Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Ride Day 77
Today I rode from Crescent City CA to Gold Beach Oregon 57 miles and 3000' of climbing. I was delayed in the morning because of pea soup thick fog that came right down to the ground. I waited until almost 10 am before I took off with the fog just barely off the ground. I enjoyed my stay with Laura and Hans in Crescent City, But the road beckons to me. The fog blocked about 90% of the beautiful scenery but I still saw plenty of nice views along the way. I took a few pics but the pics are getting old to me cause after all they are mostly just big rocks in the ocean, big deal right? I still enjoy looking at the sights though. I try to find other interesting things but today I was lagging just a bit from drinking beer and whiskey with my hosts last night. The booze cuts into my power and endurance the next day. I still managed to make it up a couple good grades one about 500' and the other about 800' by just spinning away. I did stop in Fort Dick for a snack at the market on Morehead Road where I sucked down a big breakfast burrito. Oops that sounds kind of pornographic I was told but actually it is all innocent actual names and places and I did have the burrito so what can I do if it is a bit suggestive when it is all put together.
I rode almost the entire way after Fort Dick on highway 101. There wasn't much point in taking the Adventure Cycling route along the coast and stuff when the fog was so thick blocking the views. 101 along this stretch was good wide shoulders with smooth clean blacktop and very little traffic today so it was not a bad ride at all. When the fog did finally lift a bit more so that I could actually see things I stopped and took a few pics but otherwise I just rode hard all day. I was beat when I got to Gold Beach and I checked into Turtle Rock RV Park right away and then went across the street to the bar and grill to get a cheeseburger and fried to fill me up. I may go back there after I post this blog cause it looked like a decent friendly bar to hang in for an hour or two. The ladies that checked me in were quizzing me hard about my ride and things but I am getting used to that by now and take it in stride. There is rain predicted tonight also but if it comes down too hard I will just sleep in the rest room where it is clean and dry here in the park unlike some of the ones I have been to. Either way I should be hitting the road heading north in the morning unless the fog is thick again or if it is raining. More later
Day off Smith River drive
Yesterday I took the day off again and visited with my friends Laura and Hans. Laura is hosting me here in Crescent City. We went for a drive to look for carnivorous pitcher plants up in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. We stopped in Fort Dick to eat some breakfast and after scarfing some burritos we headed up 199 to the area where we were told we would find our target. Once we parked the car, it was a short 75 yard hike to the serpentine bog where the pitcher plants thrive. We looked around the area and took a few pics of the plants then headed to a market to buy some meats to barbeque later in the day. I enjoyed the short hike since I am mobility impaired the "short 75 yard hike" is actually very challenging for me. I was able to walk it and did not have any major issues like falling down or seizures or anything because I just went slow. I did pay the price for the walking later that night with high pain when I tried to sleep but such is life. We also stopped along the beautiful Smith River to enjoy the river and the views. The drive through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park was gorgeous. I did not get many pics from the car like I do on my bike but here are a few pics of the day....
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Day of rest Crescent City
Took the day off because it is cinco de mayo and that just means even more drunks on the roads. I enjoyed my time off so far. Redid my laundry first then pigged out at a diner for my second breakfast before riding around town. I took a few pics along the beach and of the lighthouse but mostly just slowly cruised around town getting a feel for it. Here are some of the pics:
Ride day 75 by jimfrogs at Garmin Connect - Details
Ride day 75 by jimfrogs at Garmin Connect - Details
I am a confused senior citizen that messed up the days count. This is actually day 74 but I am not going back to change it all to correct it, who cares?
I am a confused senior citizen that messed up the days count. This is actually day 74 but I am not going back to change it all to correct it, who cares?
Ride Day 76 by jimfrogs at Garmin Connect - Details
My ride from Patrick's Point State Park to Crescent City was gorgeous once again, 56 miles 5000' of climbing and 85 degree heat that made it sort of like work. The Pacific coast is very nice all along it. I did not get much out of Patrick's Point State Park because everything there required lots of walking along trails to see and I just am not able to walk far enough to do that. So I pretty much sat around resting and watching the big trees blow in the wind.
I left early in the morning before 7. The weather was cold at that hour but it was clear with a headwind of 10-15 mph. I enjoyed the ride despite the tough riding conditions. Big Lagoon was a good looking area with a saltwater lagoon and the on the other side of the road was a freshwater lagoon. The beach along there was covered in trees and other debris washed up over the years which made it look even more isolated than it was. My road was ok but in some areas, like curves, the shoulder disappeared and it was a bit scary. I had no real close calls but my luck can't last forever.
There were two big grades that were work. The cold morning quickly turned into hot dry weather blowing in my face. It made me use a lot of water and my lips got a bit wind burned but not so bad that it lasted until the next day. I met a few other riders that were interesting to stop and talk with. A couple from Canada were planning on spending six months riding around the US. They asked me about where I had been and what the conditions were. They did not always like the things I said like the 120 degree heat and the high steep climbs along the way. They told me they wanted to go to all the national parks and I asked them if they knew how many parks that would be, they did not have a clue. It would take well over 6 months to bike to all the national parks in the country.
After cresting the big grade south of Crescent City, I got to my planned campground and found it closed. So I had to continue all the way into town in the 85 degree heat and bright sun to look for a new place to camp. I found a place called Village Camper Inn on the north side of town. The people running it were nice and friendly so I will stay a couple of days to redo my laundry and rest up before I hit the rolling hills of Oregon next. I have to redo my laundry because I used a harsh detergent for my last wash and the soap made me get heat rash everywhere I was sweaty which was just about everywhere....More later.
Ride Day 76 by jimfrogs at Garmin Connect - Details
I left early in the morning before 7. The weather was cold at that hour but it was clear with a headwind of 10-15 mph. I enjoyed the ride despite the tough riding conditions. Big Lagoon was a good looking area with a saltwater lagoon and the on the other side of the road was a freshwater lagoon. The beach along there was covered in trees and other debris washed up over the years which made it look even more isolated than it was. My road was ok but in some areas, like curves, the shoulder disappeared and it was a bit scary. I had no real close calls but my luck can't last forever.
There were two big grades that were work. The cold morning quickly turned into hot dry weather blowing in my face. It made me use a lot of water and my lips got a bit wind burned but not so bad that it lasted until the next day. I met a few other riders that were interesting to stop and talk with. A couple from Canada were planning on spending six months riding around the US. They asked me about where I had been and what the conditions were. They did not always like the things I said like the 120 degree heat and the high steep climbs along the way. They told me they wanted to go to all the national parks and I asked them if they knew how many parks that would be, they did not have a clue. It would take well over 6 months to bike to all the national parks in the country.
After cresting the big grade south of Crescent City, I got to my planned campground and found it closed. So I had to continue all the way into town in the 85 degree heat and bright sun to look for a new place to camp. I found a place called Village Camper Inn on the north side of town. The people running it were nice and friendly so I will stay a couple of days to redo my laundry and rest up before I hit the rolling hills of Oregon next. I have to redo my laundry because I used a harsh detergent for my last wash and the soap made me get heat rash everywhere I was sweaty which was just about everywhere....More later.
Ride Day 76 by jimfrogs at Garmin Connect - Details
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