The bicycle journey from Canada to Mexico in support of Autism Speaks commenced today, starting at the Canadian Border Crossing in Blaine, Washington. Spanning a distance of 95.88 miles, we tackled an elevation gain of 3,642 feet, completing the trip in 5 hours and 44 minutes. Our path led us along the coastline, passing through Birch Bay, Ferndale, Bellingham, Bellingham Bay, and Samish Bay, then continuing through Edison and Deception Pass State Park before arriving at the Coupeville Ferry Terminal.

We will spend the night in Oak Harbor before boarding the ferry across the bay tomorrow for Day 2. The stunning landscape featured beautiful coastal views, oyster beds, rainforests, well-maintained roads, farmlands, and trees displaying early autumn hues with red leaves. The weather was pleasantly cool, with temperatures in the low 60s and some light coastal drizzle. Fortunately, we only had one flat tire towards the end of the day, but we still had a great time cycling together. After saying goodbye to the group, Cat set off on a 7.25-mile coastal hike.

CHECK OUT THE RIDE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS HERE: https://catwesterbeck.wixsite.com/pedalingforpurpose/post/day-1-canada-to-oak-harbor

On the second day of the journey from Canada to Mexico, we embarked on a ferry from Coupeville, Washington to Port Townsend, Washington amidst dense fog that limited visibility to just 50 feet ahead of the boat. The weather remained cloudy with temperatures around 62 degrees for most of the day. Upon reaching Port Townsend, we encountered a setback as Gregg's bike had a new flat tire, this time on the front wheel. After some troubleshooting, it was determined that the tire stem was leaking. Fortunately, Gregg managed to fix it, allowing the group to resume their journey without significant delay.

Port Townsend is a charming, historic town with a vibrant arts scene, framed by well-preserved Victorian architecture, the Olympic Mountains, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Port Townsend Bay. The day's route mostly followed the Olympic Discovery Trail, which traces the former North Coast Railway line linking Port Townsend and Port Angeles. The trail comprises paved paths and gravel roads along the coastline. During the ride, we spotted a couple of deer and passed by Port Townsend Paper, known for recycling sawmill waste and cardboard into various paper products.

Due to the ferry crossing and bike repair, it was a relatively short day of cycling, covering 37.03 miles with an elevation gain of 1,854 feet. The journey took 2 hours and 41 minutes, concluding in Sequim, Washington, where we were greeted by sunny skies and where we will spend the night.

CHECK OUT DAY 2 PHOTOS & VIDEOS: https://catwesterbeck.wixsite.com/pedalingforpurpose/post/day-2-oak-harbor-wa-to-sequim-wa

The day began in Sequim, Washington, on the Olympic Discovery Trail. We were lucky to have clear blue skies and cool temperatures all day. Most of our time was spent on the trail along the shores in Port Angeles and around Crescent Lake, a stunning blue lake surrounded by tall spruce trees. This leg of the journey showcased some of the most breathtaking scenery so far. Cat drove around the lake, enjoying the winding roads lined with trees and beautiful lake views. After passing through tunnels, forests, and stunning landscapes, we reached Forks, Washington, known as one of the rainiest places in the continental US and famous for its appearance in the Twilight series. Forks hosts an annual Twilight Festival, which is scheduled for this weekend. Gregg and Kevin covered a distance of 83.32 miles, with an elevation gain of 3,133 feet, and a total ride time of 5 hours and 10 minutes, averaging a speed of 16.1 mph.

In the morning, Cat took a walk along the Olympic Discovery Trail, where the trees were already changing colors and shedding their leaves as Fall approaches. She completed a substantial walk, covering just over 8 miles today.

DON'T MISS DAY 3'S PHOTOS AND VIDEOS: https://catwesterbeck.wixsite.com/pedalingforpurpose/post/day-3-sequim-wa-to-forks-wa

Today, our journey started in Forks on the 101, a road with limited space for cyclists and various construction areas where we had to pause briefly. We managed the initial 30 miles smoothly in the morning, but encountered heavier traffic later on, with a few large trucks passing too closely, which was unnecessary and unwelcome. The 101 stretch took us along the coast in Kalaoch and then veered inland to bypass the Quinault Indian Reservation. Thankfully, we later switched onto the Moclips Highway, leading us back to the coast with better riding conditions.

Upon reaching Ocean Shores, we were greeted by clear sunny skies, a hint of coastal fog, and a refreshing ocean breeze. Ocean Shores is a delightful small seaside town surrounded by vast sandy beaches along the Pacific Ocean and Grays Harbor. While cars are permitted on the beach, some individuals got stuck and needed assistance.

During the day, Cat enjoyed two beach walks totaling 7 miles.

Today's ride covered 112 miles, with an elevation gain of 4,108 feet, taking us 6 hours and 17 minutes at an average speed of 17.8 mph.

SEE DAY 4 PHOTOS & VIDEOS: https://catwesterbeck.wixsite.com/pedalingforpurpose/post/day-4-forks-wa-to-ocean-shores-wa

Day 5: Ocean Shores, Washington to Astoria, Oregon

Last evening, we visited Ocean Shores Beach to catch a breathtaking sunset, which turned out to be one of the most spectacular sunsets we have ever witnessed. Today marks our departure from Washington as we make our way towards Oregon. Leaving Ocean Shores, we followed Route 105 inland to Raymond, Washington, then connected to Highway 101, passing through Hoquiam and Aberdeen along the coast, through South Bend (WA) and Bruceport (WA), where we crossed the Bone River and continued past Niawiakum River Natural Area Preserve. This 1,098-acre preserve boasts an exceptionally high-quality tidal river system, housing some of the best remaining salt marsh systems in Willapa Bay and along the entire Washington/Oregon coast. The diverse habitats within the preserve are home to a wide array of wildlife, including the state-sensitive bald eagle, great blue herons, elk, kingfishers, and many others.

Our journey continued through Bay Center Junction and Nemah, passing by the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, which spans over 17,000 acres of tidelands, temperate rainforest, ocean beaches, and small streams. The refuge also encompasses several rare remnants of old-growth coastal cedar forest. By preserving habitat for spawning wild salmon, hundreds of thousands of migrating shorebirds and waterfowl, and threatened species such as the western snowy plover and marbled murrelet, the refuge offers a glimpse into the Pacific Northwest's natural state over a century ago.

Along the way, we noticed at least five different Oyster Farms. Unfortunately, the heavy traffic on US 101 left very little room for bicyclists, adding more stress to our day than we had anticipated. Cat crossed the Astoria-Megler Bridge first and concluded that it wouldn't be safe for us to ride across due to the lack of shoulder space, heavy traffic, and a steep incline of over 10%, which would likely irritate drivers. Cat returned later to pick us up and drive us across the bridge for our safety and her peace of mind.

Speaking of which, Cat enjoyed a wonderful beach walk in Ocean Shores this morning, covering a total of 8 miles round trip. The crisp ocean air provided a refreshing start to the day, and she even discovered more than 15 sand dollars. Before meeting up with Gregg and Kevin, Cat wrapped up her time in Ocean Shores with some delicious Thai food.

SEE DAY 5 PHOTOS & VIDEOS: https://catwesterbeck.wixsite.com/pedalingforpurpose/post/day-5-goodbye-washington-hello-oregon

The morning began with dense fog that made it challenging to wear sunglasses as we rode along the 101 through Warrenton, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Bay City, and Tillamook, known for its cheese production. After Tillamook, we turned onto Route 131 leading to Whiskey Creek Road, which meandered along Hathaway Creek and eventually merged into Cape Lookout Road, taking us to Pacific City, offering a welcome break from the 101 traffic. South of Neskowin, we veered onto Slab Creek Road, an old tree-lined route without bike lanes or shoulders, but significantly less traveled, albeit adding 12 extra miles to our journey. Early on, we encountered a pair of large elk on the roadside.

Seaside, a quaint resort town in northwestern Oregon, boasts a beach famous for its surf breaks and a vintage promenade from the 1920s. Further south, the Tillamook Head National Recreation Trail ascends a wooded cape to Ecola State Park, providing vistas of the historic Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, also known as Terrible Tilly due to the harsh storms and challenges faced by its keepers during its operation from 1881 to 1957. The lighthouse, located off Tillamook Head in Clatsop County, Oregon, was the most expensive one built in the United States at that time. The area teems with wildlife, including eagles in the Necanicum River estuary and migrating gray whales.

During the ride we observed numerous fishing boats in the bay, with one bay so crowded with boats and fishermen that it even had a floating bathroom in its midst.

Returning to the 101 with detours to avoid congestion, we passed through Lincoln City and concluded our journey in the Taft district of the small town. The beaches in Lincoln City, although strewn with sizable logs that enhance its charm and offer shelter to beachgoers, are undeniably beautiful. These logs are washed ashore annually due to high water levels, strong winds, and river flooding.

Cat explored Lincoln City and came across some interesting glass businesses. One of them was a glass blowing studio with a display of their exquisite creations. Adjacent to the studio, visitors could pay to make their own glass artwork with assistance from the artisans. The glass blowers also hide 15 glass balls on the beaches of Lincoln City daily during the summer, inviting people to find them as part of a fun daily activity, akin to an Easter egg hunt. Another establishment, Fusion Glass, resembled stained glass but used a different technique where small glass pieces are attached to a clear glass base to form various shapes and designs, fused together in a kiln to create stunning artworks. Fusion Glass also offered classes similar to painting or pottery sessions. Although Cat couldn't attend a class today, she has identified a teacher in Scottsdale and plans to try her hand at the craft in the near future.

During the ride, a distance of 116.51 miles was covered, including a series of climbs with an elevation gain of 6,647 feet, all completed in a total time of 6 hours and 59 minutes.

DON'T MISS PHOTOS & VIDEOS OF DAY 6: https://catwesterbeck.wixsite.com/pedalingforpurpose/post/day-6-astoria-to-lincoln-city-taft-or

The Oregon Coast is rich in natural beauty! Today's scenery is truly exceptional.

We kicked off the day in Coos Bay amidst foggy conditions and temperatures hovering around 60 degrees and Kevin having a flat front tire before we got started. The group ventured down a road known as 7 Devils Road, a seldom-traveled route that offered a peaceful morning with a few uphill stretches.

Eventually, we merged onto the 101 and passed through Bandon, a city in Coos County, Oregon, situated on the southern side of the Coquille River estuary. The town was named by George Bennet, an Irish settler, in 1873 after his hometown in Ireland. Bandon is also home to the renowned Bandon Dunes golf resort, and the coastal landscape boasts picturesque sand dunes. Cat even spotted a pair of wild turkeys (aside from her travel companions) during the drive.

In Bandon, you'll find the Coquille River Lighthouse, originally called Bandon Light, which was established in 1895 to guide ships safely into the Coquille River and Bandon harbor. Unfortunately, a devastating wildfire in 1936 led to the town's bankruptcy, resulting in the closure of the Coquille Light in 1939.