One More week on the Road

Thursday 21
Left Santa Cruz - got a bit lost and went through miles of strawberries - the smell was amazing. Stopped at Moss Landing for lunch to watch a sea otter in the marina - about 20 feet away - lazing in the sun. On through Castroville - the artichoke Capital of the World. On to Monterey where we went through a tunnel not for bikes - oh well - lots of toots. Racoons ate the bread.

Friday 22
Left in the fog but it cleared. 1st looks at Big Sur - down past Point Sur and on to Pfeiffer-Big Sur Park - another night in the Redwoods. A head wind most of the day.

Saturday 23
On up the Big Sur hill and then fantastic scenes. So many pictures. We stopped at a vista point to hear " the 1st riders in" but no we were not part of the Carmel Big Sur ride but we were invited over for a drink and snacks. So much good scenery as we rode and then stopped at Kirks Creek. Just putting up the tent when Kathie ( The nurse for teh ride) came down to get us and invited us to lunch with the riders. THANKS. An afternoon and evening soaking up the sun and sights.

Sunday 24
The last of the Big Sur coast - some elephant seals and on to 1st glimps of Hearst Castle. At San Simeon we took the tour of the castle. Amazing - we were very tempted by the pools but the security was tight. "Less is More" was not a concept W R Hearst understood. Stayed the night at San Simeon Park.

Monday 25
Left in sea mist again and on to Morro Bay. A big thanks to Devra for a tour of the town and Los Osos. A great lunch at the marina and a ride in the PT Cruizer.
OUR 1ST PUNCTURE.

Tuesday 26
Left Oceano and on through Guadalupe - Californias equivalent to Taumaranui on the main trunk line. - A hot afternoons ride 13.5 miles uphill from Lompoc to the coast but a tent site by the sea in Refugio. Palm Trees.

Wednesday 27
New Shoes for Glenn - holes in the soles of the others. In to Santa Barbara and a visit to the Mission and the Court House. Lunch down by the pier and an afternoons ride along the coast to Carpinteria. Ice Cream for desert (Steve made me type this).Carpinteria Park is right by a supermarket and the main trunk line.

One more fantastic Redwood - In fact one you can drive through.

















We need to put our flags here as they have caused many a smile and comment. Steve was accosted by a man saying "the waltzing matilda's are here" and took some convincing it was a New Zealand flag.
Having told one couple it was New Zealand they said they knew we were from the "British Isles" as have several others.
On the whole it is explaining it is not the Ausi flag but we have had "Go the All Blacks" and "go Kiwis" too





Fort Ross - An Historic park that was originally set up for farming for a Russian American Fur company. This is the Armory and a Russian Orthodox Church. Everything was really dry as we have had no rain since we have been here.









More of the Coast.


















The California coast - lots of rocks and hills.













The trip off the coast was really dry - we went through hours of hills like this.












A fantastic tour of a WWII Sub USS Pampanito- this is the second of 2 engine rooms. We spent ages looking about.











We didnt go here just incase they would not let us out. ALCATRAZ













At last the Golden Gate - and we rode it 3 times.
It was much bigger than we expected.

The last post was from Garberville. Since then we have made it over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Monday 11th Sept
Left Garberville in the heat and continued to climb to Standish-Hickey - a park with lots of frogs and mosquitoes .

Tuesday 12th
This is the day when we made the highest point on the trip. Legget Hill 2000 feet. Before the climb we went through a drive through Redwood. A good downhill and we found ourselves back on the coast in Northern California.

Wednesday 13th
Today was the steepest climb - and it was foggy most of the day. We stopped at Mendocino - a small up market coast town with cafes etc. Then a night at a KOA ( Campgrounds of America - Don't ask why it is a K) A catch up with laundry and a soak in the spa.

Thursday 14th
No fog and a tail wind. We went down past the Sea Ranch - a huge - miles long planned community of expensive houses and private roads. Stopped at the Sea Ranch Chapel - amazing design - a wave shapped building. On to Fort Ross - a historic fort. Over the hills on the coast and on to Bodega Bay.

Friday 15th
Lots of farm land and into Marin County. A bee sting. Phoned to book a hiker/biker site at Marin Headlands. Stopped at Point Reyes Station then over the hills again to Samual P Taylor Park.

Sat 16th
25 miles to San Francisco. Which turned into 49.9. The headland park failed to tell us that the hiker biker was up a 3 mile, 940 ft trail or track - not bike friendly. change of plan - over the GOLDEN GATE and to a Hostel.

Sunday 17th
Walked round San Francisco to Fishermans Wharf, the Coit Tower, Sea Lions on their own Pier 39. And toured the USS Pampanito - a WWII submarine. We had the IHOP experience rode the Cable car and walked the United Nations Plaza and more.

Monday 18th
Rode the Crookedest Street in the world, down to the waterfront and over the Golden Gate again - and back. Then toured the city with a visit to Haight/Ashbury. Went on an historic building walk 2-3 hours guided tour.

Tuesday 19th
Met Jane while photographing City Hall . Had a good chat - another biker who had walked in NZ. Through Daly City- the inspiration for the song about "little boxes on the hillside". Saw whales and on to Half Moon Bay camp. Water still freezing.

Wedneday 20th
Steve had no gears - or 1 gear depending on your outlook. Luckily not too many hills and into Santa Cruz past market gardens with Brussel Sprouts and Artichokes ( oh to be so lucky !!!)
Found a bike shop and met Neville outside. A Kiwi expat who offfered us his renter above the garage for the night. Great family - thanks. Neville, Marta. Yssy & Zak. - Off now to Monterey.

A Few more pics from another cafe

Steve with some logging blocks at the

California

Steve has become a tree hugger.














The Avenue of The Giants. An awesome sight and experience.

















Burlington Camp among the Redwood Trees

California - the place you want to be................

It is Monday and we are in Garberville - a small town in northern California - struggling with technology once again - there are photos hopefully from last week as well as these. Internet access is not on every street corner - or behind every redwood tree !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last time we wrote we were at Driftwood Shores with the Cunninghams - We had Clam Chowder for lunch on the wharf and pizzas together at the Hotel.

Sunday - Joanne picked us up from the camp as she was unable to camp with us for the night - we all had breakfast together - wraps and bacon & eggs and more.
We went to the Oregon Dunes and Joanne, Steve & Glenn had a fantastic ride on a buggy. The area of the dunes is enormous - several thousand acres. Then we had fresh crab and a picnic on the beach. It was so good to have the time with Mary, Ken & Joanne - see you on the way back.

Monday - Past Heceta head and through another tunnel - To the Darlington Gardens to see masses of Cobra Lillies - a native. On into the fog past Reedsport and to Umpqua Lighthouse state park. A camp fire to dry the clothes.

Tuesday - FOG - on to the Coos Bay Bridge - no shoulder to ride on. Lots of toots at Glenn on the bridge. But we are here to write the blog. Glenn ran out of back brakes and no bike shop for 2 days. - Thats what shoes are for - Foot brakes!!!!!!!! Went to Shore Acres Gardens in the fog - Spectacular. Met Arnold & Marieka - A Kiwi Couple.

Wednesday - FOG again but broke out into the sun at 9:45 - Stopped at Bandon to dry the tent and get groceries. Lunch at Langlois but no luck in the library updating this. Arrived at Humbug Mountain - a great camp and went down to the sea - Brrrrrrrrrr - cold - no swimming. More blackberries.

Thursday - The last day in Oregon and the best was last - the scenery was fantastic. Over Cape Sebastion - No back brakes but a hole in the shoe. Over the highest bridge in Oregaon and more stunning scenery. Into Brookings to a bike shop and after some work - NEW BRAKES.
Time for a coffee and grocery shopping. A laundry at the camp - clean clothes - the neighbours will be pleased.

Friday - Into California - a good run through a quiet backroad - saw and heard sea lions on an island close to Pebble Beach. Over a big climb in the mist - 1 hour uphill. Stopped at Klamath for a sticky bun ready for the next 1 hour uphill. The mist was gone and we had a 5 mile decent through the Redwoods - Awesome trees. Stopped at a big tree. On to Elk Praire Camp ground. There were Elks and 1st night with bear boxes for food. This was our last night with Marieka & Arnold from Albany - thanks for the company and what we learned from you.

Saturday - Passed elk including one in a front garden! Stopped at the Redwood National Park Centre - interesting. On to Trinidad for lunch. On the freeway ( very safe) to Arcata - a very hippy university town - asked if we wanted drugs - "Hey Man" . But bought some more brake pads as spares.

Sunday - Eureka here we come - great Victorian buildings. Stopped in Scotia for lunch at the logging (lumber) museum. Then into the Avenue Of The Giants. It is hard to describe the awe these trees make you feel. Just something else. Burlington Camp - amongst the trees. - Saw our 1st black bear running across a paddock.

Oregon end of the Astoria Bridge - 4.5 miles long. From Washington to Oregon. This was the highest part.



Astoria Column - a grind to ride to but fun to climb when we got there - a long spiral staircase.


Lookout over Nehalem Beach - the destination for another day. Great camp and showers.
Sunset at Cape Foulweather - not true to its name.
Rockway Bay - Oregon Coast
Cunninghams at Driftwood shores - we had a great time both days. Thanks

The last time we entered we were in a basement in Astoria - under a market - funny place for a cyber cafe.

Tuesday afternnon- we climbed the Astoria Column - a great view and you can buy small gliders to fly from the top. 160+ steps up to the top. On to Fort Stevens State Park - a huge park with great hiker biker sites.

Wednesday - It had rained in the night so we went to look at the fort as we waited for the tent to dry. A nice flat ride to Seaside and we got a Safe Way card. With our NZ address :-) . Stopped to look out at a dissused lighthouse out on a rock. Terrible Tillie - In storms the fish have been through the window 177 feet off the sea. A night at Nehalam Beach.

Thursday - Down the coast and around Tillamook Bay - a stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory for a taste and an ice cream. Up to Cape Meares to look at another light house. On to Cape Lookout watching Pelicans on the bay.

Friday - A day with 3 big hills. The first was 2.7 miles up hill straight from camp. Passed the 45th parrallell. Stopped at Boiler Bay and saw a whale in the distance.

Saturday - an early start to get to Florence to meet the Cunninghams. A head wind all the way. A fantastic afternoon - lunch with Mary & Ken & Joanne - clam chowder then out to the sand dunes and back to look at Joannes wedding photos.

Sunday - Joanne picked us up and we are having breakfast with the family. A chance to update the blog on Joannes computer . Thanks.