occasional showers.
   The morning looked promising with clear blue skies and off we went. We were back in the US within 8 miles and all our cell phones worked again. We had a tail wind on flat roads, but unfortunately, there were thunder clouds in the distance so I donned my rain gear and wrapped my Camelback and sure enough, the showers eventually found all of us.
   We went past a National Wildlife refuge so we all took the time to visit and see what we might run into. Yes they have Grizzly Bears as well as Black Bears in this area but we haven't seen any on our riding. We spent the day riding on fairly flat terrain and did have to navigate 4 miles of dirt/gravel road which didn't pose a problem.
   Bonners Ferry is a small Selkirk Loop town with about 1,500 people and one brew pub with excellent food. We are staying in the Northside School Bed and Breakfast. A retired couple bought a decommissioned school house and totally renovated it into a lovely B&B with 9 rooms all uniquely appointed. Some of the rooms still have the original blackboards which only adds to the charm. After lunch we enjoyed the heated pool and hot tub and the endless homemade cookies. It really is a tough life.

Selkirk Loop Ride Day 7, Crawford Bay to Creston

49 miles, 2500' of elevation gain and pouring rain for the first 40 miles.
   The ride went along the eastern shore of Kootenay Bay which was beautiful when we could look around and not have to deal with the rain. Nevertheless, it was a good day on the bike with the last 10 miles ridden under clear blue skies. The ride was mellow rollers along the lakeside and for the most part little if any traffic.
  Dion picked up our Harry Potter broom all wrapped and ready to fly home, pun! The town of Creston is yet another small town but has an enormous super market and we are in suites tonight so eating in is a real possibility.

Selkirk Loop Ride Day 6, Kaslo to Crawford Bay, BC

26 miles, 1700' of elevation, 55-70 degrees 
   It poured all night but I was fortunate enough to have clearing skies all the way to the FREE ferry. A wonderful bakery, The Old World Bakery, is located right at the ferry terminal. I enjoyed a coffee and a multi-berry scone with white chocolate. Yum!
   The timing worked out well as Dion arrived just in time to take the 10:40 ferry across Kootenay Lake and we went to Crawford Bay together to see all the artisan workshops. They make hand made brooms amongst other things and one of the broom makers supplied all the Harry Potter brooms and so we had to buy one. I'm not exactly sure how we will get it home but we'll figure it out.
   Dangerous thunderstorms rolled in while we were having lunch and so the group managed to stay dry and we had an early day into our hotel.

Selkirk Loop ride day 5, New Denver to Kaslo

30 miles, 1800' of elevation gain, 60-72 degrees
  We left the Valhalla Inn totally stuffed. The inn was purchased about a year ago by a Chinese family and it included dinner last night and breakfast this morning. Dinner was a typical Chinese New Year menu of multiple courses. We cut them off after 7 and were admonished about not eating enough. If you have ever gone to Chinese New Year in Chinatown, New York, you know what I'm talking about. The food was excellent but you can only eat so much. We went walking after dinner to see New Denver and the beautiful lake and enjoyed some impressive gardens. Like Kaslo, New Denver was an internment camp for the Japanese during WW II and the history and population is reflective of how many people stayed.
   The ride to Kaslo was once again impressively scenic with snow covered mountains and rushing streams. It was also the day of Oso Negro, the black bear as we were treated to sighting at least 6 during the ride. They were all gorging on grass and it was rather cute when they lifted their heads up with grass sticking out of both sides of their mouths.
   The Kaslo high school graduation was today and the 18 students graduation were paraded around on vintage cars with RCMP escorts. Small town approach to helping the students celebrate. The town is rests along the Kootenay Lake and is also heavily populated with coffee shops and restaurants all serving organic food of the highest quality. Still a hippie town like so many others on the Selkirk Loop.

Selkirk Loop ride day 4, Nelson to New Denver

62 miles, 3835' of elevation gain, 60-83 degree weather under a totally blue sky!

   God make a bicycle just to enjoy these gorgeous roads! After leaving Nelson, we had rolling hills, beautiful views of Kootenay River and wide shoulders. The weather was the best we have had on the trip which allowed us to stop often to have coffee, snacks, Kodak moments, etc. It seems like there was a coffee shop every 5 miles. Perfect.
   We left Nelson on highway 3A going west and eventually went north on Hwy 6. Here we rode along the Slocum River until we reached Slocum Lake. The road continued to be really great for cycling and devoid of traffic. Good food and beverage stops continued all the way to New Denver. Several deer herds crossed the highway just ahead. If you got tired of the water views you just had to look up to see snow covered mountains. The leg from Nelson to New Denver is a super side trip well worth taking. The elevation gain really didn't pose a problem for any of us. The sunny weather was great and we might just go home with a few tan lines.
   The Valhalla Inn is a mom and pop owned by an oriental family that can't do enough for us. Rooms are clean and the local coffee shop had mango sorbet and we got the skinny on the local lifestyle.

Nelson, BC

  Yesterday was our rest day in Nelson. At first I thought it would be too early in the ride but we were all happy to spend two nights at the Best Western. Washing our clothes and bikes were the first thing on the agenda.
   No group dinners in Nelson which allowed us the opportunity to explore restaurants. Dion and I went to Max and Irmas the first night and enjoyed our salad and thin crust pizza made in a wood fired oven. Sampled the local beers as well and finished off the meal with a wonderful carrot cake. You know cyclists live to eat?
  Wednesday is market day and we enjoyed our stroll down Baker Street seeing all that the locals had to offer. Baked goods, fresh produce and potions. I kid you not - potions. Men and women with dread locks were part of the scene and it definitely reminded me of the 60's in the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco. I think of Nelson as a college town that misplaced the university.
  We went to the historical museum to catch up on how Nelson formed and grew to 9,000 residents all of whom eat Spelt, Kamut, and all those health grains.Hard to find non-healthy items on the menu even the local beer is organic. We did also eat at a fabulous Thai restaurant the second night so happy we were.
   Unfortunately, one of our group detached a retina and had to go back to Spokane to fly home to San Diego for surgery.

Selkirk Loop Day 3, Metaline Falls to Nelson, BC

52 miles, 2200' of elevation gain, 42 - 64- 48 degrees
   We started the day early 7:45 to arrive at the dreaded border crossing into Canada by 9 am hoping to be greeted by friendly Canadian Custom officials. My experiences crossing into Canada have not been smooth as they think we all carry weapons, drugs and bear spray. Fortunately we were greeted by a young man who was pleasant and understood that we each were declaring two bottles of wine or a case of beer which is our allowed alcohol. This keeps the group happy during the afternoon gatherings with inexpensive US prices vs the high Canadian costs.
   So the first 12 miles to the border went well, the next 14 miles were scenic and not a single vehicle passed us. We all stopped at an excellent cafe in Salmo as our hotel in Metaline was quite a distance from any cafe. Dry, well fed and scenic beyond description. Then of course the rain showers came as we are in that area of the world but that didn't dampen our enthusiasm and rode the second have quite happily into Nelson and the Best Western. Huge advantage being married to the luggage van driver as our room is always ready or they make it ready or switch our room to one that is ready so when I arrived dripping in the lobby I went directly to my room, took off all the wet clothes and my husband went to the guest laundry in the hotel and washed all our stuff while I took a lengthy hot shower.
  Nelson is a lovely little town where all the draft dodgers went during the Vietnam War. The entire town is made up of coffee shops, natural grocers, restaurants, all of which only have organic, vegetarian and or vegan menus. Hard to find even a local beer that isn't organic. So tomorrow is our day off and we will spend it at the farmers market, exploring the town and perhaps doing an activity on the large lake. Hope you are all doing something equally as interesting.
   If any of you have a suggestion for a high performance rain jacket, I would love to hear from you as my current jacket is not longer as waterproof as I need and will definitely need one for the Pacific Coast ride I am doing in the early fall.

Selkirk Loop Day 2, Newport to Metaline Falls, Wa

68 miles, 2300' of elevation gain, 46 degrees and rain all day.
   After several years and months of bike tours, I encountered rain. Really can't complain as the ride was just so beautiful, the rain was a non-issue. We basically made two turns during the entire ride. We spent  the first 50 miles riding along a major river and within the first few miles was welcomed by a small moose. Gave him plenty of room as we shared the road for about a mile before he headed back into the woods. Eventually at the 50 mile marker we went up the hillside and climbed for about 8 miles to Sullivan Lake. It is surrounded by the Selkirk Mtn chain and the most pristine lake I've seen in quite a few years. Worth the climb.
   I did have three different pairs of dogs chase me today. Not as bad as some of the Southern Tier states, but really wonder why the owners take no interest in keeping their dogs under control as they are quite a hazard and one bite my cycling shoe which was tougher than his teeth.

Selkirk Loop Day 1 Spokane,WA to Newport, WA

54 miles, 2500' of elevation, 78 degrees
   The ride started in beautiful blue skies along the Centennial Trail along the Spokane River. After a few short miles we turned north and were quickly out of any population and into really quiet country roads with mountain views. Eventually a good wind developed and pushed us all the way to our final destination. We stayed in a mom and pop motel within walking distance of the little town of Newport. A good first day for a bike tour.