Day Total - 50.8 miles
Trip Total - 439.2 miles
Tonight, we sleep among the giants.
With the Leggett Hill out of the way, we were rewarded with a two-day downhill with only minor climbs. And while the hill had tested how far we have come in climbing ability, today would be the test of putting distance behind us. It is about 50 miles between our starting point just north of Leggett and our target just south of Weott along the Avenue of the Giants.
Today's inland route (in fact, the first and likely only day of the trip where we did not see the ocean at all) meant a much warmer morning than we would have had on the coast. We made breakfast and packed up, and we were on our way out soon after 9:30. It was a bit of a nervous start for Kevin - he had ripped one of his rear pannier hooks off trying to get into the campground the night before, and the first few miles would test how his duct tape-repaired system would work.
As we pulled out of the shaded campground, the temperature rose almost instantly. From the high 50s of the coast, we were looking at a 20 degree temperature increase inland. It made it very pleasant in the shade, but warmer than ideal for riding in the sun. At least the first stretch down US 101 had wide shoulders and little traffic.
After about 8 miles, we turned off 101 onto State Route 271. The ACA routing did this all day - in places where 101 was the only road, we were on it, but the route gets off of it as much as possible. 271 had no shoulder and wound a bit more than 101, but we saw 2 cars the entire time we were on it, even through town. We then jumped back onto 101 through Richardson Grove State Park. That was a hairy section - the usual 4 lanes of 101 goes down to 2 with no shoulder while twisting through redwood forest. Although it was beautiful, we were both glad to be out of it. We had also crossed into Humboldt County a short distance before rejoining 101, which ended our 5-day stint in Mendocino County.
After 3 more miles of 101, we got off onto Benbow Dr. It wasn't quite as nice as 271 - there were potholes everywhere and even a short, 1-lane dirt section, but at least there was a lot less traffic. We did take a wrong turn at the end of it though, going through the town of Benbow to where the road dead-ended. We turned around and got back on 101 without too much trouble though.
This section of 101 was actually freeway, and although bicycles are allowed, I wouldn't call it bike-friendly. From Benbow to just before Garberville, there is a long climb (not steep, just long) with a very narrow shoulder in spots. Traffic whizzed by moving 50+ mph faster than us, and we were definitely glad to exit 101 again in Garberville.
Despite its notoriety as a center for the cultivation of certain plants, all we bought in Garberville were some groceries, since we were getting low on on-the-road munching items. We didn't stick around too long though - it was getting hot, so we headed down Redwood Dr. out of town. The first couple miles to Garberville's sister town of Redway were a hot climb with lots of traffic, but the next 2 miles back to 101 were the exact opposite. A nice long, shady, empty descent was just what we needed to cool off. Another 3 miles on 101, and we were off of it for the last time for the day.
When we pulled onto the Avenue of the Giants, we still had about 15 miles to go to camp. For some reason though, 35 miles into the day, my legs decided to enter another gear. As we bike through increasingly dense old-growth redwoods, I was pedaling at a good 14 mpg average into the headwind that had been steadily increasing all day. With a good road, moderate traffic, and the shade of 200-300 foot tall trees, I felt better and stronger cycling the Avenue of the Giants than at any other point of the trip so far.
After a quick beer stop in the village of Myers Flat, we arrive at Burlington Campground in Humboldt Redwoods State Park at about 3:30 PM. We picked out a campsite under the tall trees and got down to the business of replacing all the calories we burned through the day. There were a lot to be replaced too - we averaged just under 12 mph over 50 miles against a decent headwind. It wasn't quite as strong as Day 2's, but the ease and speed with which we rode showed how far we have come since then.
Trip Total - 439.2 miles
Tonight, we sleep among the giants.
With the Leggett Hill out of the way, we were rewarded with a two-day downhill with only minor climbs. And while the hill had tested how far we have come in climbing ability, today would be the test of putting distance behind us. It is about 50 miles between our starting point just north of Leggett and our target just south of Weott along the Avenue of the Giants.
Today's inland route (in fact, the first and likely only day of the trip where we did not see the ocean at all) meant a much warmer morning than we would have had on the coast. We made breakfast and packed up, and we were on our way out soon after 9:30. It was a bit of a nervous start for Kevin - he had ripped one of his rear pannier hooks off trying to get into the campground the night before, and the first few miles would test how his duct tape-repaired system would work.
As we pulled out of the shaded campground, the temperature rose almost instantly. From the high 50s of the coast, we were looking at a 20 degree temperature increase inland. It made it very pleasant in the shade, but warmer than ideal for riding in the sun. At least the first stretch down US 101 had wide shoulders and little traffic.
After about 8 miles, we turned off 101 onto State Route 271. The ACA routing did this all day - in places where 101 was the only road, we were on it, but the route gets off of it as much as possible. 271 had no shoulder and wound a bit more than 101, but we saw 2 cars the entire time we were on it, even through town. We then jumped back onto 101 through Richardson Grove State Park. That was a hairy section - the usual 4 lanes of 101 goes down to 2 with no shoulder while twisting through redwood forest. Although it was beautiful, we were both glad to be out of it. We had also crossed into Humboldt County a short distance before rejoining 101, which ended our 5-day stint in Mendocino County.
After 3 more miles of 101, we got off onto Benbow Dr. It wasn't quite as nice as 271 - there were potholes everywhere and even a short, 1-lane dirt section, but at least there was a lot less traffic. We did take a wrong turn at the end of it though, going through the town of Benbow to where the road dead-ended. We turned around and got back on 101 without too much trouble though.
This section of 101 was actually freeway, and although bicycles are allowed, I wouldn't call it bike-friendly. From Benbow to just before Garberville, there is a long climb (not steep, just long) with a very narrow shoulder in spots. Traffic whizzed by moving 50+ mph faster than us, and we were definitely glad to exit 101 again in Garberville.
Despite its notoriety as a center for the cultivation of certain plants, all we bought in Garberville were some groceries, since we were getting low on on-the-road munching items. We didn't stick around too long though - it was getting hot, so we headed down Redwood Dr. out of town. The first couple miles to Garberville's sister town of Redway were a hot climb with lots of traffic, but the next 2 miles back to 101 were the exact opposite. A nice long, shady, empty descent was just what we needed to cool off. Another 3 miles on 101, and we were off of it for the last time for the day.
When we pulled onto the Avenue of the Giants, we still had about 15 miles to go to camp. For some reason though, 35 miles into the day, my legs decided to enter another gear. As we bike through increasingly dense old-growth redwoods, I was pedaling at a good 14 mpg average into the headwind that had been steadily increasing all day. With a good road, moderate traffic, and the shade of 200-300 foot tall trees, I felt better and stronger cycling the Avenue of the Giants than at any other point of the trip so far.
After a quick beer stop in the village of Myers Flat, we arrive at Burlington Campground in Humboldt Redwoods State Park at about 3:30 PM. We picked out a campsite under the tall trees and got down to the business of replacing all the calories we burned through the day. There were a lot to be replaced too - we averaged just under 12 mph over 50 miles against a decent headwind. It wasn't quite as strong as Day 2's, but the ease and speed with which we rode showed how far we have come since then.
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| Redwoods are tall. |
View Day 12 - Leggett, CA-Weott, CA in a larger map
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