Day 18--LUNCH IN LANGLOIS

September 22, 2000
Bullards Beach SP to Humbug Mountain SP

How did Humbug Mountain get its name? I looked it up on the internet before creating this blog and here is what I found: "Humbug Mountain was originally known as Sugarloaf Mountain. In 1851 it began to be called Tichenor's Humbug when an exploring party sent by Captain William Tichenor got lost and headed north of the port instead of south. Tichenor stated that the name was chosen 'to palliate their gross failure.' Since that time, Tichenor's Humbug came to be known as Humbug Mountain."

Presently, I am sitting here in a campsite on the side of Humbug mountain working on this update while dinner cooks. When I came back from the shower, Will Grover had caught up with us. We last camped with him in Lincoln City. We have combined our resources and are having steak, broccoli, wild rice, & of course, wine for dinner—tapioca pudding for desert.

Funny how cyclists home in on food. Talk of same kept us in conversation for at least 45 minutes before dinner. Places we and Will had stopped to eat and buy food in each other's absence. How many calories a 50 to 60 mile day would burn. Protein vs carbohydrates, etc.

Now I am in the shower room where there is light so that I can finish this. Will & Jess are playing Yahtzee and finishing off a second bottle of wine. Two cups of wine is all that I can handle. Today's ride was wildly scenic—not nearly as commercial as the past couple of days. The mountains are high and green, the ocean dotted with sea stacks and interesting beaches.

Susan searching for something in the many zipper pockets of her panniers;
Will and Susan chatting whilst waiting for coffee to brew after dinner

We had a short day planned, so slept in until 7 a.m., ate our customary breakfast of oatmeal, and then pedaled unencumbered by panniers and trailer to the Coquille River lighthouse, which was 3 miles from our campsite.

Internet photos of Bullards Beach State Park and Bandon

Lunch in Langlois; The beautiful Oregon coast; the Coquille River Lighthouse

Explored around there for a bit, then explored the beach for awhile, and finally did a little birding along the river. [No, Florence, we didn't see anything sexy. Saw only western grebes, gulls, several ravens (Chuck & Kevin, take note) a very dark, heavily striped, reddish-brown sparrow that neither of us could id without our bird books, killdeer, and some small sandpipers—ditto on the id.]

Returned to our snug little yurt, packed up and got off about 10:30. A lovely leisurely ride. We stopped in Langlois and ate our lunch—big avocado, cheese, and tuna sandwiches—at a little picnic table near the store. Soared down one three-mile hill with few sharp turns and broad shoulders, and had a fun day. Tomorrow begins a week of big climbs and long days. Hope my knee holds up.

Miles: 54

Route: Bullard’s Beach State Park to Humbug Mt State Park; 54 miles, 6 of which were to the lighthouse & back, & the rest on 101

Weather: Sunny pleasant day with intermittent tailwind