Day 6: Crescent City - Trinidad (Patrick's Point State Park)

54 miles, 3500 ft elevation gain, 4 hrs 50 min ride time, one piece of Apple pie and one package of hostess mini crunchy doughnuts. Limited connectivity so the Garmin data can't upload. 

This is our second day in CA. Oregon set a high bar for a biker friendly ride. A goal that CA will have to work hard to meet. Maybe it's just because I'm tired, for the second day in a row. Last night's motel was a nice respite in crescent city. We had first floor room with a view of the ocean. Nice accommodations and affordable. Even the bed was comfortable. Better than any backpacking trip I've been on. Still, I was not there long enough. Even with sleeping in some, I could use some recovery time. My body is beginning to agree with Rhonda: 'we are not in a race. We can go at our own pace, take our time, enjoy the journey'. And then there is Isaiah who heard The Lord say, "Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."- Isaiah 46:4

Right off the get go we had a 1000 foot climb at up to a 7.5% grade. And for most of the way up, and in fact for many miles today, there was not a decent shoulder to ride in. And although it only takes one, or in this case, four vehicles decided they were bigger than us and passed with only inches to spare. It just sort of ruined the day. It was stressful trying to keep the rubber side down and watch for those motor coaches with extended mirrors pulling their toys. Because for every hill climb, there is this windy decent down the back side, usually the payoff for the hard work climbing up.  There were a few nice descents cruising down with little traffic, especially in Redwoods national park. But enough whining.

I have read about the redwoods since high school. I always expected them further inland (like the Sequoias, but those are completely different critters). Still, these trees are huge and old. It's been cool to ride through them on bikes along the coast. I'm glad someone invented Trex for building decks and some of these giants remain. 

The area is also pretty rural between the bigger towns. We knew tonight's camp would be too far to find food near by. So we stopped in Orick. The market was sparse but we found some bars and nuts for the morning. Just enough to get us into the next town 8-10 miles down the road. The Palm cafe sat across the highway and we ate a greesey burger for a late lunch, early dinner. Mark Morgan says I can eat a piece of pie each day. The Palm cafe did make a good homemade apple pie that I shared with Rhonda. 

Then it was back on our bikes for 15 more miles and another 1500 feet up and down, winding along the coastal lagoons. We even saw a herd of elk just out of the park.  The sign to Patrick's Point State Park was a welcome site. CA parks do meet the OR standard for hiker/biker camps. Rhonda is taking her shower while I type and listen to the surf. I even hear a sea lion every now and then. And I'm looking forward to a Mark Bertram favorite: hostess crumb doughnuts.