Day 53: Rest day in Astoria

Lewis & Clark statue in Seaside Beach


Breakfast today consisted of two eggs, two pieces of toast and a cinnamon bun. Many meals have been about twice what I would normally eat, and I snack between meals. I typically have not had many options on what to eat. Kansas started out with lots of burgers and Mexican food. That transitioned into steaks and prime rib (Friday prime rib nights are popular out west). I will have to cut back on the number of eggs, the number of burgers, French fries, red meat and the amount of sugars I have been consuming when I get back. 

After breakfast I bought a book about Lewis & Clark for the flight back, washed my riding clothes at a laundromat, and restocked my food bag for the two days of riding ahead. 

For lunch we had a “don’t miss” recommendation for fish and chips at Bowpickers. It was basically a small boat made into a stationary “food truck”. I couldn’t bring myself to eat any more fries, so I had battered fried fish without the chips. The fish was freshly caught albacore tuna, and it was good. (Definitely not a balanced meal though 😬). 

Whenever I have to go up stairs my quad muscles remind me that, in the last 3 days, I rode 232 miles and ascended 10,885 feet. 

After lunch Brian and I went to the Columbia River Maritime Museum. When the freshwater Columbia River crashes into the Pacific it creates shifting sandbars and big waves. It is one of the most hazardous areas for ships in the country.   The museum told the story of shipwrecks and the people that try to save the crews, as well as the ecology of the river and Native American Indians relationship to it.

Brian pointed out that he and I have been traveling  together for 42 days.  I have really enjoyed his company and I will miss riding with him.  I learned a lot from him about connecting with people; he is a master at it.  We shared a lot beyond the route.  There were moments that were breathtaking, challenging, funny, miserable, scary, exhilarating, educational, thought provoking, boring, frustrating and full of wonder.  We had many interesting and stimulating conversations, and I hope we learned some things from each other; I know I did.  He will be taking a bus to Portland early tomorrow, so we said goodbye tonight after dinner.  I am not good at goodbyes, so we agreed that we would stay in touch and get together the next time he is in the Washington DC area.  

Tomorrow I turn East as I make my way along the Lewis & Clark trail to Rainier, and then to Portland the next day.  

Comments

  1. Jay GrahamJuly 13, 2026 at 12:12 AM

    Congratulations!!! Can’t wait to hear more stories. Everyone asks how you are doing. Glad you had a visit with Peter.

    ReplyDelete

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