Day Total - 40.6 miles
Trip Total - 545.9 miles
The forecast for the day called for rain, but with a tailwind also in the forecast, we hoped to be able to make the 45 miles to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The weather was actually quite pleasant when we left, and we initially just rode around.town running a few errands. After grocery and bike shop stops, we got on the road toward McKinleyville. The back roads took us through dairy country again, with the same strong west winds we had the day before.
Once into town, we got onto the Hammond Trail, a local coastal bike path. We followed it for about 4 miles before briefly rejoining 101. After a hill climb, we exited onto Scenic Dr., a rough, narrow road on the shoreline bluffs. The views were spectacular though, and we wound along the cliffs into Trinidad. By now, a light drizzle was coming down. It wasn't affecting riding conditions, however, so we continued on toward Patrick's Point State Park.
When we got there, we stopped and discussed camping for the night, but at under 25 miles for the day, we decided against it. At the same time, the rain picked up a bit, and we took shelter for a few minutes under a tree at the park entrance.
Once the rain died down, we got back onto 101. After a couple miles of wide shoulder, the road narrowed past Big Lagoon. We had to ride mostly in lane on this 2-lane section of winding highway, and to make matters worse, the rain had started again. We were still making good progress though, and we were easily on target to reach Elk Prairie by late afternoon.
Then the rain picked up. At the bottom of a long descent, we pulled off 101 onto the access road for Dry Lagoon campground. With the rain pouring down, we looked for a tree to protect us. It was almost 2:30 at this point, giving us about an hour before our chance of making Elk Prairie would be lost, but with how wet we and the road were, we weren't optimistic. But Dry Lagoon was another half mile down the road plus a quarter mile hike, not to mention that it's only drinking water was what was falling from the sky.
We waited and waited, but the rain didn't let up. We hoped for a break to go check out the campground, but we had to stay huddled under tree cover in the downpour. By 3:30, even in our rain gear, we were wet and cold. I got phone service at least, so I began looking for motels in the town of Orick, another 6 miles up 101. It would be a lot more expensive than a campground, for sure, but by that point, camping was out of the question. It would simply be too cold and wet to dry us and our clothes, with high humidity and lows in the mid-40s. I was already shivering, so at 4:00, we decided to get back on the bikes and head to Orick.
It was surprisingly more pleasant to ride than to sit under the trees, even though we got totally drenched in the first mile of riding. With lights on, we rode as fast as we could north on 101. We pushed 20 mph past the entrance to Redwood National Park, and soon enough, the Orick town limit sign appeared out of the fog. We rode to the Palm Motel and, dripping water everywhere, got their last double room. We put our clothes in front of the heater and turned it on full blast before heading to the cafe. There, I ordered a delicious Spanish omelet and Kevin got steak and eggs. Breakfast at 6 PM was perfect after our ling day.
Trip Total - 545.9 miles
The forecast for the day called for rain, but with a tailwind also in the forecast, we hoped to be able to make the 45 miles to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The weather was actually quite pleasant when we left, and we initially just rode around.town running a few errands. After grocery and bike shop stops, we got on the road toward McKinleyville. The back roads took us through dairy country again, with the same strong west winds we had the day before.
Once into town, we got onto the Hammond Trail, a local coastal bike path. We followed it for about 4 miles before briefly rejoining 101. After a hill climb, we exited onto Scenic Dr., a rough, narrow road on the shoreline bluffs. The views were spectacular though, and we wound along the cliffs into Trinidad. By now, a light drizzle was coming down. It wasn't affecting riding conditions, however, so we continued on toward Patrick's Point State Park.
When we got there, we stopped and discussed camping for the night, but at under 25 miles for the day, we decided against it. At the same time, the rain picked up a bit, and we took shelter for a few minutes under a tree at the park entrance.
Once the rain died down, we got back onto 101. After a couple miles of wide shoulder, the road narrowed past Big Lagoon. We had to ride mostly in lane on this 2-lane section of winding highway, and to make matters worse, the rain had started again. We were still making good progress though, and we were easily on target to reach Elk Prairie by late afternoon.
Then the rain picked up. At the bottom of a long descent, we pulled off 101 onto the access road for Dry Lagoon campground. With the rain pouring down, we looked for a tree to protect us. It was almost 2:30 at this point, giving us about an hour before our chance of making Elk Prairie would be lost, but with how wet we and the road were, we weren't optimistic. But Dry Lagoon was another half mile down the road plus a quarter mile hike, not to mention that it's only drinking water was what was falling from the sky.
We waited and waited, but the rain didn't let up. We hoped for a break to go check out the campground, but we had to stay huddled under tree cover in the downpour. By 3:30, even in our rain gear, we were wet and cold. I got phone service at least, so I began looking for motels in the town of Orick, another 6 miles up 101. It would be a lot more expensive than a campground, for sure, but by that point, camping was out of the question. It would simply be too cold and wet to dry us and our clothes, with high humidity and lows in the mid-40s. I was already shivering, so at 4:00, we decided to get back on the bikes and head to Orick.
It was surprisingly more pleasant to ride than to sit under the trees, even though we got totally drenched in the first mile of riding. With lights on, we rode as fast as we could north on 101. We pushed 20 mph past the entrance to Redwood National Park, and soon enough, the Orick town limit sign appeared out of the fog. We rode to the Palm Motel and, dripping water everywhere, got their last double room. We put our clothes in front of the heater and turned it on full blast before heading to the cafe. There, I ordered a delicious Spanish omelet and Kevin got steak and eggs. Breakfast at 6 PM was perfect after our ling day.
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