Day 8

Currently at the library in Gold Beach Oregon. My last day in Oregon and then I move on. I've got to admit, I am feeling really overwhelmed. It seems as though this has been happening a lot the past couple days, but each time I end up meeting some amazing person. It isn't easy to be a thousand miles from home, with a bicycle. And the wind is whipping like crazy, even if it is a tailwind, it hurts--my skin feels terrible.

My last night as Sunset Bay, two French Canadian men (19) stayed at the hiker-biker site with me. Yesterday we kept meeting each other at the various stops so last night when we traveled the last 7 miles from the market to the campground together and camped together. I was so grateful for the company.

At thirteen years old these boys did a bike tour from Amsterdam to Paris. They have done several other tours together, and traveled all over the world.

I think in part the fact that there are a few really big hills on the horizon this week looms large in my havoc wreaking mind. It freaks me out. I know, one day at a time, one pedal at a time and walk it if I need to. The first couple day, I found myself literally gagging with fear about getting on the road with all the truck, motor homes and cars. There is a huge anti-cyclist feeling pervading the National Dunes region of Oregon. Huge truck pulling trailers wouldn't move over and give me space. At other times they hold the horn and drive by or worse, wait until they are just behind me and honk--scaring me half to death--stupid ignorant fools. Early Mornings are my friends. I try to be on the road before 9am to avoid a lot of this craziness. It seems to be mostly behind me at this point. I am sure I will meet it again here and there, take what comes, I guess.