Lost My Identity- Kai's Ma'ma: Largest Sea Lion Cave, Bike Friday Factory, and visiting friends in Bend, Oregon

30 May 07, Wednesday//Sea Lion Caves

Just 11 miles north of Florence, Oregon we visit the "World's Largest Sea Cave"- the Sea Lion Caves. Formation of the caves began about 25 million years ago, and soars to the height of a 12-story building and stretches to the length of a football field.

Stellar sea lion with "220" marked on its back.
At this time of the year, the majority of the Stellar sea lions are outside on the rugged coasts as this is breeding season for them, although a few remain in the cave. But the lasting memory I have of this place is the overwhelming stench of fish, sea lions, and I believe is sea lion crap even if they are hundreds of feet below us.

The dominating bull will gather females into their harems. Weaker bulls will be ousted or fought-off and are called "bachelor" bulls.

Skeleton of a 2-year old female sea lion that was fatally wounded by a bullet. She weighed about 400-pounds. A bull can weigh up to one ton!

A map of the sea cave.

We leave the visitor center and walk down a ramp to an elevator that descends 208 feet into the sea cave. (I was entertained by a sign that warned you assume all risk as the elevator can be subject to earthquakes, erosion, landslides, and earth, water, and rock movement. WooWee! I can get a rollercoaster ride too just as well?)

From there you can take some stairs to see the Heceta Head Lighthouse via the original entrance into the cave. Prior to the completion of the elevator in 1961, you would have had to descend 135-steps in a wood enclosed tower to enter the cave.

Hopeful visitors toss coins on the rocks for their wish to come true. I believe that bird is a rare pigeon guillemot.

The lighthouse was named after the Spanish explorer Bruno Heceta in 1775. This lighthouse flashes a 1-milllion candle power beacon every 10 seconds and can be seen up to 21-miles away at sea. It was built in 1894 and is being maintained by the US Coast Guard. It claims to be the most photographed lighthouse in the world.

We bid farewell to the beautiful Oregon coast and drive east on 126 to Eugene. Greg is ecstatic when he sees the Bike Friday factory, and jumps out of vanny leaving us behind as he disappears into the store.

I develop an interest in the triple bike on display, meant for 2 adults and a child. And the factory employee is gracious enough to give us a tour of the place. Of course, we have to wear safety glasses, which includes Kai.

With a staff of 34-employees, a bike is completed within a days work and 7 bikes a day are shipped out. As an incentive, they can also earn $40/month if they cycle to work. The staff appear enthusiastic and most are seen on their lunch break, hopping unto their bikes for a quick ride fully decked out with helmet and micro-wicking spandex.

We see old bikes hanging from the rafters, some that never made it to the production line due to faulty design or unpopular models, and eventually evolved to the Bike Friday's seen today.

Bike Fridays are popular for their ergonomic design and capability to fold small enough to fit into a suitcase that meets airline standards. In the store, there are several photographs of cyclists that have taken their Bike Fridays out of the country to places like Japan up Mt. Fuji, and to Peru. I myself would love to cycle France on one of those!

Our final destination today is Bend, Oregon. We are staying overnight with our friends, the Congers, that originally lived in Baypoint, CA. about 20-minutes from where we live. Rick and Cat would have been happy residing in Baypoint had it not been for the addition of children into their lives that made their quality of life not acceptable to Rick. Rather than get stuck in Bay Area traffic, Rick preferred to spend more time with his family and proposed to his boss at Chlorox that he be allowed to work from his new home in Bend.

A view of the river gorge below that runs past their homes.

Aiden poses for me when I take a photograph of their developing neighborhood.

So now Rick goes to work every morning to his newly built home- office addition dressed in shorts and t-shirt and makes his conference calls and sends out e-mail, alll the while with his kids and wife at home only 20-feet away.

We are so happy for them. I am impressed that Rick made a major change in his life to spend quality time with family. That's how it should be! Cat you are a lucky woman to have a wonderful husband (and daddy) as he!