Awoke early in the a.m. to discover that my room in Astoria overlooks the mouth of the Columbia River as it empties into the Pacific ocean.  Drank my coffee as I watched freighters and fishing boats cruise by.  I may have even seen Lewis & Clark paddle by.  What an awesome view!  After breakfast I unpacked my bike and went for a ride.  Climbed a hill behind the town.  Went from sea level to 1500 feet elevation in a little over two miles.  The grade was at least 8% and I thought my lungs and legs were going to explode.  It was brutal.  At the top was a light house and the view was breath taking.  As I was pedaling around town I came across a big old fishing boat that was on a trailer and a long line of people was leading up to it.  The sign on it said "Bowpickers Fish & Chips".  I stopped to asked some people if it was any good and they assured me that it was the best in all of Oregon.  Being a fan of fish & chips I got in line.  A half hour later I reached the head of the line placed my order with a woman and watched as her and another woman fried me up a basket of the absolute best fish & chips I have ever had.  They use fresh Albator Tuna and it was delish.  Ate it at a picnic table and would have went back for seconds but there was now 50 people in line.

In the afternoon we had an orientation and safety meeting.  The 4 staff people are the same ones that helped me find my way across the country 2 years ago and boy are the top notch!  The 2 most encouraging things I heard were: 1) Though we will have LOTS of hills, none of them will compare to what I climbed today.  Whew!! and 2) We should relax and enjoy this ride.  If we get in before 3 p.m. we are riding too fast and not stopping to "smell the roses".  That was music to my ears!  There are 16 riders in the group and I am guessing the average age is 60.  All but 2 of them are alumni of previous America By Bicycle tours. It looks like it will be a good group of people to ride with.  My roomie is Jim.  He is the tour bike mechanic and beside being an excellent mechanic he is a good guy.  This is going to be a GREAT ride.  I can't wait til tomorrow!!

 

 

View from my room of Columbia River.  Pacific Ocean is to the left.

 

View from top of the hill.

 

Another view.

 

Astoria light house.

 

Ummmm,

 

Orientation.

 

Ride leader Mike giving safety overview.

 

Sunset over Columbia River.