Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Crunchy

October 12, 2010 saw us leave a little before the 5:30 pm start time. We are trying to make use of all the daylight we can find. 22 miles at 13.6 mph.

Our wheels made crunching sounds as we rolled over the dry leaves on the trail. One could almost imagine locomotive sounds as we passed miles of rail-trail. The crunching sounded like steam, whistling wind, or singing steel as our wheels crushed through the leaves.

It will only be a few weeks until the sun is low enough we can't get an hour of riding in after 5:30. I'm already looking forward to next year!

October 5, 2010

Not much happening this time of year. The days are shorter and cooler. "Let's ride where we can stay in the sun," was the quote of the day. We had a good ride with 28 miles covered at an average speed of 13.0 mph.

The new parts of the Cardinal Trail are exciting. The trail lures us farther and farther. Hope to ride to Muncie soon.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Big Trees

Our stop in the Humbolt Redwood State Park put us in big trees. We camped in a second growth area with trees growing in rings from the stumps of big trees that were cut years ago. There were bear proof boxes for us to put our food and items that had touched food in.

Our next stop took us thru Fernbridge, Ferndale, Rio Dell and Scotia, California. The road lead thru Stafford, Pepperwood, Redcrest, Weott, Myers Flat, MIranda, Phillipsville, Redway, Garberville, and Benbow, California. We stayed at Richardson Grove State Park.

Piercy was one of the next towns, and at Leggett we began our journey on route 1. There was a climb from around 500 feet above sea level to over 1500 feet above sea level. Then we made a ten mile descent to the ocean and on to Westport. It was interesting to go from the big trees to the ocean in one day. The sounds and smells of the waves were different from the silence of the forest.

Cleone, Fort Bragg, Mendocino and Albion, California were towns we traveled through. After Elk, California we camped near Manchester, California. Some of our group hiked about one mile to the beach and experienced the very cold water of the Pacific Ocean. It seems there is a Humboldt Current that flows past Alaska and brings cold water down the coast. The water in the ocean is always cold.

On through Point Arena, Ca., we traveled through Anchor Bay, Gualaia, Sea Ranch, Stewarts Point, Ca. The day was rainy and cold, so we stopped at Fort Ross, Ca., and spent our only night in a small motel. All the shivering riders were happy to be in rooms instead of tents.

After Jenner and Bodega Bay, Ca. we turned inland to go through Valley Ford and Tomales, Ca. On through Marshall, Ca. to a camp near Pt. Reyes Station put us in our final night in tents.

We road Sir Francis Drake Blvd through Samuel P Taylor State Park and our last views of Redwoods. On to Lagunitas, Woodacre, Fairfax, Ca. Then through San Anselmo, Ross, Kentfield, Larkspur and Gorte Madera, California put us in Sausalito. We crossed the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco, California and the trip was over.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

California

We have made our way down the Oregon coast, staying at Sunset Bay State Park, Port Orford, Brookings, and in the Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park. Through Trinidad, and stayed last night between Arcata and Eureka, California.Tonight should be in Burlington Camp Ground in the Humbldt Redwoods State Park, near Weott, California.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Wild Coast Trip

Started our bicycling from Eugene,OR. and pedaled to Florance, OR. the first riding day. It rained for first day and night. Some sun on first ride and then rain again. Everything is wet. Logging is a large business in this part of Oregon. We encountered fast, noisy, logging trucks hauling huge loads of wood. I'll post some pictures of logged areas when I can.

From Florence we cycled to Sunset Bay State Park, near Charleston, OR. Some of the riders went down to Cape Arago and saw sea lions, seals and surf.

Friday, 9/10/2010 we are on the way to Humbug State Park, near Port Orford, OR. Fishing is one of the local ways of making a living. Fresh crab, and other sea food are for sale. I enjoyed a salmon burger. Wind off of ocean is cold.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Neighborhoods

8/24/2010 was a short slow ride. 10.7 miles at 10.6 mph average. We stopped early so one rider could get back the the church council meeting that evening. Still a good ride. We talked about houses and where various folks lived or had lived, as we rode thru neighborhoods near the church.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Around and Around

This evening's ride was 22.3 miles at a 13.3 mph average. We tried something for the first time. Instead of meeting at First English Lutheran Church, we met at the Cardinal Trail parking lot adjacent to Industires Road. I stayed at the church until our normal 5:30 p.m. start time and then drove to the parking lot. At 5:45p.m. I was on the bike and riding north on, the as yet unopened section of, the Cardinal Trial.

We covered just a little over eleven miles before there was no more pavement to ride on. The paving machinery, in the middle of the trail, required we dismount and walk around. Toward the north end of our journey there was a bridge not yet repaired that we also had to go around. Other than those two obstacles, our wheels went around and around.

Oficially this portion of the trail is not open yet. In the short time we were riding, there were at least twenty folks using the trail. It was a testiment that there will be demand for the completed trail. Families, couples, single riders and friends hiking were all eager to enjoy the benefits that this railtrail offers. It will sure be nice when it is complete. It's wonderful already.