Author Topic: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?  (Read 10826 times)

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Offline Nyimbo

Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« on: July 25, 2020, 06:44:29 pm »
I have the time to take a tour of the Pacific Coast, rather than do it all I was considering Portland to SF. I talked to my doctor who is a recreational cyclist just to ask for his 2 cents opinion if I should do a pacific coast bike tour.  He said it is a great idea.  Probably the safest things to do during covid.  I can do all or just the Oregon coast or?  --- but if campgrounds and restaurants are going to be closed or if our culture is simply disapproving of such things then maybe not???  I read here y'day that the Oregon hiker/biker sites are not open/


I remember reading some discussion here back in March and it seemed the general consensus was to skip it this year but now that the opportunity is here  I am finding it tempting.    What do you guys think. (please be nice  8) )

Offline staehpj1

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2020, 07:42:39 pm »
Do a little checking on the camping situation before deciding.  Otherwise go for it if you feel like it is a good idea for you.  It is a nice route and a good time of year.  After labor day is probably best, but...  The worst may be getting to and from the end points of your tour. 
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=visit.status
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30379

Offline Nyimbo

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2020, 07:48:52 pm »
The worst may be getting to and from the end points of your tour. 

Yeah, that's my other question I guess.  I haven't looked into how safe traveling is by Amtrak.  I live 60miles from the Sacramento Station. The train to Portland leaves at midnight, so can overnight with my bike to Portland.  But don't want to sleep next to someone on the train all night - even with a mask on.

Offline staehpj1

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2020, 07:57:49 pm »
The worst may be getting to and from the end points of your tour. 

Yeah, that's my other question I guess.  I haven't looked into how safe traveling is by Amtrak.  I live 60miles from the Sacramento Station. The train to Portland leaves at midnight, so can overnight with my bike to Portland.  But don't want to sleep next to someone on the train all night - even with a mask on.
One way rental car?

Offline staehpj1

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #4 on: July 25, 2020, 08:06:45 pm »
BTW, I have had pretty good luck avoiding one way drop off fees by booking through and aggregator (kayak, etc).  Also sometimes it helps to go airport to airport.  I NEVER just walk up to the rental desk.  That always seems to go badly...  "Sorry sir, we don't have any cars that we can let go one way" or  "There is a gagillion dollar one way drop off fee".  Even if I am there I book on my phone and then walk up to the desk.  Some times I have found a car to be both faster and cheaper than Amtrak, it depends on the route.

Offline Nyimbo

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #5 on: July 25, 2020, 08:11:04 pm »
A rental drop off in Astoria would be cool rather than riding from downtown Portland to Astoria.

Offline staehpj1

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #6 on: July 25, 2020, 08:21:56 pm »
A rental drop off in Astoria would be cool rather than riding from downtown Portland to Astoria.
Yeah, just be sure you can get a one way without a huge fee before committing.  Some places may be more difficult if it isn't a place they need cars.  I have generally had good luck though.

Offline jamawani

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2020, 09:31:41 am »
The rental car to Astoria is the least of your problems.

What if you get sick in Bandon? Not deathly sick, just pretty sick.
Where are you going to stay? After an overnight in the local hospital?
No motel will take you. Nor will you be allowed in a campground.
No airline will fly you home - nor Amtrak, nor Greyhound.

What would you do?

Offline staehpj1

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2020, 10:21:59 am »
The rental car to Astoria is the least of your problems.

What if you get sick in Bandon? Not deathly sick, just pretty sick.
Where are you going to stay? After an overnight in the local hospital?
No motel will take you. Nor will you be allowed in a campground.
No airline will fly you home - nor Amtrak, nor Greyhound.

What would you do?
Definitely questions you should ask yourself if planning a tour this year.  For me the answers to these and other questions mean I am not touring again any time soon.  For someone else...  Who knows?  Maybe they are willing to take the risk.  If so they should be doing it only after considering the actual numbers.  Maybe they have family or friends who would drive to pick them up in that situation.  How far they live from the tour may be a factor here.  It may not be a huge problem or it may.

I have probably done stupider and far more dangerous things in my life and lived to tell the tale, but I think this is a unique situation in the general population is dependent on everyone's decisions.  So there is that to weigh in the decision.

For sure a tour this year if done should be carefully considered and done responsibly if at all.  I think for many and probably most of us putting touring off for the immediate future or at least staying fairly local is the way to go.

Offline Nyimbo

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2020, 12:22:21 am »
Jamiwani,
yes, I realize the rental car thing is not a huge problem. I was just enjoying the conversation regarding getting there.
The biggest concern for me is keeping safe as I can reasonably, and not being stuck without a place to camp the whole way down.


Regarding getting sick, I did ask my doctors opinion and he said go for it.  My wife is director of public health nursing in our county and we have discussed it quite a bit.  She is very cautious about what we all do as she is working all day, every day, with people who are sick often because they didn't strictly follow the public health guidelines.

I'm hope I don't sound like I'm  trying to convince you I should go that wasn't my reason for posting but here is my answer to your question about getting sick in Bandon.


It wouldn't be a disastrous problem getting home if I were to get sick.    My wife is a day's drive by car to anywhere I will be on my trip except for the most northern part of Oregon coast on first few days from Astoria but my son lives in Southern Washington.  So he would be a few hours drive of me in my first week of travel. He says "go, being outdoors is the safest place you can be." Also I have a daughter in N. Calif who has a car with a bike rack.  So I feel like the pacific coast is much better for a short tour for me, compared to heading across the country somewhere.

Offline staehpj1

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #10 on: July 27, 2020, 06:05:02 am »
Have a safe and enjoyable trip.  I am jealous.  I wish I were doing the same, but after weighing the various factors don't feel it prudent in my situation.  It makes me happy to hear that someone else is getting out on the road and doing it in a sensible manner.

Offline jamawani

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #11 on: July 27, 2020, 01:13:36 pm »
Nyimbo -

I'm glad you have thought about your support net.
It does sound like you have safe back-ups and they are nearby.
For many people heading out on big trips, I doubt that is the case.
I hope you have a great trip.

PS - You do know that Amtrak can be horribly late, no?
Last trip took Amtrak twice - one was on time, the other 6 hrs late.

Offline staehpj1

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #12 on: July 29, 2020, 06:10:14 am »
Have you see the thread about hiker biker camping closures in Oregon?
https://forums.adventurecycling.org/index.php?topic=16588.0

Offline Nyimbo

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #13 on: July 29, 2020, 12:36:45 pm »
I did. I also saw a news article about huge numbers of RVers out this year. I guess they have nothing better to do during this pandemic so they are heading out. I can’t say I blame them. It’s probably a fairly safe activity For retired folks to travel self contained and all.


So today I am leaning on the side of not going north.   :'(

Offline Westinghouse

Re: Pacific Coast - August & Sept, is this a really bad idea?
« Reply #14 on: July 31, 2020, 01:56:26 am »
Social attitudes and closed campgrounds might be a problem after all. There should be wooded areas along the way. If you cannot have one, make due with another. I did the PCBR in 1993 and 1987. I cycled from Ana Cortes in WA to San Diego in CA. WA and OR were overcast and rainy. CA was dry, with  ants. It is the world's greatest scenery, except for the Alps in German-Austria. Some other places.