Planning Your Route--And Losing the Road

We love donations for Kids With Cancer everyday, but this Wednesday, your donation will be matched!  Click HERE if you just can't wait until then!

Total Distance Pedaled: 728 Miles
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 37,030 ft

To see today's ride profile, click HERE
Sketchy GPS Tracker--sorry, forgot to turn it on!

I woke up a couple times last night thinking about today's blog post.  When we arrived at the Comfort Inn yesterday in Fortuna, I was a bit frustrated because this was the first leg of our trip that was not as scenic and felt more like just a means to get to our next stop.  We spent a lot of time on the 101 with heavy traffic and it just wasn't "fun."  And when you are trying to write a blog, it's tough if you don't have something worthwhile to say.  Luckily, today I do.

When we left the travel trailer yesterday morning, we were on the "Old State Highway," which is a really rough unmaintained road that bikes like our have no business going down.  With skinny tires and a LOT of extra weight on our back tires from the bags (and my gut),  one or two potholes can blow out a tire or worse, pop a spoke or bend a rim.  We spend a lot of time navigating bad sections and even walking our bikes across gravel driveways.

About 12 miles into our ride, the cycling guide said to turn off onto a surface road that went parallel to the freeway.  We took it and started down what was another rough road.  Then, at one point, the road turned entirely to dirt/rocks for a small stretch so we were off the bikes again pushing.  A couple miles ahead, we met a local cyclist who told us that "the road ahead has fantastic bike paths to cycle on for the next 10 miles or so."  So we kept the course over the terrible road we were currently on, sometimes walking 200+ yards over gravel when the road gave out, waiting until we got to the bike paths she had spoken of.

The bike path is called the Hammond Bike Trail and it was fantastic! Smooth as butter, away from traffic and fun to ride on.  We rode for maybe 2 miles when we turned the corner and, to our dismay, the bike path became a dirt path for as far as we could see--definitely not something that we would even consider trying to pedal down on our road bikes.  So, frustrated, we had to lift our bicycles over a barrier and some blackberry bushes to get to the 101 where we could at least have some pavement to ride on.  I kept thinking of how nice it would have been to keep riding on that bike path much further down the road.  If only it were paved...

For those of you joining my blog late, Katelyn and I dedicated our ride to raising money for the Children's Cancer Research Fund.  It is on our minds a lot and last night, I couldn't kick the thought of how our ride yesterday was the metaphor for these kids we want to help.  Sometimes you think you are on the perfect path and things are great and then, without warning, you turn the corner and get faced with the devastation that the road is not what it seemed.   Sometimes, on the other side of the gravel, there is smooth road again.  Sometimes the smooth road never reappears and remains rocky; and other times, the road dead ends altogether.   I recalled on our ride--especially on the roads that were potholed/graveled--why no one came to fix the roads or if we were the only ones that were bothered by it.

This is why we are riding.   Many of the kids that are diagnosed or will be diagnosed with cancer don't know what is right around the corner.  They don't know the rough path they will have to go down, when it will get smooth again, or when the trail might end altogether.  I find myself more grateful for the experience we had yesterday and the perspective it gave us to understand the purpose of our cause.  If it seems that I have been somewhat bullish on asking for donations in connection with this ride, this is the reason why.  So thank you to those that have helped out and another plea to those that are still considering--we really need you.

Ok, today's challenge:  first, getting Katelyn out of bed.  I will let her sleep until 9:00 since our ride is only 56 miles.  We will be Vlogging again today (GoPro had no charged batteries yesterday) and we get to ride down the entire length of the "Avenue of the Giants" which is an iconic stretch of the redwoods--hoping for some nice pictures.  Also, the weather today will get up around 80 degrees--our jackets and arm warmers are going to the bottom of our bag!  See you in Garberville!

Eureka, CA had more wall murals than anywhere we had seen.  I wish we could have ridden down more streets.

I still never tire of telling Katelyn to pose for a picture after a climb above the ocean.  Down below us here were a ton of noisy sea lions on the rocks.

We went to church today...sort of.  Church services were over by the time we arrived.  We met some really nice people though!

This is another one of those things where the picture just falls short.  Our lunch place is known for its mashed potato waffle cones.  Add gravy, cheese and bacon for $1 more?  Did they have to ask?  Best idea ever!

Another Mural in Eureka.  The painted sky actually looks like it is real.

The rest of the mural from the earlier picture

I really want to see the train that rides across these tracks!