Yachats

The friendliest town on the Oregon coast? I left California last Friday. On the Oregon side of the border they have a welcome centre, on the California side there's a vehicle inspection checkpoint. I picked up some detailed cycling maps in the welcome centre and the lady there warmly welcomed me to the state.

So I was expecting good things but...

The riding was less interesting, wide highway through plantation forest. The towns felt like extended carparks for the malls. And I met my first crackpot. He started talking to me about "that radical Helen Clarke in New Zealand...at least in Australia you still have your weapons". And warned, "Western civilization is coming to an end when we can't control these refugees and when women don't respect their men".

So I was making my way up to Portland as fast as I could. Then I came upon Yachats. Actually, I stopped for Cape Perpetua, the mossy, misty (ok, rainy) forest was too inviting to go past. I spent today walking there. I'm staying in a cosy unit near the beach (the manager gave me an extra special cyclist rate), there's a good bookshop in town and good food as well!

I almost don't want to leave, but I have to get to Portland. Should be there by the end of the week.

Oh, and I can't upload photos from my camera so it's just phone pictures for now.