ocean in florence oregon

[getoutandoit]

hi        My son and i will be riding the transamerica. In june of 2011 around the 15th . We are starting in west in florence oregon. I  have read the ocean is far from the road . Is there a better spot to start. We want to dip our rear tire. any help would be greatly appreciated thanx Dennis

[JHamelman]

If you have the BC-1511-08 version of the map (check for the number in the lower left corner of the cover), you will find directions to the Harbor Vista Park in the Service Directory. They are supposed to have good access to the ocean for your wheel dipping.

.Jennifer.

[getoutandoit]

Hi  We dont have the maps yet. I will be buying them in october i will check it out  Thank you very much.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Dennis.

[dubovsmj]

just my own two cents...but if your schedule permits i'd def start up in astoria....it's amazing scenery and you'll also find plenty of places where the road swings mighty close to the ocean....it'll only add two days or so to overall trip, but really worth it!

[staehpj1]

Another option is to just start farther up the coast.  We compromised and started in Newport and rode to Florence to join the TA there.  It is worth seeing a bit of the coast unless it is old hat to you.

[mikedirectory2]

Where is Florence?  I haven't heard of that area.

[getoutandoit]

just my own two cents...but if your schedule permits i'd def start up in astoria....it's amazing scenery and you'll also find plenty of places where the road swings mighty close to the ocean....it'll only add two days or so to overall trip, but really worth it!
[/q                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     My schedule  should permit. I will take off as much time as needed. If my boss wont give me the time off im going to quit. Then i'll have plenty of time. Hope i dont have too. Thank you   We really want see the coast.

[getoutandoit]

Another option is to just start farther up the coast.  We compromised and started in Newport and rode to Florence to join the TA there.  It is worth seeing a bit of the coast unless it is old hat to you.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          I think we will start further up the coast.  Seeing the west coast is not old hat to us. I have wanted to get out there for sometime now. When i think about it i havent been past ohio. We live in maryland.

[staehpj1]

I think we will start further up the coast.  Seeing the west coast is not old hat to us. I have wanted to get out there for sometime now. When i think about it i havent been past ohio. We live in maryland.

You won't regret it.  The coast is beautiful and good riding.  We flew in to Portland and got a one way car rental (medium sized SUV reserved from Enterprise $143.69 in 2007) to Newport and started the ride there.  It worked out well for the three of us.

I am from Maryland too (Parkville).  Check out our journal at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/staehling2007 if you are interested in details of our trip.  I tried to capture as much useful info as I could and we have some pretty good pictures.

[DaveB]

We drove through Florence on Highay 101 about three years ago and the town is very small.  There isn't anything in it more than a few blocks from the ocean. 

Use Google Earth or Google Maps and look up Florence, Oregon on either of them.  You will immediately see how close to the water everything is.

Starting further up (or down) the coast is a fine idea as the ride along it is breath taking but thinking Florence is too far from the ocean isn't a reason.

[chris_and_don]

My wife and I will also be doing the TransAmerica in 2011 (on a Tandem), and right now we plan on starting near Florence.  I just called the Florence Chamber Of Commerce, and they said you can get to the ocean just north of town.  Take Heceta Beach Road west from 101.  Looking on Google Earth, it looks like it would be pretty easy to get to the ocean via this road.

chris_and_don

[bikinggrandma]

I live on the Oregon coast a few miles north of Newport.  By all means start in Newport and ride south to Florence (should be a short 1 day ride, unless you "stop to smell the roses" which I highly recommend; also it is more downhill than uphill!).  There are some great bike rides out of Newport, especially the Yaquina Bay Road, and an excellent bike shop (Newport Bike Shop).  The ride between Newport and Florence is breathtaking.  The towns of Waldport & Yachats will help break the ride up a bit.  The only caution I would give you is that as you head south out of Newport use care crossing the bridge over Yaquina Bay; there can be heavy wind gusts & it is not particularly bike friendly; I normally walk my bike over - there is a pedestrial walk area).  Newport has a world class aquarium, if that interest you.  If you have any specific questions about the area, I'll be happy to try to answer them.

[BikingViking]

We rode the coast last summer and it is fabulous. Hiker-biker sites in campgrounds, lots of other cyclists, nice shoulders,(for the most part) and a great tailwind from the north. The Oregon coast is a very sought after destination for cycle tourists, I highly recommend it. And to answer your query, Florence is right on the ocean, as a matter of fact the beach encroaches on the town and they have had to build walls to keep it back in certain areas.
Ride On