Hills, Pacific Ocean, Redwood trees and hils

Day 57 Wednesday October 14th

We rode from Cottage Grove to Elkton, maybe 40 miles. The weather was fair, on and off sunny, drizzly here and there. We sat at a cafe and were directed to Joan, who worked at the winery across the street. Her and her husband Jeff took us in for the night, both commuters, tourists and Surly fans. We stayed in a loft above their bathroom house, they also had a bedroom house and a kitchen/living room house with little stone paths in between the three of them. It was really neat.


Day 58 Thursday October 15th

We went from Elkton to Charleston. It was a bit rainy and we rode 73 miles. We raced an extra nine miles to get to a park on the beach of the pacific ocean and catch the sunset but we missed it. Billy got himself a 40 of PBR for the night. He sat out and then once we were asleep I woke up to an awful scratchy noise. I heard my tire spinning and was afraid that someone was stealing my stuff. Paralyzed I woke Billy. He went outside to find two racoons having knocked my bike over trying to get in one of my back bags to get out the few dog bones I was carrying. He scared them away and a few hours later they tried again and he saved me from the vicious monsters again. I was still a little scared, mostly of potential rabies.


Day 59 Friday October 16th

We rode 30 miles to Bandon and stayed at a state park. We met a french cyclist, Baptiste. We did laundry and relaxed in the sun, it was a beautiful day. I saw and felt the Pacific Ocean for the first time in my 21 years of exsistence today. We collected rocks so I could make some necklaces. Billy climbed the big rocks and took photos.


Day 60 Saturday October 17th

It was drizzling when we woke up. We rode two miles from the park to Bandon and in doing so got completely drenched. We had to cross a bridge and the rain and wind were coming at us from the side with gusto. We tried to wait it out a cafe and decided to stay at a sea front hostel/motel and read and watched tv for the evening.


Day 61 Sunday October 18th

We rode from Bandon to Mount Humbug. We rode 35 miles and decided since alluminum cans we worth 10 cents each we should start cleaning up hwy 101. So I collected 40 cans during our leisurly ride. The day dragged on a little and when we padded through a town it was covered in a thick fog and we knew there was going to be rain tomorrow. I think I went to bed at 6pm.


Day 62 Monday October 19th

We rode 55 miles from Mt Humbug to Brookings. It was a decently hilly day and we met alot of people along the way, plus the sun came out and it was beautiful!
Lee: crazy old bike tourist
Al: bike tourist, also a little crazy
Mick: vegan hipster from Dallas, riding from VanCouver
Mary and Dan: Couple from Alaska who venture during the winter months. Riding the same bikes as Billy and I, Dan and I have the same color and size, Mary and Billy have the same color but shes like 2 feet shorter than Billy. Turns out they used to work at a resturant Billy did called Heaven City.
Sam: HItchhiking and backpacking from Washington to San Diego
A canadian carrying a broken BOB tralior and two girls who we saw yesterday as well and were equally untalkative.
We had smores on a beach fire with Dan, Mary and Mick and it was wonderful.


Day 63 Tuesday OCtober 20th

Happy Birthday Mom!
California!!(we got $6 for the cans)
We rode 35 miles to Nickle Creek. It was a pretty easy day except the last 6 miles wore on and on and on. It was a primitive site and we had to hike for a half mile with out bikes to get there. When we got there Sam was there with Lee, a new Lee, a french man traveling the US who picked up Sam. We were antsy for Dan Mary and Micks arrival, they were out favorites. Low and Behold, here they come! We all cooked on the fire and the companionship was welcomed.


Day 64 Wednesday October 21st

Rode 37 miles to Elk Prarie campground. This place was a ripoff. 35 bucks a site, 8 dollas a bundle of wood(we couldnt collect due to the rain) quarters for showers and no soap in the bathrooms! I saw my first redwood today. We rode all day with Dan Mary and Mick. We had two 1,000 climbs in one day, each of which we waited at the top for everyone and snacked before we rode down. We met Eric and Finn two scottish? riders touring the coast. Most of the day went by quick and was fun. It has been nice with the five of us riding together for a few days.


Day 65 Thursday October 22nd

Rode 50 miles to Aracata/Eureka. The sun came out for us after lunch. Had donuts and coffee mmmmmhm. We stayed with Dick and Kathy from warm showers. They had a beautiful house that Dick had built that was used recently in a movie called Humboldt County, about pot growing. They gave us all the apples we could eat and Billy and I got the bed inside. We stopped at a bike shop in Arcata and because I had broke part of my derailer we talked to the owners and they gave me the part I needed for free!


Day 66 Friday October 23rd

Day Off! Dick invited us to stay again although afternoon we thought Kathy mightve been disapointed. We decided not to linger and went into Eureka and wandered through the city. We ended the night watching Humboldt County. Throughout the movie Mick said, wow, this house in here looks really familiar. We thought he was kidding but aparently he didnt catch the story behind the movie so we teased him good for that. We really love our new family! We take it easy and expierence it all, espessially since its so beautiful on the coast and the redwoods. We have a little saying, NO Parents No rules! Which means if you want ice cream for breakfast, have it. Ha ha.


Day 67 Saturday October 24th

50 miles to Burlington State Park. We rode throught the Avenue of the Giants. Mick had two flats, Mary had one and Billy had one. So it was a slow moving day. We met the Post It boys, a group of "bro middle aged men" on a 7 day tour who are all engineers at 3M.


Day 68 Sunday October 25th

50 miles from Burington to Leggit. One flat for Mary. Lots and lots of hills. We called them devils. We landed at the Stanley Hickish campground and ate dinner It was a beautiful ride and a sunny day. We had a fire with the post it boys. They were not good company.


Day 67 Monday October 26th

Leggit to Fort Bragg. BIGGEST HILL EVER! and then more hills. By the end of the day I was so over it. Aparently the middle part of the coast, from here to LA is going to be hill after hill, up after down. Of course ten miles out of fort bragg it started to rain. We went to Roy and Marys house from warm showers and they hooked us up with a whole guest house where we dewinded. We had pancakes with Roy the following morning.


Day 68 Tuesday October 28th

Fort Bragg to Point Arena. Another day of hills. We however had mega wind at our backs. At one point I went coasted on a flat spot at 12mph. We went to a campground and built a fire, which we decided wasnt safe, the wind was blowing freezing air at 40mph and even though the wind wasnt warm the area was dry so we were worried about those pesky California wildfirea. We found a cheap cheap(too cheap)motel six miles away and cut out a few good hills out of tomorrows ride. The motel room came with a cute hungry kitten so Mary bought it food and it spent the night with us. Billy tried to use my head/legs as a pillow for a while. (He and Mick had brass monkeys=a forty with some OJ in it) so he was tuckered.


Day 67 Wednesday October 29th

Hills. Is this getting repetitive? Because it is for me too. Every pedal today was triumpant my body was telling me, please! dont ride anymore! WE only went 38 miles but it took all day long. We camped next to a party of retired San Franscico Fire Fighters and they gave us peanuts, salami, chips, salsa, bean dip and bread. I went to bed early and Dan and Mick joined the party and got to know the firemen and drank with them. They spread the word for me that I would like a ride into Frisco(two days to get there, 90 miles, way too hard) so I went to bed hoping!