Phone rings at 7:00-Lynn wants us to unlock bathroom door.  Turns out that Jean had locked the door from their side-needed to get up anyway.  Coast yesterday-forest, mountains, head winds, rain today!!  Did pass some sand dunes.  Stop at 20 m for pancakes-needed a rest.  Wind is picking up-long bridge (over 1 m) going into Bend.  After almost getting run over-decide to walk across bridge.  Stop at information center rt after bridge.  Lynn calls-they’re at bridge-told them we walked.  Starts to rain harder-they decide not to cross & spend night at motel there.  We spend over 1 hr w/Diane-she works 7 days a week-special needs bus driver during week & infor desk on week ends.  Still raining-bike to Motel 6 ($55)-pass a casino.  Can order pizza or find out that casino will send car to pick us up.  Have wonderful meal -overlooking rough water.  Each lose $10 gambling-get desserts & go back to Motel 6.  Suppose to rain tomorrow–head winds expected.

BIKING GUARDIAN ANGEL WAS WITH ME!!  FEEL SO FORTUNATE & GRATEFUL.

Said good bye at breakfast to biker babes until 2015 in Puerto Rico.  Georgia & Rusty leave this afternoon for mission training in Philippines for 18 months.  How they managed our reunion knowing they were leaving today-I’ll never know.  They are both very involved in the Mormon church-before our TX reunion they spent 18 months in Africa. 

GEORGIA-1st met in 2002.  Mother of  8-her husband had died 4 months before–had planned on doing cross country together.  We roomed together most of the tour-always positive-never biked on Sundays-would call & get someone to take her to church & to the next town.  She hasn’t changed a bit–married Rusty (4 kids-wife had died) & continued to bike & serve God.

Weather is cool-feels like winter until 1st hill.  Biking right along coast for most of the day-fantastic views-some very narrow bike lanes.  Getting further behind my leader-bike is acting weird.  Stop in Yachats (20 m)-Armand notices that the axel rod that connects my bike to the front tire is missing-which means that my tire could have come off at any time.  If my guardian angel had not been with me-I hate to think of what could have happened to me.  Thank you God–more reasons to pray along the way.  No bike store here-go to hardware store-buy rod & nuts ($1.80)  to try & hold the bike together for 30 miles.  Get ready to go through tunnel-leader looks back & sees light house-take picture.  He insists on going back & up the hill.  Before hiking up-ask a young couple if it was worth it-by all means YES!  Find out the girl grew up in Portland, TX & now lives in Portland, OR.  Told her we were from Austin-she graduated from UT in Plan 2-so did our son John.  Andy is a photographer-takes a picture of us.  Take tour of light house-guide lives in SA, TX-comes here in summer to escape heat.  As we’re leaving-Jean walking up the hill-Lynn is guarding bikes below.  Continue along coast-Sugar & Tiger love it but are hungry.  Stop outside Florence-mouth is drooling when I see the donuts–best ever donuts!!!!  Get to bike store-$15 for rod & $35 to clean & inspect bike.  Stay at Lighthouse Inn ($67.65)-sharing bathroom w/Jean & Lynn.  PATRI-college friend of Jean’s joins us for dinner-good time.  Suppose to rain & have high winds tomorrow.

In 2002, 13 women-ages 50 to 69-from 13 different states biked across America from San Diego to St. Augustine, FL.  This adventure changed my life-not only w/the friendships formed but also w/a new found sense of accomplishment.  Thanks to Armand who found it on the internet & trained me. Every 2 yrs we have a reunion-2011 we were hosts in Brenham, TX-home of Blue Bell ice cream. The reunion is about the bond we formed-& we get to go to fantastic places.  12 of the 13 women are here-which is remarkable. GEORGIA & RUSTY are the hosts this yr & picked a fantastic place here on the OR coast. 1st 2 days– took a bike ride, hikes, took a drive to see whales, lighthouse & sea lions-beautiful sunny days. Fri-weather turned-went for boat ride-saw sunfish & sea lion fly out of water & land on a bouy-no whales. Had lots of good meals & good times. Donna, whose husband Roger had just died, drove from Lake Tahoe & joined us–it made this reunion even more meaningful. Last meal, restaurant had band-sang “On the Rd Again” & “See You Down the Rd”–next reunion is in Puerta Rico-Jane (NY) is hosting-can’t wait!!

What a difference a day makes.  I LOVE OREGON!!!  The sun is out-a beautiful day of biking from rain forest trees to OR coast.  Get passed on hill by 2 loaded bikers-stop for pictures so they don’t know how slow I am.  Found animals-horse, cow, 3 goats, miniature goat, llama all eating together in yard-took picture w/sugar & tiger.  Ate lunch at Vivian’s (Armand’s sisters name)-met Anne Mueller.  Gave me a picture of  b & w flower-beautiful-never had art lesson.  Got to Newport as Jean was checking in-Whitney waiting on steps-had been there for hrs.  Staying at Hallmark ($119) –nicest place we’ve ever stayed-have Jacuzzi, 2 tvs, 6 pillows, & balcony w/view of ocean.  Georgia & Rusty have picked a fabulous place for our cross country biking reunion.  All have dinner that night-Whitney’s last meal w/us-leaving in morning-biking to Portland.