Day 12 - It's really about the Journey not the Destination

In the end it really was the Journey, the Golden Gate bridge was the Destination, but really...the destination was a nightmare of tourists on rented Bicycles that they didn't know how to ride! Just a big crush of people going both ways on the bridge. But we made it and we rode from one side to the other. We had a bit of lunch and then I left my three younger companions to tour San Francisco on their own. When Lee suggested we ride down Lombard Street, I said I'M OUT! Lol! I'm currently on the Ferry to Larkspur where my Knight will be waiting for me in a rented van to hold my chariot. I've gained strength (and pain) in my legs that I have never felt before. I've got saddle sores like you never want to experience. I have tans lines that make me look like a panda bear. Fueling this biking body has been interesting. I've definitely gained muscle, and lost no weight. We ate and ate and drank lots of beer #bikesandbeers Tomorrow we head North towards home, wiser, stronger and feeling a sheer sense of accomplishment.

Day 5 - Sort of a rest day

So the plan was for two nights in a hotel in Arcata, but like I said before, that didn't quite happen, but we did get done relatively early in Friday, about 1:00 and we did spend the night at Motel 6. The ride to Arcata was my favorite ride so far as far as scenery goes. We were off of 101 most of the way on scenic bypasses. We even rode for quite sometime on an actual bike path! That was like heaven. We heard and saw sea lions, saw surfers and other cool stuff along the way.
We caught an Taxi (well most of us, Lee insists he will not get in a motor vehicle until we are done with the ride) from our motel to the Arcata square... center whatever they call it and hand dinner at a nice restaurant called Abruzzi's. Afterwards we played a few rounds of pool, had a few drinks and realized, HEY, we have to get up in the morning and ride. Well that's no fun, but we acted like adults and headed back to the motel, and promptly crashed. As I began to doze I heard Tom Bodett say, "We'll leave the light on".

Day 1 Complete - 2017 Most Excellent Cycling Adventure

Well we finished day 1, stopping at the Spinreel Camping area outside of Lakeside. Today's take away? Hills are no joke! And it started immediately, we crossed the Siuslaw bridge and immediately hit our first hill and they just kept coming. We stopped in Reedsport for a long leisurely lunch at the Waterfront restaurant, recommended to us by a guy at a auto shop on 101. We asked for good food and beer and he said that was the place to go. It was good. Bud and Buy-in were the primary brews, but they had a local brew that we all went for. It's was good. So far the shoulder for us to ride on has not been too bad. The motor homes whizzing by are not bad, the log trucks are the worse. The young folks are beating me up the hills every time, but I haven't stopped just moving slow.

2017 Most Excellent Cycling Adventure

San Francisco or bust! Me and three 20 something's will be riding from Florence, Oregon to San Francisco. Follow our adventures here.