Vernonia's voice., June 28, 2011, Page 9, Image 9

community
june28
2011
9
The Bike Inn: A Welcome Rest From the Road in Clatskanie
For people who take their bicycle
riding and touring seriously, hardships
on the road are just another part of the
adventure. Finding a place to lay down
your sleeping bag and get a good night
of sleep after a long day of pedaling can
sometimes be tricky, but is often just a
matter of pulling in to the next town on
the road and finding the local park and
pitching your tent. A shower? Maybe.
A hot meal? If you feel like setting up
the stove.
In Clatskanie, Kris and John
Lillich have created a place for bike
tourists to stop, relax, rejuvenate and get
back in the saddle--refreshed and ready
to hit the road again.
The Bike Inn is a small,
comfortable and welcoming place just
off Highway 30, across the Clatskanie
River from downtown—it’s nestled
in among the self storage business the
Lillich’s operate. Funky and
quirky might describe it. Unique and
quaint could also be used. But with a
dormitory bedroom, laundry facility,
bicycle work station and bench for
repairs, and covered decks overlooking
the languid Clatskanie River floating by,
a tired bicycle tourist would probably
just call it “a little slice of heaven.”
“I want to keep it as casual as I
can,” says Kris during a tour of the Inn.
“And user friendly.”
The Bike Inn, for a casual place,
seems to have all the amenities. Kris has
thought of just about everything. She
charges $20 per person, although she
is open to negotiating with couples or
groups.
“I’m here to
accommodate those
who are just really
weary, need a soft
bed, that don’t want
to sleep out in the
rain, again, that need
to dry things off or
need to do some
laundry,”
explains
Kris. “I just want to
make bicyclists feel
welcome in Columbia
County.”
The dorm has one bed, plus a futon
that can be opened up and a few cots as
well. She says most European bikers
will travel with their own bedding, but
she does have sheet sets available. There
is a microwave, refrigerator and coffee
maker (you supply the coffee). There
is a restroom and washer and dryer
attached to the dorm. Book shelves
divide the space and are stuffed with
reading material. Unique and restored
bikes hang from the walls and ceiling—
what else would you use to decorate a
bike hostel? And Kris’ own large, bright
and colorful artwork adorns the walls,
(she taught art classes at Clatskanie High
School for a
couple years).
Finally
ready for that
shower you’ve
been craving
for a couple of
days? Head
outside to the
very private
b a c k y a r d
g a r d e n
with lots of
chirping birds
and you will find an outdoor shower
(it’s enclosed with a stone floor and big
shower head and hot water).
After that shower, relax on the front
deck around the fire pit, surrounded by
bamboo plants. Or sit undercover and
watch the river crawl by. Or head back
to the backyard garden. Or, if you aren’t
completely worn out from the road,
borrow one of the Lillich’s kayaks and
paddle around and explore Clatskanie
from the river channel.
“I just had a guy from Seattle
that came through and he just needed to
rest,” said Kris. “He stayed two days
and just kicked back on the deck and
totally enjoyed himself.”
“I just really like the bicyclist
mentality—they’re just great people.”
says Kris. “Everybody that we’ve had
stay here has been really interesting.
And the whole culture of bicyclists—I
just love it.”
So, if you are ever passing
through Clatskanie on a bike, you now
know where to stay. And this summer,
if you see a bicyclist loaded with packs
and gear pedaling the roads of Columbia
County, you can give them a good tip on
where to get some good R&R.

To find out more about The
Bike Inn, contact Kris Lillich at 503-
369-6503 or try 503-728-2051. You can
also email klatskanai@charter.net, go to
their webpage at www.bikeinnoregon.
com , or see them on facebook at Bike
Inn.
Spiralz Salon has moved!
New phone number! 503.429.7408
New address! 59229 Nehalem Hwy. South
(Just off Highway 47, a half mile from orginal downtown location!)
SPiralz
By appointment 
S A L O N
Karin Davenport, Owner/Stylist
Summer Summer
Reading
Program
2011 Collaborative
Library
Program Manual
www.cslpreads.org
at the Vernonia
Public Library
Tues, June 28
Story & Craft/Activity Time
10-11 AM
Th, June 30 WA Co. Museum-School Days Program 6:30-7:30 PM
Tues, July 5
Story & Craft/Activity Time
10-11 AM
Th, July 7
Hart’s Reptile World
6:30-7:30 PM
Sat, July 9
Movie Matinée
2:00 PM
Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mariana Islands, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
All programs are free of charge.
For more information call the Vernonia Library at 503-429-1818