Do you ever notice that some arguments and grumbles keep coming back, time and time again?
This is the 5 year anniversary of the ride Rob and I took from Astoria to Crescent City.
As you may remember, a mile from the end I got a flat!
I have been sharing some of the memories as they pop up on Facebook with the group I started for people to share their love of the Oregon Coast. I can think of no better way to see all there is to see on the coast than from the back of a bike.
One does have to be careful of course.
There are dinosaurs
You can get sunburned
There are giant fish
And whatever this sign is waning you of.
And of course there is traffic.
The vast majority of the Oregon Coast route is on Hwy 101.
We cyclists travel along with cars, semis. campers and motorcycles.
This is what brought on the Facebook discussion, a very nice lady informed me in no uncertain terms that it is not safe for a bike to be 101.
The fact that its is a designated bike route in Oregon didn’t seem to matter,
She went on to say it was far too dangerous, and I shouldn’t stop doing it
As I have matured these last few years, (STOP LAUGHING) I have learned that sometimes its best not to get all huffy and go into battle mode. In this case I think she was truly concerned about the safety of the Cyclists.
But in my head I was thinking: Dangerous? As compared to what???
Anything can happen at any time to someone. Driving a car, walking, cleaning the gutters before the big rain hits (did that today). Shoot, a damn meteor could take me out clean while I am typing this. Or, more likely in this house, I could trip over a darn cat!
Anything CAN happen, but the key, to me, is do the best you can to minimize danger while still enjoying life!
When I went sky diving, I had professionals with me!
No not Dave
Those that jumped with me.
When I climbed BIG mountains I had guides with me
Just recently, when we ran the Rogue River, we went with a group and had two people who know the river well.
In short, I do everything I can to minimize the risk.
When it comes to the bike, I have been a serious cyclist for 13 years (though I have been riding since I was a kid)
And I have 40000+ miles of experience under my belt. I have bright lights, rearview mirror and keep an eye on all the cars around me.
Is there some risk? Yes, but hell on my back porch.
Right after we first moved in, I was walking in the dark, dazzled by the night sky and almost stepped off the side. of the deck. I coulda broken something easy. Â And that’s in my own house.
What cycling does is keep me healthy, makes the heart and lungs strong, and relieves work stress.
More importantly, it makes me happy!
I could hunker and let life pass me by or I can get out and soar, seeing the world and experiencing life!
No, riding a bike on a busy road is NOT for everyone! But it is for me. Without it I would be a very sad camper and truly this woulda been a very boring blog…
“Today I did nothing, tomorrow I will do same. Thanks for visiting….”
Funny thing, I am reading Bicycling with Butterflies by Sarah Dykman (great book will do a review soon) but last night, while reading by fire on the deck, there were these two quotes
The first was her talking about how much their parents worry (and I have been told I am the cause of each of my moms gray hairs….)
This one was in response to those who said she was taking to many risks.
Finally she said, “Accepting the risk of riding a bike, lowers the risk of having a heart attack!” (paraphrased)
Folks, in a nut shell, do what you love. Those who do needle point can draw blood with a needle. Those at the gym can fall off a treadmill. I work in insurance claims so I KNOW how dangerous cars can be. And, hell, beach walks you can get lost.
I met Ross this week. He was walking the beach, forgot where he entered from his VRBO, so he kept walking thinking he would find it soon. Â When I met him he was 6 miles south of where he shoulda been…
There is risk in everything. But maybe its because I rode in the back of pickups, jumped ramps on my bike as a kid, and climbed trees, I don’t mind a little risk.
I don’t have a death wish, but to quote Jimmy Buffett, I don’t wanna die before I am dead.
So do me a favor, no matter where you are, keep an extra eye out for cyclists. We are really nice people, and we are out enjoying life!
