My wheels are smoking

      I  blew out of Astoria with the assistance and encouragement from my daughter, Julia. She drove me three hours just to my starting point.  Pictures and hugs accompanied the send off.  

The first day out was trial by fire, narrow bridges, never ending hills and, of course, the usual thoughtless drivers.  Where is a paint gun when I need it. Aside from the usual impediments a bicyclist must suffer, the views of the Pacific were spectacular. That afternoon I stopped  in Nahalem, 47 mile, and found a funky like place which fit my budget, "The Bunk House".  My body is burning calories at tremendous rate, perhaps 6,000 calories or more per day.   Water wise, I am chugging around four liters a day and then some after each ride.  Is there any question that every night I sleep like I am dead.