Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 3

Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 3

Author: Tim Mooney September 11, 2025 Duration: 14:03

Mysterious James and I emerge from our three-night Cannon Beach odyssey to accidentally unlock our cycling superpowers, turning a modest Tillamook target into a shocking 52-mile triumph. It's the usual stuff: ice cream as performance enhancer, and the stunning revelation that hydration might actually matter. But with tomorrow's weather turning and our schedule still behind, will this newfound confidence carry us forward or set us up for an epic crash?

Key Highlights

  • Morning departure from Cannon Beach with sunny weather (rain expected tomorrow)
  • Arch Cape Tunnel challenge - one of the less enjoyable parts of the Oregon coast, but navigated successfully with proper lighting and safety gear
  • Strong riding performance despite variable winds - tailwinds providing good speed, headwinds creating challenges around rivers and inlets
  • Confidence boost as both riders felt strong throughout the day, a marked improvement from their struggles the previous day leaving Beaverton
  • Hydration success - Tim credits focused hydration efforts for dramatically improved performance
  • Cape Lookout State Park arrival - described as potentially "the best camp on the coast" with individual pod-like clearings and ocean wave sounds

 

Route Details

  • Departed Cannon Beach early morning
  • Climbed through Arch Cape Tunnel to Manzanita (20-mile checkpoint)
  • Continued south past Garibaldi and Bay City to Tillamook
  • Extended ride from Tillamook to Cape Lookout State Park
  • Riders met at Safeway in Tillamook for resupply (chicken strips and ice cream)

 

Camp Review: Cape Lookout State Park

Pros: - Excellent location directly on the coast - Individual pod-like campsites with perfect flat ground - Beautiful ocean wave sounds - Great overall facilities

Cons: - Long walk to bathhouse/showers - Charging stations only have USB-A ports (no USB-C or standard 110V outlets)

 

Tomorrow's Plan

  • Targeting Beverly Beach as the main goal
  • South Beach as potential stretch goal (though 70 miles seems too ambitious)
  • Weather forecast: overcast and cool - ideal "James and Tim weather"
  • Still working out end-of-week logistics due to being behind schedule
  •  

Technology MVP

Perplexity AI proving invaluable for route planning and logistics, including confirming their direct route choice over the longer ACA (Adventure Cycling Association) scenic route.

 

Statistics

  • Miles Biked: 52
  • Times Tim arrived before James: 2 (hmm… that's not normal. Foreshadowing…)
  • Power of James's insane phone charger: 100 watts
  • Consecutive nights at Cannon Beach: 3 (do I need to declare it as a part time residence this year?)

• • Flats: Zero


There’s a particular kind of freedom that comes from traveling by bicycle, where the journey itself becomes the destination. The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures, hosted by Tim Mooney, delves into that experience through a mix of personal stories, practical advice, and wide-ranging conversations. Rather than just a how-to guide, this podcast feels like sitting down with a knowledgeable friend after a long day on the road. You’ll hear firsthand accounts from fellow bike tourists, each with their own unique tales from the pavement and gravel, alongside Tim’s own reflections and experiments in bicycle touring. The discussions naturally cover the logistical tips and tricks that make trips smoother, but they also explore the cultural and educational aspects of moving through the world at a human pace. It’s about more than gear and routes; it’s about the connections made and the perspectives gained when you embrace a slower, more engaged form of travel. This audio companion to Pedalshift.net aims to demystify bicycle adventure, making it feel accessible and deeply rewarding. By sharing these stories and ideas, the hope is to inspire your own two-wheeled explorations, proving that a bicycle can indeed shrink the world in the most wonderful way. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded take on seeing the world from the saddle.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Podcast Episodes
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:19
A leisurely morning at South Beach State Park sets the stage for what should be the triumphant finale, but James's bike has one last surprise in store. Sometimes a cursed bike adventure is the best kind. But with tire sp…
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:24
A well-rested morning in Lincoln City spawns what seems like a reasonable plan to salvage the cursed tour, but James's borrowed bike has other ideas entirely. But with tubleless tire disasters forcing yet another major p…
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:51
The morning starts strong at Cape Lookout with perfect James and Tim weather, but what begins as a confident push toward Beverly Beach slowly unravels into mechanical mayhem and decision-making paralysis. But with the or…
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:14
Day two and three of the Oregon Coast tour evolve into an epic quest for an elusive bicycle part. Is this a mere repair mission or a saga worthy of Greek mythology with adaptive problem-solving, multiple contingency plan…
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:28
Day one of an Oregon coast adventure - what could possibly go wrong? As Mysterious James and I began our journey from Astoria after navigating July 4th rental car details, we encounter (because of course) the first of ma…
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:14
We are so back.... on the Oregon Coast with the Mysterious James for another round of two-wheeled mayhem. Ten days, 360 miles, zero expectations, and maximum potential for randomness. The Safari's ready, MJ is in, and we…
Best of Pedalshift 321: East Coast Greenway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:00
Despite living on the east coast, we spend a whole heck of a lot of attention on bicycle adventures on the west coast, right? Well, it's time we changed that! On this episode, we chat with Regina Yan about the East Coast…
Lake Ontario 2025 Takeaways [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:57
Six days, two countries, multiple ferries, and one very stubborn e-bike brake magnet later, the Lake Ontario circumnavigation attempt has wrapped up in ways both expected and completely unforeseen. What started as an amb…
Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:12
What was supposed to be a triumphant border crossing and final push from Niagara Falls back to the starting point became something entirely different when family health concerns required an immediate pivot. But sometimes…
Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:03
Transitioning from from the peaceful Toronto Island back into the urban sprawl of southern Ontario is a bit of a record scratch I'll more thoroughly experience when I eventually ride this ride, but a fast forward to a st…