Bandon to Lake Tahkenitch

Well, I finally found the August Vogue. What a great photo: Rach is stunning, outshining the fashion models in the endless series of high-glitz ads. If you haven't seen the magazine, check it out. I ripped out the article and I'm carrying it with me for the rest of the trip. That was definitely my highlight of the day.

Yesterday was a bit of an adventure. Riding from Bandon into the stiff wind and through the hills, I was exhausted and started looking for campsite when I hit 30 miles on the odometer. I heard about a nice campsite just shy of Reedsport (Umpqua Lighthouse State Park), so purchased provisions for the night, and forged on to the 45 mile mark. Once I cycled down the long, steep hill to the campsite, I discover that they were full (why couldn't they have put the "no vacancy" sign at the top of the hill?!). So I proceeded to ride back up the hill to the road, and another 5 miles into Reedsport and I'd stay at a hotel. After a few calls, I discovered that all hotels and campsites were fully booked because of the big ATV show/fair this weekend, which further explained my problem at Umpqua. By 8pm, I started to get desperate with the sun setting in the distance. I investigated a number of rogue campsites (i.e. roadside locations that I could pitch a tent for the night, just out of sight), but they were rare in the rocky terrain and none were really suitable. The sun set and I rode another 10 miles in the pitch black night with my tiny headlight and flashing rear light. It was simultaneously exciting and terrifying to see nothing but what my little light cast in the 20 or 30 feet in front of me. Though I was exhausted at 6pm, the evening reinvigorated me and I got my second wind. After 65 total miles, I finally found a full campsite at 10:00pm, but snuck in and pitched my tent in the woods. It was "good value": No showers or significant amenities, but it was free, so I cannot complain.