Florence, OR

Rolled into Florence about two hours ago, scored a cheap room with free wireless internet, had a decent Mexican meal. Now I feel like taking a nice afternoon nap. The last two days of riding have been really good, with terrific warm, sunny weather. We are now closer to the California border than the Washington border, so we are more than halfway down the Oregon coast. We are probably setting the world's record for the slowest cycling trip of the Oregon Coast, but I don't care. We are both visibly losing weight, seeing fantastic scenery, meeting lots of nice folks and feeling like we really can do this.

Florence seems to be a sweet little town, but is destined to change a lot in the next 10 years, as I understand it was selected as the top place in America to retire recently. The motel manager told me that real estate prices have already skyrocketed.

We decided to spend two nights in a motel here in Florence just because we have spent every night in a tent since Lincoln City and we feel like everything is just kind of clammy and damp. Our clothes, sleeping bags, etc. Plus, I need to do a little maintenance on the trike. The right front disc brake caliper pads are not retracting all the way, so they drag on the disc a little. It's probably the salt air and sand. Should be an easy fix. And there is a bike shop in town if I need it. More later, Ron.