Ride Stats – Atlantic to the Pacific
Today was a very special last day. It started out foggy and drizzly through some back farm roads. The Olympic peninsula is filled with plenty of hills. My first mile and a half climb came at the three mile mark. Continuing through the windy roads I eventually connected with the Olympic discovery trail. The trail ran the shoreline of Crescent Lake, one of the highlights of this trail. What an amazing view it was even with the clouds hovering midway up the mountains. The trail continued through the rainforest and several tunnels. Eventually the lake faded into the distance and it was pure forest. The lush green vegetation, ferns, and wildflowers cover the ground. The trail was covered in pine needles. I only saw a couple of people near one of the trailheads. Other than that it was just the quiet of the day. (No cell service for music). I stopped several times to take photos and different videos. As I begin climbing away from a river, a young lady Selena came alongside of me. She was at the beginning of her journey from Vancouver to San Diego down the Pacific Coast highway. Our two routes criss crossed on the trail. She traveled all the way from New Zealand. She told me all about her journey arriving in North America and now her plans to ride down the coast. We rode together for the next 15 miles. It was so much fun to meet someone along the trail and talk. It makes the miles go by so much quicker, not that I was trying to race – especially today. We stopped at the junction point and waited for Lisa Marie to arrive. Here, the two of us traded contact information and pictures. From this point she would continue south and I would finish my journey west. With only 13 miles to go Lisa Marie headed to the endpoint and wait. The final miles went pretty quick. It was mostly downhill. Getting to the apex of the one last climb, it was nothing more than to glide into the coast. La Push is a tribal community. There’s was a small campground, marina, and local tribal buildings. The coast was filled with massive rocks jutting out from the ocean just like I had seen a month ago during our smoked out audible. Getting to a parking lot I had to dismount from the bike and find a small trail that led to the beach. The beach was covered with massive trees that resembled the large redwoods stacked up on the shore that washed in from the ocean. That was the largest driftwood I’ve ever seen. The beach was filled with a variety of stones that had all been tumbled smooth from the tide. With the tide out, the beach went out about 35 yards. It was truly surreal to walk that last 35 yards into the ocean realizing I had just crossed the United States on a bike. My whole trip I was lavished in God’s grace. His planting of the seed for the trip. All the riding over the last many years to prepare me. His clear guidance in the planning of my route. (My route threaded the needle through different forest fires that had I gone another way I would have been stopped completely). His provision and protecting while riding especially solo. And His presence on my whole journey. So I give him thanks and praise.
To all my family and friends, especially Lisa Marie and those who were praying for me throughout my time. I can’t thank you enough. It’s been a crazy journey and one that I won’t forget. Thank you for being a part of it and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone when I get home.
Note. Over the next several weeks I plan to go back and add daily stats and video as I begin to compile all this into one location.
Insights From Lisa Marie
Today I dropped Norm off at starting point one last time. Today being all trail the plan was to meet at the end😁. I drove around the peninsula to see 2 more lighthouses. At Clallam Bay the lighthouse is gone but there is a tower with plans to restore it. With the clouds and fog on the coast I couldn’t see it but got picture of the caretakers house. Then onto Cape Flattery at Neah Bay. Beautiful lighthouse but 30 minute walk to get to it and I didn’t have the time so took picture across the bay from trail. Headed toward Olympic National Park and drove around Lake Crescent. At one point my cool dirt road find took me right next to the trail Norm biked on through the woods. Then I hit the dead end 😁. After leaving the woods I made my way towards the beach in La Push where Norm would end. La Push is a cool tribal community and wow beautiful beaches. After Norm finished we drove over to Rialto Beach to celebrate. Great rocks, surf and the largest driftwood I have ever seen! So proud of him to accomplish this bucket list goal 🥰😘🍾🍾
