Travels with Rustyplough: 05/19/13

The experience of yesterday caused me to have some thoughts as to plans. I could continue to go along Highway 1 by the coast and no doubt see more spectacular scenery but I had a long way to go so alternatively I could cut straight across to Interstate 5 and zap up that. In the end I took the middle route, literally, Highway 101 diagonally North West up through the mountains and across to the coast at Eureka.

Turned out to be an excellent decision – haven’t really read much about the 101 but it was probably one of the best bike roads I’ve been on – and for such a great a distance - the sat nav directions that said “turn right in 138 miles”! A mainly two but sometimes four lane road with long sweeping cambered turns and clear edges that allowed you to see for miles. Hardly any traffic - like having the Nurburgring to yourself – non- petrol heads look it up.

Immediately I left Willits I saw deer down in the dapple shaded valley bottoms and numerous wild turkeys and their more able but equally aesthetically challenged cousins, turkey vultures.

It was a lovely cool morning - more like early English summer time – remember that – and when I wasn’t up in the hills on those curves I was haring along perfectly flat, straight sections on the broad based valley bottoms with mixed land use of what looked like dairy farms and vegetable crops but mixed with cherry orchards and strawberry fields. If it is sounding just a bit idyllic – well, it was.

Then the Redwoods came. They are magnificent – at one point The Valley of Giants parallels the 101 for 32 miles – part of the 53,000 acres of the Humboldt Redwoods State Park – and so another detour called for.

Not part of the park and just fun was this – had to do it didn’t I.

So much for new plans - by the time I had reached the coast at at 2.30 I had only done 155 miles – and wanted to get some 450 in today!

That meant travelling further up the coast wasn’t on – I just wouldn’t do it. So the Oregon coastline will have to be for another day. I cut back east along a road heading for Grants Pass and I’ll have to bore you again by saying that this was another 60 miles of heaven – I know I go on but riding through those trees with a cool breeze but bright sunshine filtering through the foliage was just perfect.

Went past the Smoke Jumpers’ base but too late to go to the museum there. Talk about putting your life on the line – these guys, and I guess guyesses - jump out of planes to fight fires in remote areas before they get too big a hold – now, already that’s two things that nature is telling you not to do – can’t imagine how they manage that but a lot of people in the area are glad they do. (Another recommendation – The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans of the Horse Whisperer fame! )

Don't know what this was all about...