Ferndale was a nice stopover and a rest well appreciated. The town is clean and supported by the surrounding dairy country and tourism.
Refreshed we started out of town on the edge of the marine layer and chilled air. We took the country roads and headed inland following the nearly dry Eel river, through farm land occupied by more California happy cows. The road grade was a generally slight 1-2% grade with the occasional steep bump at 7%.
It was about the second bump that we had our first flat and blown tire. Rhonda's front tire went flat and after two inner tubes we realized the tire's bead had failed. So, after a longer than required break we installed the spare tire and headed up the road.
Soon we entered the "Avenue of the Giants", an off Hwy 101 route along more of the Redwoods. It was a most pleasant ride. The redwoods provided much needed shade as the temps finally climbed as we rode inland. There were some fruit and veggie stands interspersed in between the various small towns, which aided in our scurvy prevention.
Because of the need for another spare tire, and knowing tomorrow is Sunday, we kept the pace to make it to Garberville before their all purpose sport shop closed at 5:30. We made it with 10 minutes to spare.
When not under the shade of trees, the temps rose into the 90's, a big difference from the coastal 60's. For some reason we thought we could make it another 15-20 miles. While eating dinner in town we realized we only had another hour or so of day light and the heat just took it out of us. No safe camping in Garberville, so we are in another motel tonight, and I'm glad this one has AC.
I didn't get many photos today, but took some video riding through the redwoods. That will require me some time at home to edit it all, so come back later at the end of this adventure.
Humboldt county has more than its share of culture, and counter culture. Each of the towns with its own character, or several characters for that matter.
Tomorrow's ride takes us up our steepest, longest, highest hill of the trip, and they say it will be hotter. So it's time to say good night.
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