Day 14 Nehalem Bay to Cape Lookout (48 miles)

My first night camping since Glastonbury in June. Some things don’t change. The standard toilet break at three. This time though when I put my head out the tent I wasn’t greeted by the sight of 170,000 other tents but the sight of trees, trees and more trees. Now I knew the toilets were in walking distance but I had gotten lost earlier when it was light so I wasn’t going to chance it when I couldn’t see four feet ahead of me. Luckily the hiker biker campsites don’t employ the Pee Police that they have at Glastonbury so the only worry I had was if some hungry racoon fancied a bite of Willenhall’s finest.

I awoke proper around 7am and freshened up and made some cereal, a coffee and some baked beans, packed my gear away and set off for Cape Lookout State Park. It was a 40 mile ride but I was struggling a bit as I was still hungry and also they were quite open and straight roads which I find a bit dull. I pulled over to get and sandwich and a drink in a town called Tillamock which is famous in Oregon for making Cheese. I spoke with a man in the coffee shop who was going to do my route with his daughter next year If I had followed my guide book I should have took a left just after Tillamock which would have put me on the 3 capes scenic route but I missed my turn and continued unaware for another 3 miles. I could see a figure in the distance waving frantically and I recognised it as the man I had earlier spoken with. I pulled over to find out what he wanted. I thought you were going to Cape Lookout he asked. I am, I replied. Not if you stay on this road you won’t be, the turning you want was a few miles back up that hill you just came down. Shit..!!!!!

Back on track I entered into Cape Lookout around 5pm, paid my 6 dollars, set up my tent, made some noodles and a coffee then went for a shower and a stroll on the beach. It had been cloudy all day while riding but now the sun was out and the sky was blue. When I got back to the tent area I saw Brandon and Kate had arrived and we joined up for a cup of wine, a handful of beef jerky and a chat on how the day had gone.

Tomorrow can either be a 60 mile ride to Beverly Beach Park or a 43 mile ride to Devils Lake Park depending on which camp I choose. Dillon who we met at Nehalem had stayed at Devils Lake and said the camp was raided when he was there by the police doing a drug bust. Hmmm, 60 miles equals no drugs, 43 miles equals potential for drugs. To be honest I’m more interested in a full breakfast and a decent shower than getting off my nut on drugs.