The hotel gave us a hearty breakfast of yet more Oatmeal, toast and fruit and sent us on with some packed sandwiches. If I lived in this area I would visit over and over again - the hotel was so quirky and the room was also only 50 bucks - you could pay that in the UK for two people in a hostel.
Today the rain well and truly got us! I guess it was time we got a complete drenching in the middle of the day. As we pulled into Toledo (along Jackson Highway) the skies opened and we dived into the nearest cafe - Betty's place - we thought possibly this was a sign. No guessing what we did - yes we drank coffee, and in a moment of madness we ordered a burger and chips to share. Now it wasn't a big burger but it was definitely on a par with MacDonald's. It is funny how much we enjoyed it considering neither of us would ever admit to indulging in MacDonald's!
When the rain stopped off we went, but as we came along the Cowlitz River it just rained and rained and rained. The landscape was ravaged by the rain. The river was wide and swelling with the deluge from the skiea, but as we were now wet through we cycled on, putting in the miles to get us to Longview.
We got chased by yet more dogs. This time one came either side of us but they weren't stupid (very surprisingly) and didn't want to come near our wheels. Funny how everyone has mentioned bears, cougars, snakes etc and our only problems have been from the good old domestic dog!
From Castle Rock we followed the 411 into Kelso. The road was busy and steep at times and we were tiring. We have been promised so much about the Oregon coastline that we are cycling in a style akin with dot to dot. We can't wait to see some windswept beaches and go swimming in the freezing pacific ocean - everything from now is just on route to this place.
We had decided to stay in Longview, as after two flats we were out of gas canisters and inner tubes so needed to replenish our supplies. In Kelso the tourist board gave us the address of Hudson Manor Inn in Longview. The owner was funny - very Cookie Guggelman Fleck from 'Best in Show'. They pointed us to JT steak house where the food was divine. I guess everybody has a different meaning for such a word - mine is a Colnago single speed and hers was obviously steak house food.
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