‘You just have to push’

From left, Russ Mongtomery, Pat Finley and Tom Martinelli in Astoria at the starting point of their trek. Submitted Photo

Longtime friends Russ Mont­gomery, 63, Pat Finley, 62, and Tom Martinelli, 56, were looking for an opportunity to physically challenge themselves and have an experience they will not forget anytime soon.

They even made a new friend in a fellow bike rider, a pilot for Alaska Airlines who joined them all the way to Smith River.

The 5 1/2-day trip occurred Sept. 9-14.

“It was probably the most physical exertion I’ve put into a six-day period in my entire life,” Finley said.

The riders clear a narrow tunnel south of the Heceta Head Lighthouse. Submitted Photo

The friends trained for about three months to get themselves into shape.

This was the first time Finley and Martinelli had tried such a long bike ride. Montgomery and his two sons rode from Brookings to Sonoma and back in 1992.

“He was with an older crowd this time,” Finley said with a laugh.

At first, they thought of doing a ride from Seattle all the way to Del Norte County, but decided a 700-mile-plus ride might be a bit much for their first trip.

On the first day of the ride, a steady downpour of rain and windy weather dogged them all the way to Tillamook.

“It was not what we expected in September,” Martinelli said. “You just have to push on and do it.”

When they arrived at the hotel, they were glad to discover the facility had a jacuzzi they could warm up in.

The men said they were amazed by the number of fellow bicyclists along the route. They estimated they saw 50-60 riders and talked to at least a dozen.

This included a group of recent

college graduates, a woman who had never done something like this before but was riding by herself from British Columbia to Del Norte County’s redwoods.

On their first day they met Dan Hoffman, a pilot for Alaska Airline. It turned out Hoffman was riding all the way to San Diego and is a frequent rider on treks like these.

The four men decided to ride together all the way to Smith River.

The locals prepared themselves for the 70-mile-a-day regimen by riding constantly to improve their stamina.

Martinelli said this training came in handy, especially with the uphill climbs and hilly conditions the journey presented.

He was surprised by the number of hills they encountered, saying, “I thought it would be like Pebble Beach.”

As they made their way along U.S. Highway 101, they were close to motorized traffic at times.

Montgomery said that there are so many bike riders on this route that it appeared that drivers were used to them. They never felt in danger, although some of the tunnels and bridges were quite narrow.

A tricky climb was Cape Sebastian near the end of the journey in Curry County, which was a 3-mile ascent.

All three agreed one of the highlights was the scenery. Speeding along in a motorized vehicle just does not give one the same chance to enjoy the sights.

“It was unbelievable doing this with friends,” Martinelli said. “It shows what you can do if you prepare and get ready for a challenge like this.”

When the men crossed the border into California they were greeted by their relatives, who were carrying balloons and warmly welcomed them back.

All three said they kept in constant contact with their loved ones, mainly through text messaging.

The men are talking about  doing more  bike riding like this in the future. Already they are planning to take part in a three-day event next summer from a suburb of Seattle through the Cascades.