Vernonia, OR - One more day!

Readers! I spoiled you too much by posting all the time about a week ago. Good news is that I'm still alive and pedaling towards Cannon Beach! We're almost there!

We left Portland this morning headed to Vernonia, OR for a 48 mile ride. We crossed a bridge to get out of the city that was really nice and then followed highways to Vernonia. We climbed for awhile on the trip, but the climbing was only difficult because it was 100 degrees outside again today. Our trip coordinator Brendon drove the van and blessed us all with fudge-pops at mile 35. Dad (everyone calls him Mr. $ - Mr. Money) had a pit stop at mile 20 with redbull, gatorade, and water. About 30 mins ago I ate at a sandwich/coffee house here in Vernonia that was excellent. I can't remember the name already. The food was very memorable though. Soon I'm going to go jump in a river we passed on the way in.

Yesterday we had a day off in Portland. We woke up in a non-airconditioned church dying of heat exhaustion at about 9. (I'm still bitter, haha) We all sat around and I planned out a side trip to our final state line.. Washington! I convinced Courtney, Kira, Laura, and Boss to all ride with me. It was only a 15 mile side trip and we got to ride a bike path down the middle of an interstate to the state line. We all hung on the sign and celebrated our final state crossing and then got back on our bikes to explore the great city of Portland. My dad is currently with our trip so I waited for him to finish getting the bus looked at before Laura, Courtney, dad, and myself all rode to Lloyd Center to catch the Max(the public transportation system). We walked around Portland with no particular destination until dinner. Portland is having interesting weather with a high temp of 107 yesterday. It was very hot. I guess our destination was air conditioning! We ate the best meal of our lives at the Oregon Culinary Institute. Haley's dad is in charge there and he donated a meal at the restaurant to the group. I had a 4 course meal that was amazing. If you are heading to Oregon ever, you definitely need to go to the Culinary Institute's restaurant. The normal price for the 4 course meal is $18. All the tips and money go to help fund scholarships for the students enrolled at the school. It was amazing. Anyway, after dinner a group of us all went to Voodoo donuts and grabbed a bite to eat before heading back to the church.

The ride into Portland was a 101 mile day from Maupin, OR. I plagued Courtney with my company for 101 miles, but it was a great day for me. We were all told about 4 mountain passes that were supposed to be difficult in the morning. The first 20 miles were flat and then we had an 8-10 mile climb to our first "summit". After the first, the passes seemed more like rolling hills than actual mountains. We hit the top of the second mountain pass and flew downhill to see a summit sign for the 3rd mountain pass. We stopped for 1st lunch and everyone was in a great mood because the ride had been so scenic and the climbs weren't as bad as we had expected. After lunch we climbed a few more miles around the edge of Mt. Hood. We then descended about 10 miles through gorgeous scenery along the highway. When we reached the second lunch stop, the van went to pick up a rider with saddle sore issues, but I saw a Subway across the street and had to stop. After my refueling of Subway and water, Courtney and I flew into Portland. We were really tired towards the end, but we still had time to make a side trip to the Tour de Colvin, where Haley's parents had drinks, snacks, and a sprinkler for us to run through. It was a great side trip before making it into the church. Once we got into the church we all hung out until later and then a group of us went out together.

I don't remember the ride into Maupin, but I'm sure it was excellent. The only real news in the last week is that my dad showed up while we were riding into Fossil. He caught up to me and Laura at around the 8th mile of an annoying 10 mile climb. It was really hot and we were both tired. I looked in my rear-view mirror to see a VW bus coming my way. I waved and he pulled over stocked with ice cold water and snacks. Ever since that day, my dad, Mr. Money, has been a huge hit with the entire group. Everyone loves his VW drink stop and it's been great to have dad here to see the scenery and understand the kind of physical challenge we put ourselves through some days with the terrain. It's hard to explain in a blog how hot and steep some climbs are.. at least he will partially understand.

Well.. tomorrow is the day we all have been waiting for. It is insane to think that I will actually be in the ocean tomorrow. It's a bittersweet feeling. I'm so excited to have accomplished this feat, but I don't want to have to leave these amazing people. I have spent every waking moment with 31 people that were strangers 10 weeks ago. I have made 31 new friends and have many best friends from the group. It's going to be sad to see everyone go, but I know I will have 31 people to visit just about anywhere I go across the country. I'm trying not to think about it too much tonight and sticking with the celebration aspect, but it makes me sad thinking it's over. Well.. regardless of whether I want it to end or not, tomorrow is going to be the most epic celebration with 31 people swimming in the Pacific Ocean. I hope someone out there records all 31 of us arriving at the beach at the same time and watch us jump off our bikes, pick them up, and dead sprint towards the ocean. I'm going to dive in right away. It's going to be freezing, but perfect.

I don't know if I will post again after today, I might keep you updated on my road trip home.. but Thank You all so much for supporting me and reading about my journey. I couldn't have done it with out the support of friends and family and the donations from everyone. I have ridden far over 4000 miles, but I am still mind blown that we all made it.

The swimming hole I mentioned is calling to me - so I must be off to make more memories with friends. Thanks again.. and enjoy your air conditioning.

-B$ - Brian Phillips