Dear Friends

It is 7 days ago that my last report was dispatched since when there has been some dramatic changes in scenery and climate.

Two days ago we crossed the state border from Oregon into California, and today 30th (day 14) we passed the half way point (867 miles) between Canada and the US border with Mexico.

 Thanks to those who responded to my first report and I trust you will understand if I am unable to reply to all of you, right now. It is great to have news from home.

If any of you would care to have a different view of this ride together with some photos (of yours truly) then you may wish to look up the following website at
www.tail-winds.com
This site is updated daily by Patti one of my companions on this ride.

It is anticipated that this text and my pictures will in due course appear on my website at www.cycletheglobe.co.uk. Many thanks Paul.

My previous report ended at Lincoln City in the State of Oregon. So on
Day 7 when we departed from Lincoln City I was reminded of the strong European influence there is throughout the USA when I noted that our destination that day was Florence.

There are many hazards to contend with when travelling down the West Coast of the USA on a bicycle.  Some I expected such as logging trucks and RV's (recreational vehicles) which thanks to a wide shoulder one is able to keep clear of.

There is another potential hazard which visitors are frequently reminded of and need to be aware of.

This hazard is called a TSUNAMI  (SOO-NAH-MEE) ? which is Japanese for a series of waves which can travel up to 600 miles per hour sometimes crossing the entire Pacific.

These devastating waves are particularly prone to hit the coast of Oregon at any time of the day or night. They are caused by undersea earthquakes which occur within 32 to 70 miles of the Oregon coast. 

The giant waves can strike the coast within 5 to 30 minutes of an earthquake leaving no time to warn the public. As the Tsunami enters shallow water near land they increase in height and have in the past caused great loss of life and property.

So in the event of a tsunami the public are advised to head inland and uphill as quickly as possible and on foot as roads and bridges can be out of use.

So I now look forward to the remainder of our trek south where no doubt there will be some other hazard yet to be discovered.

I was pleased to note on our journey down the coast of Oregon that the first white man to set foot on this part of the West Coast was an Englishman.

 I refer to the explorer Capt James Cook who came ashore here in 1788 in his quest to find the North West Passage.

Another attraction which brings thousands of visitors to the rocky headlands along the Oregon coast are the migrating Gray Whales.

 Organised Whale watching along this coast was started in 1979 and the average adult whale is 14 metres long and 45 tons in weight. Unfortunately we were not priveleged to see ANY of the migrating whales.

This could be due to the poor visibilty during our passage along the coast of Oregon caused by a cold damp mist blowing in off the Pacific.

In response to some queries I have had over this ride it is known here as the annual West Coast International Bicycle Classic which has been running for nearly 10 years.  This will be the last to be organised by the same company who  staged the Odyssey 2000 tour as they intend to concentrate on an amemded Odyssey World Tour every 2 years as from 2003.

 Am runing out of space will have to cont this in next report will be in San Francisco in 3 days time