Smooth runnings

We rode 27 miles today from Elk to Point Arena down the Mendocino coast. We had a stiff wind at our back all the way - smooth runnings. We are here for Anna and Jim's wedding. This was our first ride fully loaded. We weighed our gear before we left. Ramona has 50# and I have 75# (gulp). There was a little pushing the bikes today: once up the drive way (no surprise), once up the switch back at the San andreas fault, and at the end up the gnarly dirt road to Anna's house. We stopped for a beer and a tequila in town and a local Welsch man shared his chips with us. Ramona looked stunning in her yellow skirt and blue tights. I wish I had snapped a picture because I was picking up some wicked visuals off her (thanks Federico).

Now we are here.




:: rolling post. ride on.

Some inspiration for Zak and Jana

We saw this Benz in Point Arena, CA and it made me think of Zak and Jana.

Before we pedaled the last 4m to the wedding, we stopped for a beer at the local bar. My right shoulder was a little sore. I swapped the weight from my rear panniers to the front before we left thinking it would make the bicycle a bit more stable. The result was a pretty wobbly ride and a lot of effort to keep the bike on the road. I mentioned this to Ramona and she said that a tequila would probably fix it. I ordered a small shot and balanced the shot glass on my shoulder before we drank it - seemed to work.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Greenwood Ridge to Hendy Woods in Philo and Back

Camping adventure! We rode up Greenwood Ridge on the windy road, out to camp in the monster Redwoods for a night. The road was basically empty, very few cars, and we often rode side by side, which is very nice. Here's the map for that first leg.

Before we left my dad snapped a dorky bike photo for us. Fully loaded...

Every time Joshua sees a sign like this he cringes:

But the views are well worth it... that's Anderson Valley from high on Greenwood Ridge.

On the way back we went via the less hilly Route 128, which follows the Navarro River. Stunning Redwoods, narrow, somewhat busier road. We stopped to check out a camping spot, and the mighty Navarro itself.

Hendy Woods = big trees!

This is the 128 to the bottom of Cameron Road route we took on the way back. It was good, except for a few huge trucks, one of which thought it would be cool to almost run us off the road. Then we hit the part where we had to climb - after 22 miles. And it was quite a climb. When we got home we opened a bottle of wine, made a couple of espressos, and congratulated ourselves. Cameron is steeper after 22 winding miles.

Navarro River!

Rewarded again, for climbing the little stretch of Hwy 1, which is all uphill from 128 to Cameron Rd. Oh the Pacific Ocean...

Philo-Greenwood Ridge Road

Every time I pass power lines, I wonder what it would be like to run sheep there.



- rolling post

Day 2: Small Loop

We rode out the ridge road and down into Elk this morning for breakfast and a loaf of bread. It is a 10% grade for 2+ miles downhill and my hands were sore from braking by the time we reached Route 1.

Around every corner on the Mendocino coast is another dramatic view. This one is from the bluffs in Elk.

The Elk Creamery is a goat farm that over looks this beach. The last time we were up here, I checked out their website http://www.elkcreamery.com. The rumor is that they are out of business...

1st Leg of the trip looked like this:

View Larger Map

After a light breakfast of beer, coffee, and a feta cheese scramble at Queenie's Cafe, we rode out along the bluffs to see a dead Humpback whale that had washed ashore a week ago. Ramona told me a story about a Blue whale washing ashore in Little River when she was in middle school - the whole school went down to the beach to view the corpse. It was huge and smelt bad. This one was an adolescent - maybe 20ft in length. Ramona said that the whales that come ashore are usually dead already.

2nd Leg (after breakfast) looked like this:

View Larger Map

It rained a bit while we were riding along Route 1 back to Cameron Rd. The rain on my face prompted me to say, "Who needs a Korean spa, when you've got a penetrating sea mist facial cleanse." There were poppies, thistles, crimson clover, sweet peas, dandelions, and mustard blooming on the side of the road.

Yes, that is me in a helmet eating Ramona's face. Safe! Yum!

Wilderness in NorCal

Just a couple of days out of LA and we've already been visited by the kind of wildlife you don't expect to see, even here in the woods of Mendocino County. We know these guys are out there, but usually they're much more secretive.

First the bobcat, which was hunting gophers in the recently mowed grass around the house. Nature TV has nothing on what this little guy was showing off. He didn't catch anything, but for at least 10 minutes he was stalking around while we watched. We eventually needed to get some things out of the truck, so Joshua went out there and the bobcat moved off. But he re-appeared once it was quiet outside again. Just a big kitty-cat.

Then, mama and baby bambi. Really tiny baby. My dad already has a history of spending time with the local deer. There are a few that come around and will actually eat apples or carrots from his hands. This one apparently felt it would be safe to bring her very new fawn right up to the house, and my dad threw them some treats.

Last Day in Los Angeles