Breakfast in Astoria was a huge meal at The Pigs-n-Pancake.
Leaving Astoria, the route did not follow the coast, but instead took us on an inland road that led to the Lewis and Clark Fort Clatsop site. We stopped here and checked out the fort and the museum. The Lewis and Clark expedition stayed thru the winter of 1805 here. The fort we toured was a replica of the original.
Leaving Fort Clatsop took us back out to the coast. We stopped for a water break, and met a couple other rides on the same route. Two of them told us that they had started in Alaska and were heading all the way down to Panama. Impressive!
We ate lunch at the famous Cannon Beach, where the huge, scenic Haystack rock juts out of the water.
South of Cannon Beach are two tall hills, with a tunnel at the base of the first hill. There is a button that cyclists press before entering the tunnel, this starts a flashing yellow light to alert drivers that there are bicyclists ahead of them in the tunnel. You had better be through the tunnel before the flashing light timer expires!
The Air B-n-B in Manzanita reminded us of a hunting lodge, perched up on a hill (above the tsunami zone). The rental had a grill, so we rode into town and picked up some supplies so Ramone could cook up a big meal. Then we stayed up late talking - and I think we saw a bat fly through the living room that night. Rustic indeed!
Pacific Coast Route from Astoria to Manzanita
