I woke up early after a semi restless night, a combination of the thin ceiling and loud neighbour at the motel, and an overactive mind running through the next day. In the morning there were low clouds on the banks of the Columbia and the air was crisp.

I had a quick breakfast, cooking some oatmeal on my stove and coffee from the motel, packed up my bike, took a deep breath, and rolled out of the motel.

I planned a shorter day for the first day, around 50 miles. The route starts at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, which is semi arbitrary, but the original route was created to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States so starts and ends at military sites. I chose to start another mile up the street at the welcome to Astoria sign.

I drove into Astoria on 101, but the first section of the route avoids the busy road and takes a different bridge out of town, and then goes through the Lewis and Clark National Monument. This road goes all the way to the town of Seaside, which no surprises is a seaside town.

From Seaside the rest of the day follows route 101 going south down the road I drove north on the previous day. There’s a tunnel with no shoulder that you press a button for and it lights up signs that let drivers know to slow down because there’s bikes in the tunnel.

All in it was a good day, although the wind remained as strong as ever on the Oregon beaches. The state park campsite I’m camped at has hot showers, so after walking along the beach this afternoon I had a shower and now I’m ready for day 2.