♫ "From the Redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters...this land was made for ABB." ♪  Well, we're back at it again.  Everyone was chomping at the bit after a nice restful day off yesterday.  We loaded a little earlier than usual due to the longish day and all the climbing we were looking at.  And it didn't take long for the climbing to start.  We started up within 2 miles from the motel and it seemed to just keep going.  I was in the van today so all I had to do was press a little harder on the accelerator and poof...I got to the top.  But the riders weren't so lucky as the terrain rose about 1200 feet before starting to drop back to sea level.  I think everyone would have been satisfied if the road would have stayed on a high ridge line, but out here it seems just to hug the ocean...if there's a beach, the road goes down to it.

We've been in a pretty dreary pattern for the last couple of days, but early this morning we felt we were getting a break.  It was cloudy when we departed but our visibility of the ocean and the big trees was good.  The sun didn't pop out enough to make the ocean blue, but we could see it none the less.  Everyone was really enjoying the mild temperature and neat sights that included giant Redwoods, raging surf, seals, sea lions, and elk feeding along the roadway.  However, as good as it was early, it was the opposite in spades in the afternoon.  Some of the riders got into Eureka before the sky opened up, but not many.  What started out as a drist (that's a little more than mist, but not as much as drizzle), turned into a full fledged downpour by 2:00 in the afternoon.  Even with that, everyone pretty much enjoyed the day of great sights and super route.

One thing about this ride, the climbing is abundant but no one is complaining...the rewards are spectacular.  If we don't come across a pull out that overlooks the raging surf below, we are climbing through gigantic Redwood trees that tower above the roadway.  As the riders made their way along the coast, I was busy recording their efforts on my camera.  It was hard to keep moving as every mile seemed to beckon the riders to stop and gaze over the edge of the road at the surf below, take a photo of a seal, or to admire a tree. 

The first SAG was in the town of Klamath before they entered the redwoods.  There was lots of climbing to get to the redwoods, but the final 7 miles back to highway 101 was totally downhill so the riders were able to pretty much coast all the way through the big trees...and I do mean BIG trees.

Our spread was pretty far by the time we reached the second SAG so I hustled forward to try to catch the front before they got to an area on a beach overlook road that two years ago a land slide had taken out about a 100 yards of the road.  They had pretty much repaired that section and it was now open to traffic, but there were a couple other areas this year that was in disrepair, but rideable.  That's one of the problems they have around these parts...slides.  Every few miles along highway 101 there are signs of repair and even one area they are repairing today that had recently slipped sideways toward the surf.  I don't know how they keep the pavement on the side of these mountains...if they close 101 because of a slide, I'm not sure how far we'd have to go to get around it.  In many places there isn't a road for miles that connects farther down the coastline.

The remainder of the route jumped on and off a bike route along hwy 101 before picking up a street that took us across the Mad River on a bike/ped bridge.  From there we picked up nice, flat country roads which were a stark contrast to the miles we'd already ridden along rugged shoreline and through Redwood forests.  Now we were in dairy country...complete sometimes with a cattle drive right down our route which, as you can imagine, they "resurface" the road with their deposits.  When that happens it makes for some tasty beverages out of our water bottles to say the least...mmmm, that was a Holstein flavor. 

The final miles into town were on highway 101...flat and boring compared to what we'd ridden through all day.  The good news was that 101 had a great shoulder and the winds were kicking them in the butt a bit...well sort of.  By the time the riders almost got to town they were circling around a bay so the wind almost got in their face for the last couple miles...at best it was a pretty good cross wind.  I'm thinking no one noticed the wind with all the rain that pelted them as they finished.  In Eureka, we routed everyone through old downtown so folks could try out the coastal wares and see the sights.  Most stopped there for a bite to eat.

Wow...what a day.  Beautiful sights, nice winds, and pretty good weather (at least early)...we pretty much had it all today.  Tomorrow we go to Garberville...a throwback from the 60s.  I get to ride tomorrow...hope the winds keep in our favor...I can use a kick and I'd like to stay dry too.  See you then.  M

PS:  Today we have 3 new riders...Nancy, Jenni, and Barbara.  They are posted in Meet the Riders.