Brookings

It's taken several very wet days of travel, but I've finally made it to the border. I'm a mere five miles from California, and I'm convinced that as soon as I leave Oregon it'll be sunny days and tailwinds to San Diego. I'm kidding myself, of course, but a guy can dream. The weather is supposed to change soon, which will be nice as I'm a bit soggy at the moment. Not to mention bruised, as gravel-sized bits of hail have rocketed to earth three times in as many days. The ride today was absolutely incredible, following a cliff-edge looking out over sea stacks and gold-sand beaches. I spent last night in Humbug Mountain State Park, which is not all as dreary as the name makes it sound. The campground is nestled into the base of Humbug Mountain, a 600ft hill covered in spruce and, more often than not, shrouded in fog. While there I shared dinner with a fellow tourist from Portland, a young vegan anarchist with dreams of living completely off the grid. All in all a very interesting guy to talk to, and talk we did, until the sun dropped like a rock behind the mountains and the bugs came out in force. Today I'm camped at Harris Beach campground, but no other riders have pulled in yet. May have to brave the bugs alone tonight! Tomorrow I'll break camp as soon as the weather allows, as if the pattern holds I'll be rained in until at least 9. The rain should be followed by a brief period of sun to throw everything on the bike, followed again by another torrential downpour and intermittent drizzle throughout the day. Fingers crossed though, as the weather report says sun for tomorrow. For now, I'm off to make dinner- quinoa burritos, anyone?
-Nick