Day -1. June 13, 2015:  Awoke in Astoria far too early this a.m..  It always takes too long to adjust to the 3 hour time difference.   After breakfast I was relieved to find my bike in the motel storage room and spent an hour unpacking and putting it back together.  By 8:30 am I was out the door for a ride.  The view out my motel window overlooks the Columbia River and there is a bridge leading over it to the Long Beach Peninsula which is part of Washington State.  I was feeling adventurous so I decided to head out over it and I was rewarded with an incredible ride and views.  The bridge is 5 miles long.  The ride on the peninsula was WONDERFUL as my route traced the southern tip where the river merges with the Pacific Ocean.  It was quite hilly and challenging.  When I first got on the bike I felt awful, as it had been nearly 10 days since I last rode and I worried that I had lost all of my conditioning. But a few miles into it I found my groove and road like the wind.  The terrain was quite hilly and my 194 pound turbo charged body flew up the inclines without missing a beat!  While on the peninsula I even found an Espresso shop and enjoyed my first double shot of the trip.  Ahhh life is good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After returning to Astoria I ventured downtown to find the Bowpicker Fish and Chips boat.  I ate there two years ago when I did the West Coast ride and they have the absolute best fish and chips I have ever eaten.  They are delish!!  The restaurant consists of an old fishing boat sitting on a trailer on the edge of a parking lot.  They have 3 employees and the only thing they serve is fish and chips.  When I got there at 12:30 there were 50 people in line.

 

 

 

After lunch I returned to the motel to check in with America By Bicycle and get all registered and have my bike checked out.  Was able to meet many of the people I will be spending the next 37 days with.  I know only one of them, John a 75 year old rider from Seattle.  I rode with him two years ago on the West Coast ride.  He is a very interesting guy and truly an inspiration to us “young” guys.  My first impression of the rest of the group is very positive.  They look like they are going to be a fun group!  My roommate’s name is Bob.  Poor Bob!  Hope he is up for me……………..  He may be calling Leisa for advice or condolences!

 

 

For dinner I first went to “Mary Todd’s Working Man Bar” for a drink.  Mary, the owner, introduced herself to me and noted that she has been sober for 4 years.  Two years ago when I met her she reported that she was sober for 2 years.  When I first saw her this year, my impression was that she had fallen off the wagon.  If Mary can be believed, my first impression was wrong!  I then went out for fish and chips at another place that was supposed to be as good as the Bowpicker.  It was not!  After dinner I went to the “Merry Time” bar.  Marty G. if you are following this blog I am happy to report that the people at “Merry Time” knew your daughter and reported that she had in fact worked there last week.

 

 

When I returned to the motel there were several of my fellow riders hanging out in the lobby.  We talked for awhile and once they learned that I have already ridden my bike Across America, they picked my brain plum clean of advice and riding wisdom.  Tomorrow the ride begins!!!

 

The America By Bicycle vehicles waiting for the adventure to begin!!!