Today started out foggy. David and I met in the giant parking lot at 8:35. He had started up a conversation with some rough looking guy and his energy drink in front of my hotel. It was kind of nice but kind of humid. Riding downhill was often quite cool. It was one of those days where your core is warm and sweating but your skin is cold and clammy.
After resisting Mexican food since a poor experience in Calgary, David enjoyed last night's dinner and bought a chicken burrito for breakfast which he really enjoyed. Later in the day he would have a good biscuit and gravy experience.
We headed out of town and almost immediately started an 8km nearly 400m climb. It was a big climbing day, I registered 1500m altogether. Fortunately, it was heavily loaded to the first part of the day.
Before the town of Klamath we stopped at a small market and restaurant. We had a really good biscuit and gravy and got sandwiches to go. David loaded up on canned chicken and a loaf of bread for his night camping in the redwoods.
We left 101 for the Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway through the redwoods. For some reason the ACA route stayed on 101 and that added 400m of climbing. The Newton was great. Very little traffic. There was a big climb at the start but where things got really nice and redwoody we had a nice 1-2% downhill and didn't need to pedal. We just watched the giant trees and lush forest go by.
We stopped for a few photo ops, of course.
Near the end we came to a large meadow and David's camping area. We ate our sandwiches which were really good. The turkey was real turkey breast, not that slimy, thin sliced, processed stuff.
That little market/restaurant had good stuff. I don't even know if it had a name visible. The sing out front said: "A good place to eat". Google thinks the place is called Woodland Villa Cabins - Restaurant - Market.
I left David there and still had 80km to ride. I stayed on 101 for speed. The ACA route added a lot of distance and climbing. 101 had traffic but it had a good shoulder and was fast. I did take one side trip one on Patrick's Point Dr. And that turned out to be interesting as it took me past an island with hundreds of barking sea lions. It also ended at a gas station market where I enjoyed a large cup of coffee.
I got back on 101 and my speed really picked up. I stayed on it until Arcata. I took Janes Road exit which put me on a nice bike path. There was a nice tail wind. I was beside 101 when the bike path ended and it put me back on 101. The bike path from it's current end into Eureka is under construction and will some connect Eureka and Arcata.
Eureka is kind of a dump. For some reason it has a lot of hotels for a place that has so little going on. I had a decent pho at a place a block from the Days Inn. Wings to go for breakfast!
Pretty tired now.
No comments:
Post a Comment