Day 4

We are currently in Tillamook, OR, and as James commented they do appear to love their cheese. We are slightly estatic right now because God has shone down upon us and completely decimated a giant hill from today's route, so we say "Thank you, God!"
We haven't posted for the past few days as we were significantly winded from the first HUGANTIC hill (megan calls it mountain) that we went up. Also, there hasn't really been a library to stop at until now. The first day was delightful. We went 72 really long miles (by delightful i mean really really really really really hard). We were drastically lied to by some bike shop folks about a "scenic" route that became the route from HELL. Some day we'll go back and tell them what we think about their "scenic" route...
We spent the first night in Catskanie, OR at their lovely city park. We were overjoyed to finally have arrived and pleased to see a carnival was in town. After stretching and locking up we ate, were warned about the carnies (jason calls them "crushable"), told we didn't look like "bike people" and that Chicken Run would be playing in the park, and finally made it over to the carnival to ride the ferris wheel. Jason tried to kill Megan on a stand-up teeter totter. When we went to the tent we found Chicken Run was set up right next to our tent-site. We slept fairly well despite it.
Day two we woke up with the intention of getting a whopping 36 miles under our belt for the day. We had been warned that the hills we were to hit might kill us. However, they were not all that bad. We got our 36 miles done in a completely reasonable amount of time and essentially uneventfully (minus the ABSOLUTELY beautiful view of the Columbia River). We ended the night with some great hang out on a human made beach in front of the holiday inn. We ate chili from amy's (finally getting to use the stove we brought, jason is so domestic) and finally went to pitch our tent for another illegal night of camping. Unfortunately when we got to our chosen site there was a couple sitting on the bench making out while their dog was running around. While Jason stood awkwardly by Megan was able to walk right up and interupt their intimate moment with, "Ummm... I'm just going to work on my bike on the other end of the picnic table... is that okay... great." After we worked on our bikes for a moment the two intruders in our space went away and we began to pitch our tent. We were soon visited by another friend who called himself, Brother Dan. Brother Dan chatted with Jason for some time, nearly 15 minutes maybe, about the ins and outs of the area. He ended the conversation with, "If the cops bother you tell them Brother Dan said you could stay here and that they should FUCK OFF!". And with that helpful advice he staggered off into the night. Good night Brother Dan. And off we went to sleep (minus jason who didn't fall asleep till about 1:00am and held closely to his swiss army knife incase the police did come).
Day 3 AKA The Best Day. We actually managed to wake up at 6:30am but for some reason were unable to take off until about 8:30. Wehn we did though it was sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. We spent the first 10 or 15 miles breezing down 101 and finally saw the ocean. It was a glorious sight. We made it to Seaside, let Megan see the end of the Lewis and Clark trail and take a picture(she teaches it to her students), and were mistaken for the beginning of the Seaside Fourth of July parade, hilarious! We decided we better get back on our way until Jason said "Look! There's a helicopter... wait, we can RIDE the helicopter." And then we did. After watching a short safety video, signing our lives away, and handing over a credit card, we were escorted to the chopper and shown the beautiful Oregon Coast from one of the few perspectives our bikes couldn't give us. Gary, our pilot kept our nerves at safe levels. Back on bikes to Cannon Beach which is darned near the most gorgeous thing we ever did see. Goonies was filmed there. We played for a bit in the water and sand, before finishing the day on two giant hills (aka mountains). We had to pass through an uphill tunnel (we didn't die!!! Praise the lord!) and go down the dangerously steep, gravelly, and windy (as in wind whoooooosh) other side. However, it did allow for a spectacular view of the ocean and surrounding area and we saw our first gays at the summit. We begrudgingly pedaled the extra 2 miles of hills to the campsite, showered (indescribable), ate more chili, and went to bed. We fell asleep to the area's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
This morning began with a challenge to be ready to go in 45 minutes. We made it in about 55. Record timing for us! We headed out of camp (jason's chain fell off for a moment but with bicycle expertise he got it back on... stupid squirrel) and found our way back to the 101. We headed down the 101 up and down and up and down and up up up up up up up up up up and down down down down and then it was FLAT and the wind was at our backs. We were riding free (and with some delicious not vegan pancakes in our bellies) it seemed like sailing really (our proposal to the environmentalists is to level ALL hills and make room for flat riding, it rules!). We are about to conclude our day with a 22 mile "scenic" route (this time not recommended by FOOLS) and we will go to sleep after eating some home made thai peanut sauce with tofu over elbows with broccoli.
Of course it hasn't all been ocean and lollipops. Jason's lungs are still struggling every now and again. Megan's feet keep losing circulation from her stupid, yet stylish, shoes. She's also developed some problem in her right knee. Overall though the trip is everything we have dreamed. More to come from Megan and Jason as the saga continues... (we're basically the harry potter movies)