1Custom Wheels
These burly custom-built bicycles, aptly named railbikes, were created by Kim Mettlen and are designed to hold up to four people. I went with a group of five, thinking we could split up our group in a sensible way, but to our dismay, we had to leave one member of our clan on his own about six railriders back. My simple recommendation: make sure your group is a multiple of two (hi, first-grade math!) or get there early. Like really early.
2Custom Wheels
These burly custom-built bicycles, aptly named railbikes, were created by Kim Mettlen and are designed to hold up to four people. I went with a group of five, thinking we could split up our group in a sensible way, but to our dismay, we had to leave one member of our clan on his own about six railriders back. My simple recommendation: make sure your group is a multiple of two (hi, first-grade math!) or get there early. Like really early.
3A Little Sticky Getting Started
Our group arrived 25 minutes before our scheduled departure—which wasn’t enough time to claim the spots together and sign the necessary papers. Despite some hullabaloo—paying, signing waivers, trying to find a place to sit, struggling into (optional) safety vests—the excitement of the trip truly outweighed the initial disorganization.
4A Little Sticky Getting Started
Our group arrived 25 minutes before our scheduled departure—which wasn’t enough time to claim the spots together and sign the necessary papers. Despite some hullabaloo—paying, signing waivers, trying to find a place to sit, struggling into (optional) safety vests—the excitement of the trip truly outweighed the initial disorganization.
5Oyster Drive
The first challenge you’ll face on your journey along the railroad is finding the starting point. With no official address, the best way to find it is this large, distinctive pile of oyster shells, and the lone flashing yellow light that lies at the intersection of Highway 101 and Hayes Oyster Drive (fitting name, if I might say so myself), where the beginning is.
6Oyster Drive
The first challenge you’ll face on your journey along the railroad is finding the starting point. With no official address, the best way to find it is this large, distinctive pile of oyster shells, and the lone flashing yellow light that lies at the intersection of Highway 101 and Hayes Oyster Drive (fitting name, if I might say so myself), where the beginning is.
7Safety First
Before starting, our tour guide gave us an enthusiastic safety talk, and explained to us how to signal to the railriders behind us if we were stopping, slowing down, or needed assistance. (At least one member of our group had way too much fun later raising his fist in the air and waving it around to signal our plans to stop.)
8Safety First
Before starting, our tour guide gave us an enthusiastic safety talk, and explained to us how to signal to the railriders behind us if we were stopping, slowing down, or needed assistance. (At least one member of our group had way too much fun later raising his fist in the air and waving it around to signal our plans to stop.)
9I Brake For Railbikes
Throughout the journey, we crossed many roads, passed by various houses, and rode parallel to Highway 101. Thankfully, our guides got out to hold traffic for us. And luckily for them, we didn’t ride off too quickly for them to rejoin their bikes.
10I Brake For Railbikes
Throughout the journey, we crossed many roads, passed by various houses, and rode parallel to Highway 101. Thankfully, our guides got out to hold traffic for us. And luckily for them, we didn’t ride off too quickly for them to rejoin their bikes.
11Stopping in Your Tracks
Note to future railriders: don’t bring along your clumsy friends, because if they drop their cell phone on the tracks, you will need to stop every railrider behind you so she can run back and pick it up. Don’t worry though—you’ll have the pleasure of walking on the railroad tracks without the fear of being pummeled by a large freight train if you do indeed drop your valuables.
12Stopping in Your Tracks
Note to future railriders: don’t bring along your clumsy friends, because if they drop their cell phone on the tracks, you will need to stop every railrider behind you so she can run back and pick it up. Don’t worry though—you’ll have the pleasure of walking on the railroad tracks without the fear of being pummeled by a large freight train if you do indeed drop your valuables.
13The Squeaky Wheel
It was right about here that said clumsy friend’s bike chain slipped off, making her unable to pedal and requiring us to pedal for her and ourselves as well. (Thanks, Alisha.)
14The Squeaky Wheel
It was right about here that said clumsy friend’s bike chain slipped off, making her unable to pedal and requiring us to pedal for her and ourselves as well. (Thanks, Alisha.)
15Bridge Pedal
All 20 railbikes go together as one trip, and while you will inevitably spread out along the trip, there are times, such as when you cross roads, that your massive group of 80 will reconvene, bumpily. But, hey, what’s to hate when even your tour guides encourage friendly fender-bending if the timing is right. (Like maybe not here, guys.)
16Bridge Pedal
All 20 railbikes go together as one trip, and while you will inevitably spread out along the trip, there are times, such as when you cross roads, that your massive group of 80 will reconvene, bumpily. But, hey, what’s to hate when even your tour guides encourage friendly fender-bending if the timing is right. (Like maybe not here, guys.)
17Just Passing Through
18Just Passing Through
19Very Important Pedalers
About three quarters of the way through the trip, we crossed Latimer Road and experienced the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of having rail-crossing signals lower for us. Imagine the stopped traffic and iconic “ding, ding, ding,” as you glide past like very important cargo. (I confess to channeling Beyoncé at this point, imagining being escorted across a crowded street.)
20Very Important Pedalers
About three quarters of the way through the trip, we crossed Latimer Road and experienced the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of having rail-crossing signals lower for us. Imagine the stopped traffic and iconic “ding, ding, ding,” as you glide past like very important cargo. (I confess to channeling Beyoncé at this point, imagining being escorted across a crowded street.)
21Definitely Doing It Yourself Here
Once we reached the halfway point we all had to (not so gracefully) exit our railbikes and wait as our tour guides used this elaborate metal contraption to swing each bike around.
22Definitely Doing It Yourself Here
Once we reached the halfway point we all had to (not so gracefully) exit our railbikes and wait as our tour guides used this elaborate metal contraption to swing each bike around.
23Ankle Biters
On the way back, we all switched spots (highly recommended) to get different angles, one that included a perfect view of the very rundown, weed-covered railroad tracks. I don’t recommend wearing shorts unless you like getting your legs scratched up.
24Ankle Biters
On the way back, we all switched spots (highly recommended) to get different angles, one that included a perfect view of the very rundown, weed-covered railroad tracks. I don’t recommend wearing shorts unless you like getting your legs scratched up.
25Sea Level
We biked over more bodies of water, including the beautiful Kilchis and Wilson rivers, and even passed by a few estuary bay areas and Blue Heron areas. (Though, alas, we didn’t catch sight of the captivating bird on this trip.)
26Sea Level
We biked over more bodies of water, including the beautiful Kilchis and Wilson rivers, and even passed by a few estuary bay areas and Blue Heron areas. (Though, alas, we didn’t catch sight of the captivating bird on this trip.)
27Can't Argue with That View
As we rode back into the starting point, I found myself staring in awe as we again passed through beautiful Sibley Sands and the Tillamook Bay under this robin-egg blue sky.
28Can't Argue with That View
As we rode back into the starting point, I found myself staring in awe as we again passed through beautiful Sibley Sands and the Tillamook Bay under this robin-egg blue sky.
29Worth Shelling Out For? Definitely.
30Worth Shelling Out For? Definitely.
31And One More Thing…
You’re in Tillamook! Something you’ll have been reminded of during your trek, as the tour goes right past the Tillamook Cheese Factory. You can’t dismount during your biking extravaganza, but that grilled cheese and ice cream will still be there later—the perfect reward.
32And One More Thing…
You’re in Tillamook! Something you’ll have been reminded of during your trek, as the tour goes right past the Tillamook Cheese Factory. You can’t dismount during your biking extravaganza, but that grilled cheese and ice cream will still be there later—the perfect reward.
If you’re like me, you never quite got over a childhood fascination with all things rail-related. Maybe you even wanted, at one point, to be a conductor. (Sorry, mom: I know you expected more of me.) That train may have passed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still ride the abandoned rails—on bike.
That’s the premise of the Oregon Coast Railroaders—the new seaside branch of a railriding outfit first launched last summer in Joseph, Oregon, by husband-and-wife team Kim and Anita Mettlen. The couple, who formerly ran a bike shop in La Grande, expanded their DIY business to a stretch of unused track near Tillamook this past May, with a “grand opening” scheduled for July 2.
Needless to say, this rail buff couldn’t wait for the official start date. (And you don’t have to, either—the operation is already up and running.) We hopped right on this 11-mile, two-hour, pedal-powered trek from Bay City to Tillamook and back—and recorded the whole thing in photos. We show you how it’s done in our slideshow, above.
Oregon Coast Railriders offers rides every Thursday–Monday at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m. through October 2.
|
|
|
