TheJBJester

Good day everyone!

I am leaving for San Fran in 8 days upon my bicycle. I will be starting my ride from Port Angeles and taking the 101 or coast the entire way. I am curious if there is anyone out there that is reading this that has also done that ride? If so, I would be more than happy to hear any suggestions you have about places to eat, see, avoid etc.

This is also my first bike tour, so any gear suggestions that you guys have would be appreciated!

Cheers,
Jesse

raybo

I rode from Bellingham, WA down to Newberg, OR (south of Portland) via the coast in both Washington and Oregon down to Tillimook. I went along the eastern side of the Olympic Peninsula. You can see my route and read my journal here.

Here is the planning page I created for my ride. It includes places I found where I might stay and other links that I found useful at the time.

Have good rain gear and use a mirror.

It was a good tour and I enjoyed it.

hokoman

Make sure you have a lot of quarters for the showers. My gf and I rode from Fort Stevens to SF 3 years ago. Plenty of site seeing, and lots of shops and restaurants along the route to pick up supplies. You'll love it.

fietsbob

Pick up an ODOT Pacific Coast bike route map, along the way . they're gratis..

Western Flyer 

Be aware the Olympic Peninsula around Forks and the Hoh River is one of the rainiest places of Earth! Bring good rain gear. The odds of riding through the area in the spring without getting wet are nil. On the other hand don't race through. Rialto Beach, the Hoh Rain Forest are must see experiences. Sol Duc Hot Springs are a bit touristy, but the water is hot and the scenery is beautiful.

Get your provisions at Forks and Kalaloch. There is not much in between on the Peninsula. Look for Ray's Food Place for groceries from Central Oregon and Northern California. They are the best. If you have multi purpose tires consider getting USFS maps for some wonderful backcountry riding, which among other benefits lets you miss the sprints through the 101 tunnels. Alternately make sure you have a very bright flashing tail light. I used two flashers through the one tunnel I raced through last fall.

Clarabelle

I've traveled parts or all of the Oregon Coast three times. A must take book is Bicycling the Pacific Coast by Tom Kirkendall and Vicky Spring. It has mile by mile directions that are better than a map. One suggestion I have came from the 2nd edition (as opposed to a later edition) that had us turn East just South of Neskowin on Slab Creek Road which became a forest service road that eventually rejoins Hwy 101. The newer edition has you stay on 101 which is a noisy ugly, steep climb over the mountain before you drop down into Lincoln city. We've done both. The old route wound thru small communities and up a twisted road built before high powered autos, so though longer, it was much easier peddling and better scenery. Also, there is a state park right in the town of Lincoln City that I would not recommend. It is only a block off the main drag where trucks and autos go all night long. Not very restful. The last time we traveled thru there, we stopped before Lincoln City at a KOA which was much more pleasant.

If I had my druthers, I'd do this ride again. However, my stoker wants a newer ride, so we are currently planning a trip next year across France, then up through the Netherlands, and ending in Denmark. Have fun. This will be a great experience.

B. Carfree

Most years I ride from Eugene, OR to Davis, CA two or three times. Here's my advice:
State campgrounds in OR are great. They are cheap, clean and have reasonably warm shower facilities. The last one before CA is in Brookings. It has the added benefit of laundry facilities.

I despise the section of hwy 101 just north of Leggett, CA. Once you turn onto hwy 1, it's all good again, but that stretch of 101 is on my "do not ride" list. I've just had too many close calls there. I generally take the Lost Coast instead. It's got a lot more steep climbing and 25-35 miles of dirt road (Usal Rd, Chemise Mtn. Rd.), but the total lack of traffic makes it my favorite. Head for the Lost Coast at Ferndale or Honeydew (you'll miss the Avenue of the Giants if you turn out at either of these) or towards Shelter Cove after the Avenue (don't do this on a Friday afternoon, though).

Be sure to follow the OR and CA coast bike route markings (except for the Lost Coast, if you opt for that). They take you clear of some of the worst of the traffic. Don't try to share an unshareable lane in OR. Our motorists will attempt to squeeze past you if you hug the white line on a bridge even with oncoming traffic.

There's a nice Sonoma County campground at the border with Mendocino County at Gualala. Turn left immediately after you cross into Sonoma County. The campground is down along the river. Be sure to use the food lockers here. The raccoons are plentiful and clever. Don't leave anything out for even a moment or they will be on it. Have a pile of quarters for the shower. I think this one takes six.

Btflmutant

Hey Carfree! How is that Lost Coast route? If we average 50ish miles a day on the Oregon coast, how much do you think we could do there?

Jseis 

Do the SR105 coast route out from Aberdeen/Cosmopolis to Raymond. Longer by 30 miles but you avoid 20 miles of hills and log trucks. 105 is flat and you'll cruise along Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay for at least 25 miles and be near the coast with a great view of the Willapa Bar entrance and Pacific Ocean. Camp along Willapa Bay at KOA Bay Center. Camp at Cape Disappointment State Park. Go through Fort Columbia tunnel and over Astoria Bridge early (7 am). Avoid 101 between Astoria and Seaside by taking old highway route to Seaside. I live off 101 in Seaview, I'll wave as you go by. Or you can chill with us.

MarkvW

In July or August you might not get wet on 101 in Washington. I'd recommend leaving PA really early in the morning because Lake Crescent is very beautiful and the road there doesn't have that much of a shoulder. The rest of the way, the road is great. I'd recommend Hwy 105 from Aberdeen to Raymond if you have the time (and the inclination to ride into a wind that can be a little stiff). Have a good trip!

claytonp

Jesse,

I did a similar ride last summer and at the last moment came across the website www.warmshowers.org. It is a community of touring cyclists who allow people to spend the night and have a meal during their tour. I stayed with a dozen or so folks on my route (they have a great smartphone app), saved a bunch of money and met some really cool people along the way. I would suggest looking into it.