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DAY 9
The Trees!

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ROUTE: Eureka to Garberville CA DISTANCE: 79 Miles WINDS: Light until finish then we picked up a slight headwind
WEATHER: Chilly and patchy fog at beginning, hot at finish after the trees.  Low 48, high 93 TERRAIN: Rolling TOTAL CLIMBING:  3120 Feet

DAILY REPORT: 

We saw the sun today!!!!  It was foggy and a bit on the chilly side when we pulled out, but the sunny skies warmed the temperatures quickly and before long we were shedding clothes and enjoying the mild day.  That being said, it was still hard to dress appropriately as when we were in the open, the sun was warm and comfortable.  But when we entered the redwoods, it was on the cool side again as the light was pretty much blocked the entire time we were in the trees.  The mildness ended when we departed the trees with about 20 miles to the finish.  Inland temperatures have been ranging near the century mark lately which accounts for the fog we've been having all along the coast.  It was a severe contrast when we popped out into the sunshine for the last 20 miles...it was down right hot.

Our route today was again varied.  The early morning route wound it way through a myriad of dairy farms with Holstein, Guernsey, and Jersey cattle grazing in the pastures.  Between these farms we passed through a couple quaint little towns that reminded us of something out of an earlier time...no sprawl with fast food franchises and motels, but a vibrant downtown with the only motel right on main street.  Everything you needed was right on the main drag in downtown where several riders stopped and got a sandwich before tackling the big climbs before the first SAG.  You just don't see towns like this back east.  It was quite nice if you ask me.

A few miles after leaving the SAG, the scenery changed drastically from dairy farms to old growth Redwood forests...trees that were thousands of years old lined the roadway and presented us with awesome scenes as we made our way southward.  These trees were definitely bigger than the ones I grew up with in Indiana.  They were as majestic as they were even when this country was discovered...even spiritual.  It's hard to believe they've survived so long with all the logging and natural phenomenon that affected their growth.  As we meandered through the tall, stoic redwoods, I couldn't help but stop several times just to admire their beauty. 

At the second SAG, we were located at a museum and rest area that had a movie of the awesome flood of 1964 where almost the entire area surrounding where we were riding was virtually wiped off the map.  Last year we were a few miles farther at a tourist trap with a tree that was over 5000 years old we could ride through.  Some of the riders still stopped there to see the sight even though it wasn't an official stop this year.  Even though the tree had seen better days and was supported with cables to keep it upright, you could see signs of life growing from its tough bark as it stood proudly for all to admire.  Somehow I felt it wasn't a fitting setting for such a magnificent tree in it's final days...which may last another several hundred years.  One thing I am happy about is that most of the redwoods we saw today are protected from future logging efforts.  It would be a shame to destroy these wonderful items...live long big trees.

The final punch into town was back on the highway where we picked up a slight headwind and couldn't believe how warm it was compared to what we've been having over the last few days.  I enjoyed the final miles along the river and tried to imagine how it could have had 115 feet of water rushing down valley...it must have been quite a sight.  I know the movie was quite revealing...it showed the fierceness of mother nature in this remote land. 

It was a rather long day made even longer with all the stops everyone had to make just to admire the trees.  Most of the riders didn't get in until after 4:00.  By the time I got in at 4:30, it was time for maintenance and RAP soon after...quite a full day, but I got lots of great photos.

After rap, we had dinner at this little pizza, vegetarian, Mexican, Italian restaurant...you heard it here first.   You could get about anything you wanted if you just looked.  The place was right out out of the 60s just like the rest of the town.  It was decorated with tin signs, model cars, and advertisements from a bygone era.  The whole town is a throwback from the 60s...there were a lot of hippies that were still wandering around the streets...and they smoke something a little different here too.

If that wasn't enough to top off a perfect day, the motel had a wine and cheese reception for everyone just after dinner.  I hope the riders don't expect this every day now...but I must say it was a nice gesture after dinner.

Tomorrow we climb again...I'm really enjoying the climbing...wish I was riding, but someone has to be in the van.  See you tomorrow...thanks for checking in.  M
HEARD DURING THE DAY:

"Hey, which way do we go from the SAG?"
"Well, Barbara's pointing that way so that may be a clue."

"Now what do you think you're up to?"
"I just thought I'd get a cookie."
"Not before washing your hands you don't."

"Barbara, I was about to leave and have already put on my gloves.  Do I have to wash my hands again to get my glasses off the table?"
"Was that a rhetorical question?"

"Tom, how did you do today without your CPS?"
"You mean my GPS?"
"No, your Cy Positioning System."

"That Mike is a classy guy."
"Yeah, but I wonder what class you have to be to get thrown out of a porta potty?"

Javier was excited to see a map that showed where he had been riding.  Pablo and Roberto weren't impressed unless he could fold it and take it with them back to Mexico.

SCENES OF THE DAY

For a minute, I thought I was back in Alabama where you can find just about any appliance along the side of the road cheap.

I wonder who forgot their water bottle at the SAG?

The Tres Amigos were astonished at the 1964 water level.  "That's pretty deep!"  In the small town of Weott, this marker shows the water level in 1964 during a devastating flood that wiped out the entire town.  To put it in perspective a bit, they are standing approximately 80 feet above the river and this marker shows 35 feet of water over where they're standing.  Seems they had 32 inches of rain in 3 days on top of a big snow fall...I think they got the town name from the statement, "Weott to build this town higher on the side of the mountain."

This was the tree that is over 5000 years old.  It's pretty weak now and on it's last 500 year leg.

But you have to pick it up yourself.

We finally found something on this ride that is bigger than Big Mike.

When this one fell, it left a big hole in the ground...probably made a big boom too.

Photo by: Boaz Pomerantz

"Bessie, I really envy those cyclists."
"Why is that Elsie?"
"They have such nice calves."

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