Day 5: Goodbye Washington, Hello Oregon

Day 5: Ocean Shores, Washington to Astoria, Oregon

Last evening, we visited Ocean Shores Beach to catch a breathtaking sunset, which turned out to be one of the most spectacular sunsets we have ever witnessed. Today marks our departure from Washington as we make our way towards Oregon. Leaving Ocean Shores, we followed Route 105 inland to Raymond, Washington, then connected to Highway 101, passing through Hoquiam and Aberdeen along the coast, through South Bend (WA) and Bruceport (WA), where we crossed the Bone River and continued past Niawiakum River Natural Area Preserve. This 1,098-acre preserve boasts an exceptionally high-quality tidal river system, housing some of the best remaining salt marsh systems in Willapa Bay and along the entire Washington/Oregon coast. The diverse habitats within the preserve are home to a wide array of wildlife, including the state-sensitive bald eagle, great blue herons, elk, kingfishers, and many others.

Our journey continued through Bay Center Junction and Nemah, passing by the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, which spans over 17,000 acres of tidelands, temperate rainforest, ocean beaches, and small streams. The refuge also encompasses several rare remnants of old-growth coastal cedar forest. By preserving habitat for spawning wild salmon, hundreds of thousands of migrating shorebirds and waterfowl, and threatened species such as the western snowy plover and marbled murrelet, the refuge offers a glimpse into the Pacific Northwest's natural state over a century ago.

Along the way, we noticed at least five different Oyster Farms. Unfortunately, the heavy traffic on US 101 left very little room for bicyclists, adding more stress to our day than we had anticipated. Cat crossed the Astoria-Megler Bridge first and concluded that it wouldn't be safe for us to ride across due to the lack of shoulder space, heavy traffic, and a steep incline of over 10%, which would likely irritate drivers. Cat returned later to pick us up and drive us across the bridge for our safety and her peace of mind.

Speaking of which, Cat enjoyed a wonderful beach walk in Ocean Shores this morning, covering a total of 8 miles round trip. The crisp ocean air provided a refreshing start to the day, and she even discovered more than 15 sand dollars. Before meeting up with Gregg and Kevin, Cat wrapped up her time in Ocean Shores with some delicious Thai food.

Big day for the guys.....134 miles, 3,566 feet of climinging in 7 hours 13 minutes, averaging 18.6 mph.

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