Not even a night sleeping on a dreadful pull out couch could keep me down today - and it was a dreadful bed. I was so tired I slept anyway. To my great relief my tyre was still up so I was confident about riding again. Our briefing included the information that we were riding some of the most stunningly scenic country of the ride. We have heard that before and so far it proved true each time.
The road is the Three Capes Scenic Route but the road to the third cape is in such a state of disrepair that it is closed. The first two however are worth the climb to see the view of the ocean.
Fog is interesting along this coast as it rolls in and out during the day, sitting often in a thin line hugging the coast so that the ocean is clear beyond it. It does not follow the coastline as closely as The Great Ocean Road at home, but riders get glimpses along the way which also takes us through some wonderful forest sections.
We join the highway for a while, confirming again that it was a good decision yesterday to avoid it, and head to the game Tillamook cheese factory for some ice cream. This is a great barn of a place overrun with tourists so we don't stay long.
Off the highway again and a stretch of more scenic backroad, one can never have too much, before the last few miles on the main road again. We have had dire warnings about the final short but steep hill just before the end and there it was as we turned a corner. We headed up and as I heard a huge truck change down gears at the bend in the hill I feared there was more hill around it. Happily not so, the dreaded and feared steep climb was much shorter than anticipated and it transpired that the anticipation was the worst part.
Manzanita, the prospect of a rest day, and a motel on the breakfront - what more could one ask? A fire on the beach after dinner? Make it so, number one... Marshmallows included? Of course. A beautiful end to another good day.
It is hard to believe that there are only three more days of riding.. The end seemed so very far away when we set out and now it rushes toward us.
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