Day 10 - Eureka to Garberville – 75 Miles (120km) http://t.co/5wT1gR5v
Yesterday I left Crescent City at 8:15 am, my earliest departure time. My goal was to reach Eureka. I knew it was far, and I had more than a few steep hills to climb. I ate a hearty breakfast and left in the cold fog. My first hill came within 15 minutes, about an hour climb straight to the top. Then it goes all the way down, follows the ocean a bit, and goes all the way up again. I reached my highest elevations of 1400ft twice. It was cold and foggy all day. When things finally flattened out a bit, it was a pretty boring highway cycle. Glass constantly covered the road, and the scenery was pretty dismal.
Towards the end of my day, I met up with some cyclists who I've seen a few times before. There are 5 of them. 2 from Switzerland, 2 from Toronto, and a solo guy from Victoria. I guess they all met at a campsite, and now are cycling together, so I joined them for about an hour or so. They were stopping at Arcata, about 10 miles before Eureka. Arcata was a beautiful college town, I actually liked it a lot, but with my goal of Eureka, I carried on without them.
By this time, then sun was dropping, the fog was still thick, and I was tired. I arrived in Eureka at 5:30 and 140km later. The town looks like Vancouver's downtown east side. Nothing but run down hotels, crackheads and meth heads everywhere. I was completely deflated. What a shitty day. So far I'm thinking this extended trip into California sucks. It better get better. I was regretting not stopping in Arcata with those other cyclists. Oh well.
I found a cheap motel for $50, grabbed some food and drinks next door, met a couple of people also from out of town, and bar hopped with them for a short while, and crashed hard.
This morning I had a later than usual start. No continental breakfast, so I cycled for about 15 minutes, found a restaurant, got real slow sevice, ate and left at about 10:00 am. Not a good start, still grumpy.
My goal today was a town called Garberville. On the map, it's a small town about 100km away, kinda between Eureka and the coast. I was suggested to take the scenic route, through a road called "Avenue of the Giants" a couple of hours outside of Eureka, so I did. The first few hours were more of the same, cold, foggy and freeway, until I came inland more, where the sun came out, and the avenue of the giants started. The rest of my day was spectacular. That road takes you through some of the most spectacular forests ever. All all growth, massive trees. I cycled through this for the better part of 4 hours, it was never ending awesomeness.
Garberville turned out to be farther than I thought. I clocked 120km today, and arrived at 5:00. I'm trying not to cycle this far, especially after yesterday's 140km, but towns are few and far between, so you have to start planning things, sorta, and you never know how it's going to go. Cycling this long doesn't leave a whole lot of time to unwind, wash clothes, eat, write or relax. I am going to try to slow things down, if I can.
I was worried this one motel town was going to be booked, and I'd be forced to carry on, but it turns out, this is quite a destination. There are lots of people here, the motel is busy, and it was expensive!! $125 and not the nicest room I've had so far, but it does have a nice pool, hot tub, wine and cheese reception, and full course breakfast. I didnt have much of a choice, so here i am, and i will make sure to take advantage of every amenity I can before I leave tomorrow.
Highlights of the day: road side smoked salmon and fruit, and forests. I am in a bit of better spirits since yesterday, and tomorrow I will head back to the coast via Leggett, down the number 1. Everyone tells me this road is windy, hilly, and narrow. They all kinda warn me about it, but what can I do. I am just hoping when I get back to the coast, it won't be cold and foggy. Please, please please be nice :)
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