Sunday 5/22/16 thru Thursday 5/26/16

These next 5 days were just unbelievable. To ride my bicycle with a group of mostly young people who all are raising money for Climate and environmental causes on some of the most scenic and beautiful roads in the world is such an inspiration. To see these young people all entheuastic and idealistic, many riding longer and farther than they thought they could is so emotional and gives one hope for the future.

And on top of that they are fun and know how to have a good time. It is a real communal experience with everyone helping out to make it all work. On top of that the staff and organizers are so great......from the 6 person traveling cooking crew who made breakfast and dinner for 150 every day......to the photographer who was everywhere......to the truck guys who loaded and unloaded the luggage and helped with our tents and got Hannah comfortable with a 12 inch pile of packing blankets when her air Paterson popped a leak.......to the 2 massage angels who worked out all of our sore muscles......to the map and route guy who set up and marked the absolutely best roads to ride and kept us from getting lost........to the evening speakers and lectures that inspired us all.........and the organization leaders who dreamed up the concept and put these rides together.

So for these 5 days because I can't possible capture every moment and because it went so quickly and I made so many new great friends and saw so much fantastic scenery I will only post pictures of 5 of the most incredible days of my life.

My daughter Hannah and the leader Caile

These guys were incredible.......legs of steel........check out the single fixed gear they were riding......they rode up some hills in a low single fixed gear that rivaled Greylock at home.

Good morning sunshine!!!

We are lost, but like the March of the Penguins we all stuck together and were fine.

Hannah contemplating the world.

Our first look at San Francisco from Mt Tamalpais. Above the clouds with the fog rolling in at 2,800 ft and we climbed every foot.

Getting closer to our final destination from across the Bay in Sasalito.....San Francisco.

Closer yet.....almost there......

We made it.......the other side of the bridge. No picture from on the bridge because it was cold and windy as a son of a bitch. 

Also no pictures of the finish and the huge celebration since this great guy was taking over 1,000 photos a day and will publish a photo album of the whole trip.

Saturday 5/21/16

Again these pictures are in reverse order for the day. Beginning at the end of the day with the morning being last.

Being of a generation that did not grow up with computer technology I am at a disadvantage and not as fluid as I would like with this IPad.

Well today was a long hard day of 90+ miles but I made it to Fortunate CA, which I discovered was actually 20 miles past Eurika, just in time for dinner at 7 with my 150 new BEST FRIENDS.

I was dead tired and after a warm welcome from all, especially my daughter Hannah I was so happy to have booked a hotel. After a few too many at the local brewery and a much needed load of laundry I retired very happy I had riden hard to make up for the 2 days lost by the bicycle delay and caut the Climate riders.

As I often found both here and in the east, upstate NY and often Vermont there were empty, abandoned, but incredibly beautiful old farm houses. Located usually on what looked like it could be productive self sustaining land. Sometimes out here immigrant Hispanic families had settled in and seemed to happily make a life.

It always made me think about all of the unfortunate displaced refugees I read about in Syria, Africa and other war torn countries where people's lives have been destroyed by drought, war and poverty and how in a more empathetic world they might find some peace and refuge here in places that we are not making use of. Sad when fear and prejudice wins out over compassion and empathy and prevents us from welcoming the thousands of immigrants that would make the USA better.

I travelled some great back country roads on my route into Eurika.

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Later in the afternoon as I approached Eurika my coastal route opened up onto a broad flat plain unlike anything I had seen further north in WA or Oregon. There were som beautiful pastures with some really happy looking very lazy cows. It must be that California weed they smoke.

I just loved how the trees would be sculpted by the prevailing strong ocean winds.

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Along the coast of Northern CA were more dramatic ocean views.

By late morning the sun was out and I made good time again with my friendly tailwind.

And as the morning wore on and the sun got higher the rain stopped and ther were optimistic patches of blue. I had a big day ahead because to meet Hannah and the Climatr riders I needed a long 90 miles today. 

Some more of the scenic redwoods.

The day began cold, damp and rainy. I was so glad that I had checked into the Hotel in Klamath so tha at least I had a nice Holiday Inn breakfast and started out warm and dry.

Friday 5/20 Entering CA

Friday thankfully was another beautiful day with again a really nice tailwind. I talk a lot about the wind because for a cyclist it is really a big deal. On a day with a strong headwind in your face you can be peddling hard all day long and struggle to make 60 miles and average about 8 or 10 miles an hour with rests, but with wind at your back then 80 to 100 in a day can be less work. 

Fortunately since I needed to cover about 175 miles in the next 2 days the wind being in my favor was a savior. 

The roads were clear and smooth so by late morning I entered California!!!

I noticed a difference immediately, with better roads and more signage.

.....and the same incredible scenery. Although the river valleys seemed to become broader and the land a little more flat with fields and agriculture 

The beaches were still beautiful and empty.

Farming was more prominent and the farms more prosperous.

I 

I passed through Crescent City into my first stand of redwoods and spent the night on a Reservation in a Holiday Inn in Klamath CA. 

I showed up for a raucous birthday party at the only place to eat in town.......a real working mans bar with very good pizza. It was dart night and the darts were flying.

As usual, the folks were friendly and welcoming and great fun was had by all.

Thursday 5/19/16 To Gold Beach

Once again I messed up and loaded these pictures in reverse order for the day. So as reference to myself as this is only a journal by which to remember the trip........ Start at the end of the post and work forward.

Also no commentary on these pictures either as I am trying to catch up. Plus the pictures speak for themselves.