Oregon Dunes, OR
In honor of www.hotornot.com (which Landin is probably visiting at this very moment), I have compiled a selection of photos that will test your ability to distinguish forests that have been clear cut with those that have not. So, let the game begin. (answers will follow)
Clear cut or not?
Clear cut or not?
Clear cut or not?
Clear cut or not?
OK, clearly that was an easy test. If you had trouble answering any of the questions, you either can’t see or you work for a lumber company.
Above: Belinda crossing the bridge over Coos Bay, in North Bend, OR.
Above: Skater dudes in Reedsport, OR.
Above: The sunset over the Oregon Dunes.
Tuesday, 6/6 8am
Location: Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, OR
Coordinates:
43.8567 N
124.1462 W
Yesterday’s mileage: about 67
Today’s destination: Newport, OR
The theme of the day yesterday was “clear cuts”. The forests here in Oregon are really nice to look at… when they’re not all cut down. I don’t know anything about the logistics or economics of the lumber industry, but it sure would be nice if they could “thin” forests, instead of leveling them. There was one stretch where I was riding along through the woods, approaching a medium-sized hill. When I reached to top, I looked around, and all of the hilltops were barren. Just acres and acres of stumps. Pretty sad.
I left Bandon a few minutes after Belinda did. I didn’t catch up to her until lunchtime. I stopped in Charleston, OR, to get some food, and I saw her bike parked outside a market (the only market in Charleston). Note to my fellow cyclists: I’d recommend riding through Charleston. It’s pretty dreary. For the rest of the day, Belinda and I kept within about a mile of each other. Typically, when I’d stop to give my legs a rest, or to drink some water, she’d catch up to me. She was planning to stay at a friend’s place in Reedsport, but when we got to Reedsport she couldn’t get a hold of the friend. So, at around 6:30pm, we set out for the Oregon Dunes.
We just barely reached the campsite before the sun went down. We hopped off our bikes and began setting up our respective tents as quickly as possible before the daylight vanished. However, as soon as we were off our bikes, a cloud of mosquitos converged on us like paranas. After my fifth mosquito bite or so, I forgot about sunlight and focused on saving my skin from the ravenous insects. I put on all of my rain gear so that only my face and hands were exposed.
When you hear “Oregon Dunes”, you envision camping near the ocean on mounds of soft sand, right? Well, I found myself in the woods, next to a mosquito infested lake, with no ocean in sight. To say the least, it wasn’t exactly what I had anticipated! In defense of the Dunes, it wasn’t THAT bad. My picturesque ocean view was hidden behind the next mound, which was just a short climb away.
So far, I’m making great time to meet Tori in Portland on Friday. I’m still not sure exactly how I’m going to cut over to Portland from the coast, but I figure that I’ll just ask around in Tillamook if it’s safe to take Highway 6 from Tillamook over the mountains to Portland. Otherwise, I might just chill out in Tillamook and do some chores so that I won’t have to waste time doing them when Tori arrives. The downside of that is that Tori will have to drive 75 miles west after she gets in, but that’s a whole lot easier to do in a car than on a bike, especially in the mountains.
Tags: Travel
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