Day 67: Bodega Bay to Elk, 90 miles
Day 68: Elk to Westport, 43 miles
Day 69: Westport to Weott, 77 miles
Day 70: Weott to Eureka, 58 miles
After spending another night in San Francisco I headed out Saturday and made my way through the city and across the Golden Gate Bridge to continue my trek North. Both Saturday and Sunday were very windy. The winds were coming from the North and Northwest ranging from 15-30 m.p.h. basically nonstop... Very frustrating.
Besides that though I was on Shoreline Highway which was a pretty incredible ride for scenic views. Much of the days I was right on the water on bluffs that looked down on the coast and all along it were these amazing rock formations that stuck up out of the water like little statues... If only I could have hit the off switch on the wind. Saturday night I stopped at Bodega Bay Dunes State Park and got a $5 hike/bike campsite for the night. Sunday I stayed with a warmshowers host just north of Elk by the name of Judy. She lived up in the hills above Shoreline Highway on a small farm that was a picturesque little spot as well.. Pics below.
On Monday (Day 68) I decided to go easy and only rode 43 miles and stopped at Westport-Union Landing State Beach Park. This was a primitive campground right off of the highway but, the views completely made up for the lack of amenities and services. The campground stood right on the edge of a cliff that overlooked the ocean. The campsite was also almost completely empty which only added to the magical nature of the place. All in all it ended up being a really great and rejuvenating night filled with a nice little campfire and about 6 peanut butter, honey and banana sandwiches and a nice sunset over the water.
Tuesday morning I started off with one of the more grueling sections on this route, a 28-mile section with a few climbs totally close to 3000 ft. in total climbing which I got through in less than 3 hours which I was pretty happy about. On the backside of the climb I entered into Redwood country and stopped at the drive through Chandelier Tree in Leggett that stood at 315 ft. tall and 21 ft. in diameter and had a max age of 2400 years old.
After a lunch break and my visit with the Chandelier tree I pushed on and rode through Garberville (a small hippie town that was actually pretty cool) and then onto the Avenue of the Giants.
Now, if you ever want to feel small take a trip up to Northern California and take a ride down this road. It will blow your mind. The road takes you right through Redwood grove after Redwood grove and their immensity just towers over you. It was such an incredible ride and none of my pictures do it justice but, they atleast give you a sense of what it was like. I ended the night in Burlington State Park at another Hike/Bike Campsite and while getting my tent up and preparing to make some more peanut butter and honey and banana sandwiches for dinner I was approached by my neighbors and they graciously invited me over for dinner and drinks at their campsite. After a great meal I went back to my campsite to crash for the night and noticed another rider that had come in late.
This rider was Dominic from Reno,NV who was travelling North to South down the Pacific and he ended up being a really cool guy with lots of biking and outdoors and travel knowledge and some great stories from the road including one that involved a 5:00 a.m. wake up call from some barking seals that included a remarkably good impression of the aforementioned barking seals.
This morning I woke up and got a deliciously strong coffee prepared by Dom which I trading a peanut butter and honey and banana sandwich for and then I was off towards Eureka. I finished my ride through the Avenue of the Giants and then rode the last 40 miles or so along Route 101, a bland highway with not many redeeming qualities, and ended at my hosts for the night Dick and Kathy in their awesome house tucked away in the woods.
We just finished a great meal and drank some tea and now I'm reading through some of their scrapbooks from past travelers that have come through their house and am about to get a little show from Dick's brass quartet that have a rehearsal here in the house tonight. Earlier when I arrived Dick took me back to see his apple and pear orchards and his bees that he keeps out behind his house. Another great night and maybe my second to last day in California... How sad.
Shoreline Highway en route to Elk
Shoreline Highway en route to Elk
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