Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Day 03 cont'd Coos Bay to Eureka

6:00pm
Mother Nature took one final shot today, about 6 miles outside Eureka California the wind came screeching in with hail……. AGAIN! But I’m here at the super 8 & even earlier than I thought, progress?After my awesome lunch I got back on the road, immediately I was passed going the other way by cops & ambulances, wow, glad I wasn’t wherever they were going. I’m not surprised though that drive this morning was NASTY!!! I actually saw a guy in worse shape than me, on a bicycle, got blown clear over the cliff… LOL, actually some of his stuff got blown over he was fine, if pissed off, soaked, cold & 20 miles from shelter is considered fine?I headed south on the 101 & soon the rain started again & the wind, sadly my hands were only warm for about 5 minutes, only the liners actually dried by the fire, but 5 minutes was better than nothing!I hit the California border quicker than I thought, I was REALLY raining, didn’t realize Pelican Bay State Prison was on the northern Cali coast, shoulda stopped for a warm meal & bed as right about there the hail started again, big stuff & it was hitting hard glad I had my armor, full face & windshield! I got gas at the first stop I found, the only have 91 0ctane in California? Dude at the station was helpful & friendly, suggested some good stops after Eureka.Got back on the road, rain was heavy, but the roads were decent, it’s funny how not being inches from a 500 foot cliff in single lane traffic makes the road feel better?I hit the redwood forest pretty quick, actually past a VW van full of Tofino hippies during the climb. The fog got thick & the hail started again, at least no wind! I was soaked thru & cold but I gotta say the redwoods are pretty spectacular, I got one hail free fog limited stop so shot a few pics & had to move on. The highway comes out high up on the coast & guess what, the wind was back…. Fun!The rest of the way was strong winds in multiple directions, intermittent hail & rain broken up by short bursts of sunlight, it was pretty freaky. So I made it, gonna be on the hairdryer till late trying to dry my stuff, got some pics to upload & then I intend to soak in the tub & hit the sack early. Heading for San Francisco tomorrow, fingers crossed for good weather!!!!I’m beat up, tired & sore but really glad I’m doing this I’m gonna take some awesome stories and pictures away from this & have accomplished quite an a adventure!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

photos are amazing -- Mom

Anonymous said...

Hi, 'I'm sending Arrow Prayers up that this journey will be all that you have planned & hoped for -- Your Dad's spirit is surely with you. love, Mom' (tried to send that yesterday Apr 21st Lara sorted me)
Hope the Irish Blessing takes over soon ‘wind at your back’ love, Mom
[1st 2 were 21st & 22nd but didn't get posted so try try again]
Hello Scott on day 4, You're doing really well too bad weather is interfering with some photo ops. Once an English teacher said you had a flare with writing -she'd be impressed with your narrative, oh maybe a few bleeps would be in IF it was for school. It makes me feel like I'm on this journey too-hope you don't mind me as a passenger !Glad you're in CA, scenery must be spectacular. love, Mom

Anonymous said...

HEY SCOTT YOU SHOULD HAVE THREE WHEELS ON THAT BIKE TO DEAL WITH ALL THAT WIND, SNOW , AND SHIT!!!!!HOPE YOU HAVE A BLAST IN SAN FRAN. CHEERS YOUR BUD , TONY SPYDER BURNAND.