Day 9 Tom near Leggett, CA

Musings - a slower pace allows one to ponder things going by. We followed the Eel River up along it's South Fork from where we broke camp near its mouth in Fortuna. Much of the day was spent in the "Avenue of the Giants". I know I've driven thru here before, but everything seems different on a bike, it gives you time to ponder the age and beauty of these trees. It was a majestic. The day ultimately brings us to the upper portion of what had been a large mighty river miles back and now is diminishing to a large stream. Day 10 will take us over a pass and away from the river. I will miss the rive and experiences along it.

Day 9 Pete - avenue of the giants

We wake with sun under the Best Western sign. Not the best campsite but the showers were hot. Breakfast was at a gas station Subway. The rest of the day we follow the Eel river up and into the avenue of the giants - a quiet 32 mile section of road which parallels the freeway. Hot in sunny sections but cold in the shadow of the giants. Following the river keeps us climbing all day. We grab sandwiches in Garberville to carry to our campsite 20 miles up the road. Tom favors the beast - roast beef, while I grab the big bird - turkey.

After a fe good climbs we arrive at our campsite, do laundry and crash.

Day 9/70 miles/720 miles total

Day 8 pete sweet rolling

No rain, tailwinds and amazing scenery. We begin in Klamath at a motel run by a very friendly and helpful manager. He suggests the place across the street for burgers and suggests that the double patty one is for really big appetites. Of course we order the double. Turned out to be 8 ounce patties and we successfully finished them along with the garlic fries. Lots of garlic even for me.

The morning was overcast and cool but there were tailwinds - yay! I remembered the steep climb ahead but it went easy since I also remembered the 5 mile descent through the redwoods to Elk prairie. Just as amazing the second time. Light morning fog, dark green redwoods with scattered moss covered maples and new leaf green alders standing like supplicants among giants.

Just after Orick a herd of over a dozen elk crossed the road not 50 feet in front of Tom. Just could not push the camera buttons fast enough with my gloves on. The males were in their spring velvet antlers.

Big tailwinds, long rollers, big bays, windblown surf and we roll into Eureka for all you can eat Mexican. We ate well. From there we made bike shop calls. I had not tied down my spare tire well enough and it is lying somewhere among the redwoods. Could not find the right size so rolled on. Of course a few miles down the road I had my first flat.

With a major tailwind we rolled at 22 plus to Fortuna for the night. We ate too well at the Eel river brew pub and slept at an RV park under the bright security light and sign of the next-door Best Western.

Day 8 Tom - Fortuna, CA

What a day. Finally we have a flat tire -1st one of the trip. Pete got a flat in Arcata, CA.
We have a tail winds and are rolling at about 18-24mph on the flat without much effort.
We started the morning out in Klamath. From there we headed through the Redwoods again. The trees were spectacular, The side road we took was not crowded.
While Pete changes his tire I found a nice quiet place to write this blog entry. We hope to be in Fortuna CA this evening.
Well guess what, I got a flat as we've rolled into Fortuna. As I took the inner tube out and found the hole, Pete looked at it and said the puncture looked like it came from one of those little wire cables that come off car tites....sure enough there was a small wire stuck to the tire at the site of the puncture.
We're camping at the RV park underneath a Best Western Motel sign next to a road. Hope we get some sleep.

Day 7 pete - wuss/short day

Ok I'm a wuss. The weatherman was finally right. The rain has arrived. We late started from Brookings then delayed some more to facebook. Starbucks in Crescent city was nice though the leather couch was more than damp when we left. Tom had his lunch there - a frosted donut and a pink frosted cupcake. Never knew he had such a sweet tooth. I warmed up with a bowl of clam chowder down the road. The winds finally shifted to northerlies but the temperature also dropped. The hour climb out of town warmed us up but the decent cooled me down too much. Redwoods and coastal surf views makes for a a great day.

Soggy we were when we rolled into the trees of mystery for a short break. I warmed up while tom downed some taffy. A quick roll in the rain brings us to Klamath for another night in a motel. A very short wet cold day.

46 wet miles/3hrs48min rolling/566miles/

Day 7 Klamath,California

To weather the storm and come out the other side is a beast I am well acquainted with (as opposed to the headwind "beast" we experienced yesterday ). After riding in the rain with the temperature dropping the whole way from Brookings , we were cold and soggy. We stopped at the local Starbucks in Crescent City around noon and had a warm coffee (with an old fashioned donut and cupcake for me). As we were leaving town Pete found a restaurant and had a bowl of chowder. I took the opportunity to change into dry socks and gloves. That felt much better and I was ready to tackle all the elements being thrown our way including the biggest climb of the ride to date. We came off the descent carefully and there at the bottom was the most beautiful scene for the windsurfer in me - a beach with 6' breakers and wind spraying the surf all over. It was a scene that made me sing "How Great Thou Art" and thank God for this wonderful day.

Day 6 Brookings Pete

We left the run down Shoreline motel and headed for the Paradise café. Nice homefry scramble special. Of course after yesterdays easy ride the winds were back today though the promised rain is still holding off. Rolling hills, great ocean views, headwinds, and 3 hours bring us 26 miles to Gold beach for a nice bowl of salmon chowder at noon.

Fifteen miles later we stop for a break on a wind swept crest and decide we're hungry again so we polish off a can of herring, a block of cheddar and a chunk of salami. The ride has been just as difficult as two days ago and Tom comments with a smile that he conquering the beast this time. That's the way with the beast. Once you meet it and recognize it, the easier it becomes to ignore.

I've known the beast for a long time but by a different name. I've always referred to it in my mind as the lows. Biking for me is mostly highs, but occasionally the lows show up. Early on during the ride Tom refered to a book he recently read about ultra marathons - "Born to run" by christopher McDougall . One of the characters refers to figthing the beast. The description of the beast was the same as what I had been calling the lows. During a difficult physical event the pains and discomfort can case doubt to occur in ones mind. This discouragement and wish to quit is the lows/the beast. The interesting thing is that the more times you meet the beast the easier it gets to beat it. When you recognize that the problem is in your mind you can defeat it. A short break, some food, and maybe some advil and the beast is gone.

We roll to Harris beach campground and check the weather which is not encouraging so we go on to Brookings and a motel. Bread, rotisserie chicken, and romain lettuce, is dinner. Strawberries and Dairy queen ice cream makes a nice dessert.

Day 6/60miles/6 hr 4 min rolling/520 miles