Now it begins - Day 0 - ground zero - The Pacific

After a 16 mile ride Tom and I performed the traditional wheel dip in the Pacific. Look at the sky, look at the ocean. Belive it or not we rode in a small shower to get here, but all is well now. Now its back to the hotel for our orientation and dinner. By the way the elevation here in Astoria is 16 feet. Remember that number.

The uplifting dip trip came after a walk back to the hotel after mass in a forboding, gusty, and cold drizzle. The day got off to a good start at a picturesque little bluffside church, although the homily was a little on the negative side.

The ride to the beach was pleasing through commercial areas, by an odiferous seafood cannery, though blue collar housing. Apparently the weather is too wet and cool to attract the high-dollar housing seen near many seashores. In one field I saw, near the limits of shooting range, a herd of elk relaxing. The vegetation was lush and reminded me a lot of North Carolina. The bridge from Astoria to Washington state is shown; the bridge we crossed coming back from the beach was not as high, but with its height, the low guardrail, high speed heavy traffic, and high crosswinds, it was exciting!