Ben's USA Cycle Blog: Day 1: Astoria to Fort Stevens Return

Met the group today, 13 of us doing the full cross country trip and another 5 joining us for the first ten days before leaving at Missoula. Everyone is from US or Canada apart from myself and one other chap who is from Yorkshire but now lives in the States. Three guides and a massuese also accompanying us. I would say I am one of the youngest 3 or 4 of the group, being such a long trip there are a lot of retirees who don't have to worry about the time off work.

We took a bus from Portland to Astoria before a bite at the hotel then a spin out to the Pacific on the bikes. The change in weather was marked as we travelled towards the cost, probably around 15 - 20 C lower than Portland over the past couple of days. Today was really about getting the legs moving and ensuring that the bike set up is ok. Tomorrow is the first day of proper riding, back to Portland!