Leave Motel 6-7:45-2 min climb hill-going to have a heart attack-then another hill-going to be a tough day.  NO rain or wind–get off highway-get to 7 DEVILS RD-not a good name!  NO coast today-keep climbing-at least 7 heart attack hills.  Makes me think of FRAN:  2002 CROSS COUNTRY oldest biker at 69.  On tough days-I’d tell myself “the OLD lady” is doing it-You WILL do it.  I was 55 & I say this w/the greatest respect-FRAN ran marathons-when her knees got bad-she turned to biking-7 to 8,000 miles a yr-she & Jean are in a league by themselves.  At the Newport reunion FRAN looked younger @ 81 & I looked & felt the “Old Lady”.  So today when it gets tough I tell myself FRAN would do this-& keep biking-way BEHIND my leader.  The roads are wonderful-no traffic-great scenery-get passed going up hill.  Stop in Bandon for bkft-Minute Café-biker is there.  Mike is from BC-started in Vancouver going to SF-1st tour-said yesterday was worst day so far-slept in tent.  Ocean views leaving town-back on 101.  See petting Safari-please-want to pet a TIGER!  No charge to take Sugar & Tiger in.  Buy food-goats eat out of my hand-walking around w/deer & peacocks.  Sugar & Tiger (the jaguar) gets a picture w/TIGER while I pet it & w/a bobcat who really wants to eat them.  FUN-time to leave-more wind-slow going.  Get to PORT ORFORD-Armand talks to couple of loaded bikers who he had seen earlier.  Newly weds from PORTUGAL-started in Boston-to OR-to ARGENTINA!!!!!  Check into Battle Rock Motel ($70)-Jean & Lynn next door to us.  Dinner & map rap-tomorrow is going to be more climbing than the 2,400 ft we did today.

58 MILES  10.5 MPH (3-31 MPH)  5 HRS 31 MIN BIKING TIME

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.