Bike California North (#15 - '22)

Woke up to sunshine, high 50s, ocean views and tailwind - a cyclists dream. After breakfast at deluxe hotel suite (no peanut butter muffins for Jason!), pedaled through ranchs and farms and along stunning estuary/bay towards point reyes. Cranked out easy 30 miles, and ate cowgirl creamery grilled cheese for lunch. And cookies of course. Followed some creeks across marin county, avoiding most of the hills I normally think of when picturing marin, including 6 mile north pacific coast rail trail (cross Marin trail) which was kind of in the middle of nowhere, and had one more redwood grove for us. Interesting how these trees really grow in these groves. Then through much denser traffic and stores towards saulsalito, kind of an assault on the senses after days in the backcountry. Rewarding views of san Francisco before the last big climb up to the golden gate Bridge, an appropriate end to the ride ...

If you ever want to ride the CA coast, here's 3 pieces of advice: a century is impossible. Going northbound is impossible. It hasn't rained in June for 20+ years - until today. So we spent the morning napping, studying Torah, local diner, the grocery and hardware store. So we called Rex to drive us halfway, but when he got delayed by a moody, unattractive country singer, his bus didn't leave till 12.30, and we didn't really start riding till 4pm, after a late lunch. But it was worth it - great stories, and skipped some monster climbs. Unbelievable riding along the bluff, often without guardrails or shoulders, lots of downs into tree filled gullies, a sharp right turn, then right back up. Again and again. Some riding at 500', most at 200'. Some fog, a little rain and less sun. 37 miles, 3000' climbing. 

Woke up to a day with a monster climb, and rain predicted late so we hit the road 6.30 after croissants and bagels at Il Forno - very upscale Cafe in very downscale Garberville. Nice ride through redwoods on zero traffic roads paralleling route 101, along the Eel as it got more fishy (according to jean). Ignored the road closed sign as usual and were able to skirt a landslide. Back on 101 for a bit, but there was no real climb (except for a few 200' rollers). Until we got on route 1 towards the coast. And it was relentless, and to add insult it started with a 200' descent. But we made the top 1868' by 11am, feeling good and with good timing to beat forecasted rain at 3pm. foody handed off Bertha and we descended through beautiful coastal forests. And then came the second climb which we didn't know about 700 brutal feet. Another drop down, this time to the coast and stunning views. And a headw...

Left Eureka, bagels in bellies, to some liquid sunshine, foody dressed like it was Boston in early april. Started out on a trail along the bay/Salt marshes then jumped on 101 for a bit. All the roads here have great, clean shoulders. Then as we were happily riding along, sort of oblivious to directions, we missed a turn. And started to climb. We knew we had a hill this morning, but this just kept going up. At some point, the altimeter showed 500', well above what we were supposed to do. A local assured us we were near the top, which wouldve been true in a car, but we climbed up to 750'. And thus renamed the road gratuitous hill. Finally got back on track through nice farm land, along the eel river. Met up with some other touring cyclists around Scotia where we stopped for lunch. And then the magic happened. We got onto the avenue of the giants - a totally empty road through old (up to 2000 years) growth redwoods....

After a 4.30am wakeup (someone forgot to turn off their east coast alarm), headed north through the city watching the temperature rise and fall 30 degrees with the fog. Had lunch at the Oakville grocery in chi-chi Healdsburg, with Davey Crockett. Arrived in Eureka around 4pm with literally zero gas in the tank (*** showing on fuel range meter), a gas roulette victory. Walked around the town for a bit, some parts super cool - like the William Carson mansions (a statement house, by a Canadian lumber baron) other parts not so much. And we didn't get tattoos. Was a long drive, many beautiful parts and a good preview of some of the trip- I can't believe we're gonna bike it all back. Had hearty dinner at tge 5-11 then watchef the Celtics-warriors, where Jason's wild cheering led the Celtics to victory. 0 miles. 

Time for a post covid return to California, with its great weather and stunning scenery, this time tackling the northern coast from eureka down to san Francisco.  And it's ACA's bike travel weekend so we even got stickers to celebrate.  Jean, jason and I set off from boston with 2 bike-in-boxes (free on delta with some current credit card deal) and an easy flight to SFO. Foody picked us up and we packed in to his SUV, taking turns in the jump seat. After Chavez burritos, and picking up rental bike, we saddled up and hit Old Lahonda up the coastal mountains. Beautiful ride UP about 1300' in just over 3 miles, and thats after a long steady climb to get there. My burrito filled belly precluded me from the very top, meaning i'd have to return the next day while the rest of the crew got a work day in. Nice dinner with the foodys while jason met up with margalit. 21 miles, 2000' up. .  Wednesday managed to sleep till 6, with Jason heading into...