Yaquina Lighthouse Century
Hosted by: Yaquina Wheels Bicycle Club
Start/Finish: Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Newport
Oregon.
Rides:
2005 = 62 miles
One day, while surfing the net, I find a link to the Yaquina Wheels Bicycle Club
page, and it lists this Yaquina Lighthouse Century. Its a great looking
page, the ride is on a Sunday, the day after the Vine Ride and day
before our one year anniversary. This will make a great tie in and
provide a good reason to go to the coast. I quickly confer with Lisa,
to get the approval, then verify with the ride organizers that there is
still room, ( they are limiting it to 100 riders). Once assured that
yes, theres room, I can make a reservation at the Agate Beach Hotel, in
Newport, where the bicycle club has secured a (slightly) discounted
rate. After an upgrade to a nicer room, with ocean view, the
accomodations become a little spendy, but its not just a ride, it is
our anniversary. We are able to get all our questions answered from the
web site, or from mail to and from the organizers. They are really
responsive. They mail everyone two days before the ride just reminding
us its coming, (we didnt forget) and to let us know of an early packet
pickup on Sat night. We get to the hotel, after our days riding in the
Vine Ride, about 400. Time enough to check in, unpack, relax and make
our way to packet pickup prior to dinner. The route actually goes past
the hotel, so in the morning, we simply ride the 2 miles to the start,
passing many riders heading out. This is an out and back ride, so we
pass a lot of riders on this day, and everyone is friendly, giving us
the typical bikers wave/nod/smile. Its foggy and slightly chilly in the
morning, but we are assured it will burn off, and there will be no
rain. So, we get to the start, the route starts with a quick spin
around the lighthouse, then back down to 101, for a short bit then
winding along the coast north of Newport, before ducking beneath the
Yaquina Bay bridge, into the old Newport bayfront, on its way out along
Yaquina Bay. Staying right along the Yaquina river, we make a short and
steep climb into Toledo, then continue upriver to Elk City, for the
second rest stop. Then turn around and go back the way we came. Very
little traffic. We are surprised by this, but consider that there was
less traffic on this ride than any ride we have ever done in the
valley. Quiet, with some challenging, though relatively short climbs,
with something wonderful to look at. Great food, with plenty of tasty
cookies, and the guys at the stops were more than helpfull and
friendly. The winds started to pick up in the afternoon on the way back
in while we rounded the northern section of the bay, heading west, to
the shore, but that didnt last long. The next day we even got
mail from the organizers, with a picture of a bar end that was found in
the parking lot. No other ride has ever followed up with a notification
for lost and found items. Talked with one guy about his idea for an
even better route for next years ride. Wow, he has a ride that is even
better than this one?
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