Messages

106

Food Talk / Re: to cook or not-thoughts on stoves and "stuff"

« on: October 28, 2017, 02:58:35 am »

I agree with your statement on the Whisperlite - have used an old international one for a very long time. On that one (pre-shake version) it was sort of possible to simmer food. Though you had to keep an eye on it. Last year I treated myself on a new stove: Dragonfly and got a Dragon Tamer Silent cap with it. This makes it very easy to cook anything on your stove (high heat or simmering) with not too much noise.

Reason I went for the dragonfly is the possibility toi use various types of fuel. In Europe I prefer using MSR or Primus fuel but for my nextr trip - Pacific Coast - I do not know if I will be able to bus MSR/ Primus fuel everywhere and therefor like it to be able to use petrol if need be as well.

107

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast question - WA area - advice hugely appreciated

« on: October 09, 2017, 12:59:25 am »

cgarch - thanks for the heads up on July Creek and all the other very useful info. Will follow your suggestion and head to Falls Creek FS. I haad a closer look at the area yesterday and decided that instead of following the 101 into Hoquiam I will take the BIAS 26 turnoff into Moclips and then follow State Route 109 into Ocean City State Park. And from there on to Twin harbors. This way it makes it a nice 2 day ride.

I will keep the Brady's tip in mind - always nice to know where they have decent food.

Will have another look at the track from Aberdeen to Raymond - any suggestions? Or just take a road parallel tot the 101?

Good to know that Bush Park has shelters and showers. The reason I was thinking about the KOA are the laundry facilities.

108

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast question - WA area - advice hugely appreciated

« on: October 08, 2017, 02:56:32 am »

Thanks again guys for the exctensive and very useful input.

Jamawani - thanks for the mileage indicators and the various links. Super! So far I have planned from July Creek Campsite (Quinalt Lake) to Twin Harbors - which for me makes it a very long stretch (100km). And am contemplating to go either via BIAS 26 or a bit further down Kilpatrick Road to State Route 109 via Copalis beach, Ocean City and camp at Ocean City State Park (about 60Km/ 38 miles). And then the next day Ocean City State Park - Twin Harbors State Park (40 miles). This way I could indeed as you suggested detour to Westport and do the dune trail. From Twin State I either will go to the KOA or Bush State Park + stay  for an extra day to do some birdwatching. From Bush State to cape dissapointment. Looks like my thoughts kinda followed yours even though I did not know that the other day when thinking about it  .

Make sure to visit the Lewis & Clark Center at Cape Disappointment - then go for a swim in Deadman's Cove.

will do so.

KKtice - thanks your thoughts on Astoria bridge. I think I must have ridden it 25 years ago as well but do not really remember. So I think I will keep Astoria bridge in my plans. One does not get to cross such a long bridge every day.

John N - Good to hear that might I deviate to the Hood Canal I will not have any camping problems. Can I safely assume that one can camp in all State parks?

109

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast question - WA area - advice hugely appreciated

« on: October 07, 2017, 03:42:12 am »

Thanks all for sharing your thoughts.

I am not sure I want to go down all the way to Westport since the ferry is out of commission. For now I am thinking of following the 101 into Aberdeen and then take the 105 down the coast.

Jamawani - I will take your tips when further planning my route. I do not know if I will have time to plan "If you have the time, take Hwy 4 east thru Skamokawa to Cathlamet" into the trip but if I do I will definitely include it. Am wondering though about the campsites possibilities  on this stretch. Could you give me any tips? Am covering roughly 45/50 miles a day. When not possible I plan to cross into Oregon at Astoria and pick the ACA route up from there. Else I will pick the ACA up from Cathlamet.

CMajernik - thanks for the link towards the WA map. Thanks for the explanation of choice as well. Of what I remember I never thought the 101 was busy or dangerous to cycle on. Though then I was late in season and this time I will be there in the main season (late June, July till mid August).

John - thanks for your input. Will keep that also in mind.Though I must admit that I would like to follow as much of the coast as possible. What was the camp possibility like along Hood Canal and Columbia River?

110

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast question - advice hugely appreciated - WA area

« on: October 06, 2017, 09:30:55 am »

I did the same thing 25 years ago but ike it for this 25th anniversary for me of cycling  this route to be slightly different this time. Am using the book's route from Vancouver up North to cross Powell river to cycle south on Vancouver Island to Victoria. Hop on the ferry to Port Angeles to bike the peninsula and South wards towards SF. The reason I am cycling as far as SF has to do with my return flight back home.

I read about the free ODOT map will see if they have adigital copy of that for I do not think they will ship one oversees. Probably will get one when in Orgeon though I use my GPS to navigate my route from. Do not like to carry much paperwork when on the road. Have the book for that reason as an e-book on my tablet. And the app: apps.me on my tablet with the plotted route as well, am using my GPS ro ride the tracks from,  in case I need to diverge for whatever reason.

I like the book for its distance details between places even though services might have changed over the years SPs/ NPs and roads have not. Would be nice, though,  if the book would get updated

With the digital ACA tracks  I find it difficult to calaculate the mileage from and that is where the book comes in very helpful. Just to order the maps for that reason I find a bit very expensive since I will not use them afterwards. With all the digital  maps available there is not really a need for them anymore. Unless of course you use them to navigate from which I am not.

Anyway, am still looking for advice on which of the 2 tracks to follow - ACA's or the book's version. So, please those with local knowledge of the area share your thoughts with me.

111

Routes / Pacific Coast question - WA area - advice hugely appreciated

« on: October 06, 2017, 06:23:10 am »

 :)I am busy slowly planning the route I would like to take from Vancouver to San Francisco this summer. And am making a mix of the ACA tracks and the Bicycling the Pacific Coast book.

I am getting a bit stuck between July Creek campground and Twin Harbors State Park. The ACA route goes quite a bit inland for a long time. It does not go back towartds the coast till Warrenton whereas the Bicycling the... goes towards Aberdeen and then follows the 105 till Warrenton where both routes follow the same track again.

I am wondering is there a specific reason that the ACA sticks to the 101 instead of following the 105 for a bit? For if there is no particular reason I am inclined to follow the 105 from Aberdeen.

Any thoughts would be really welcome and helpful.