Winter Wonderland...In Spring!

I started off from Ashland a little before 9 and there was still cloud coverage on the peaks. The forecast said it was supposed to clear up, so I went ahead. Shortly out of town I had a 3,000 ft vertical climb over 4 miles. About q mile into the climb I started riding through a drizzling snow which soon became flurries. Shortly after that was a really good snow of the real fluffy type that looks like a postcard.

I eventually made the first summit and the sun started coming out as I went down the back side. As the sun came out the snow on the trees started falling off and the road began to steam from the temperature range.

Once the sun came out it stayed out and i made two more summits. Overall the road wasnt used that much which made for relaxing riding. The only challenging part was riding with severe cotton mouth due to the pills I have been taking for my back. Other than that it was a great day to ride.

Black Ice

I rode out this morning with my back hurting a bit and the forecast not looking well. I rode south 20 miles to where I was to catch an east bound highway and looked to the mountains and was still unable to see peaks and saw snow just a little ways above town. Since I had a 3,000 foot climb today, this concerned me. I checked the weather again for a couple of towns I was to go through and one predicted snow and temps not above freezing. I decided to not risk it and decided to stay in Ashland for a day. When I checked in I found out there was black ice where I was headed, so it was good I stopped.

Ashland is a very neat town and big into performing arts. They have three stages going daily and currently have a Shakespeare festival going on. The downtown has a neat feel to it and is historic and looks it, though well kept up.

Snow Again?

I arrived in Oregon a couple days ago and found a campground for the night after a day of cool rain. When I woke up in the morning, however, I had a good layer of snow on my tent.

I put on some different warm clothes since those from the day before were soaked. I then put plastic bags on my head and feet to try and stay warmer and a little dryer. It worked, though I looked a little funny. My summit for the day was a little over 1600 ft, which means I was lower than that to get snow. During the day it got a little warmer and dryer. When I got to the place I was staying for the night I heard they had hail earlier in the day and I experienced some sleet. This all at the end of April and not up in the mountains.

As I rode today I couldn't see many of the peaks due to cloud cover. This made me glad I switched my route so I didn't have to ride in that for two days.

RV There Yet

I made it into Oregon today. It rained most of the time. I took my time getting ready because I knew it was a short day and decided it would be better to ride in rain when it was warmer.

The rain was light and there wasn't much wind, so it wasn't that bad to ride in until I got just south of Oregon. I pulled into a rest area fairly warm, but when I left the temperature dropped. I rode through a tunnel that warmed me up but when I left it I shivered for quite some time. I then warmed up again and found a place to camp, but no one was around to help me at the first place I stopped, so I rode a few more miles and found a place that said it had tent camping. By this time I was frozen and shivering again and when I went to fill out the card it was hard to write.

A couple of times while riding today the sun did appear and it was refreshing. It was barely drizzling when I set up my tent during one of these sun showings. Shortly after it started to rain again and is continuing to do so.

I had to replan my route for the next few days due to weather (snow) and my back. I have decided to go on the south side of the cascades instead of thru the middle. This will make for slightly longer days, but shouldn't add any.

On To Number 20

Tomorrow I will enter state 20. I have been in California a long time and it will be good to move on. I have ridden the state east to west and almost completely south to north. I have seen desert, mountains, ocean, and giant trees.

A few days ago my back started hurting and I ended up staying two nights in Eureka and going to the doctor. I got prescribed pain killers and muscle relaxants. It's kind of hard to ride long distances with those in your system.

Once leaving Eureka I soon entered redwood country. I was soon riding past trees that were bigger than my bike. I also rode through the drive thru tree.

I have finally started seeing other routers again, but that will probably stop for a while again since I'm leaving the ACA routes.

Cruising the 101

Got up early and headed up the coast. Figured I would have some strong headwinds, which I did occasionally. I had a short coastal ride and then I entered the redwoods again. Saw at least 7 other tourers today. Talked with some of them and hung out with one couple for a while by the entrance to the drive thru tree. They were from Vancouver.

I rode through the tree and then headed on and had some strong headwinds. I am camped in a grocers of redwoods tonight and took a picture by one that was wider than my bike and it wasn't even the thickest one.

The post has to be short tonight because I'm low on battery power and my solar charger hasn't been getting enough sun. More exploits and pics to come.

Swell

I decided to stay put today. I woke up early and it was nice but the forecast said wind and showers today. I laid around for a bit and the wind did pick up. I hung out in my tent for awhile and then got the brilliant idea to walk to town 3 miles away. The wind was at my back and it was a breezy walk in. I watched the surf hit above 10 ft waves in places. Seals and sea lions were also in the tide pools.

Now I get to walk back into the wind.

Back to the Coast

Yesterday I had some nice climbing to do right out of town. I waited for the fog to let up and then had around a thousand feet vertical climb. After the initial climb turf was continual rolling hills with occasional steep grades up or down. It was a beautiful ride through mountains and meadows and eventually went through a redwood forest. After the forest came the coast.

Some of the redwoods were thicker than my bike was long. Once I got to the coast I had some more rolling hills. This part of the PCH doesn't often get to sea level due to the numerous cliffs. It is very beautiful, however, and very majestic.

I rode north for a few miles and then entered a state park for the night. The great thing about many of the state parks on the coast is that they have hike/bike rates. I went and set up, preparing for the storm that was to start that night.

The storm did hit and rained quite a bit, but was done by 10am. I got an updated weather report from a diver and decided to move up the coast a little ways. This ended up being about 15 miles, but I didn't want to push the 45 to the next marked site. Perhaps there are other places, but I wasn't sure. I also decided this would let my stuff dry out.

The say the wind is supposed to get pretty bad tomorrow. I may have to stay for a day or two. It was said there would be rain all day today and I'm standing in sunshine. I hope to ride tomorrow, but the weather has the final say.

Making the Grade

I got off today with a cold shower. For some reason the room had none for about an hour. Once I got started, though, it was a pretty good ride. I climbed out of Napa Valley and then went down to Sonoma Valley. Overall all it was 350 feet elevation gain.

Some of the winery estates were amazing. When I got outside of Santa Rosa I ran into a group of riders out for a ride. They showed me some backroads and trails. They led me through some scenic areas and gave me some good company for a while.

Once I got through town it was a good rolling highway all the way to Cloverdale. Tomorrow I head back out to the coast.


1 Corinthians 1:8a - Jesus will keep you strong until the end...

Walking

I haven't written for a couple days due to exhaustion. My body is fully tired and my muscles wore out. My legs feel funny when I walk and they've buckled a few times.

The ride to Napa was good: fairly level and decent shoulder most of the way. There was some construction and I did a detour that ended up a few miles gravel but was less stressful than the highway. It was all downhill from the Napa county line.

Yesterday I relaxed and also toured downtown a bit. Downtown is very scenic here. I was surprised to learn that only 9% of Napa county is vineyards. Around here they even surround the golf course, which is named after wine.


1 Corinthians 16:13,14 - Be alert. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage, and be strong. Do everything in love.

Happy Tax Day

My dad finished up his busy season today, as he is a cpa, and tomorrow he is usually sick: on my birthday. My horse turned five yesterday.

Last night I was the only person at my campground and it was quite peaceful. The only problem was the stray cat partway thru the night that decided to go into a shower stall and bawl for a while. It was quite annoying and a little disturbing with the echoing sound that accompanied it.

I left later this morning so I would not get to my cousins house too early. Partway there I was still feeling a little weird, which happened since I woke up, so I stopped and got a bit to eat. From Escalon on I had wide shoulders.

As I rode the scenery went from orchards to dairy farms. I was in a relaxed mood at that time and started singing. I don't know if I was really good or really bad bit every cow I went by stopped what it was doing and watched me.

I arrived at around 4:30 and talked for awhile then my other cousins arrived and we had dinner.

My other cousins wife is from the Napa area and is a cyclist, so she gave me pointers on my next couple of days.


Ecclesiastes 11:8 - People ought to enjoy every day of their lives, no matter how long they live.

A New Day

Today was an average day. I woke up early due to the sun and got off a little ahead of schedule. I got a good night's sleep last night since the sun allowed me to be up later

I headed along my predetermined route and only needed gps for a couple of roads. I had to take a few county roads that were paved, just a little far from anything. Many were quite rough and my backside can feel it as well. The ride was mostly level or downhill and the morning kept the mountains in view.

I made it to another state park and am the only one camping.right now, though it had a lot of day users. That allowed me to have the only place with electricity.

I'm staying with more relatives tomorrow and then celebrating my birthday this weekend in napa.



Psalm 4:8 - I go to bed and sleep in peace,
because, Lord, only you keep me safe.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

So I am finally off and moving again and made a nice 60 mile ride today. I headed up to Fresno and had to search around a bit for my route. I eventually found it. There was some trouble due to the windiness of the road and streets with similar names. I finally got to the north side of town and the access road stopped and there wasnt really an alternative to the freeway. When that happens they are supposed to allow you to ride on the freeway. Fresno, however, would not. After searching on gps for a while I found a route that worked and made it to the site at a decent time.

It was a pretty level ride today with only a few hills at the end. The sky was clear and a nice cool breeze was blowing. At times you could see the mountains to the east.

It feels good to he on the road again. My body is handling it well and enjoying the physicality. My breaks have proven valuable. Only five more days of riding and I will be on the coast again.

Psalm 16:3 - depend on the Lord in whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

A Day With Kings

On Saturday my cousins took me up to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks to see the canyon and the trees. We saw the Sherman and Grant groves of Sequoias and also overlooked Kings Canyon. It was in the 50's and had about 5-6 feet of snow and felt great. I didn't need a coat and it was a relief from the heat in the valley. I was, however, glad I didn't have to ride through it at that temperature, because then it would have been a little cold on the downhills with the cold off the snow.

We spent the whole day there and I got worried. I have been seeing so much of this country and have taken in so many sites over the last few months, and when I saw the beauty of the parks, it had no effect on me and it worried me. I usually am in awe of all the great wonders and the natural areas of our world, but I couldn't have cared less about visiting the parks on that day. I got concerned that maybe my mind and eyes have taken in more sights than they can handle in this amount of time. John Steinbeck experienced this same phenomenon when he took his dog Charlie across the country back in the 60's. I pray that this is not the case and that I can appreciate all that I will encounter over the next 4 1/2 months.

While at the park I ended up getting a migraine and it bothered me for that day and most of the next. Thankfully I was set up in a house and also was not having to travel. I am heading on my way again tomorrow and am not planning on having too many long breaks until I get to Wyoming, or possibly Montana. I hope to take on average a day a week off to rest my body, but for the most part continue to press on. It is getting to the time of year where I will be able to travel a little easier in the north and also about when I need to push across the country. I am still planning on riding the first couple days of BRAN in Nebraska starting June 6th, so I am looking forward to killing a few of my extra days in Douglas, WY with friends I gained while I worked in the area the last year and a half before this trip.

It has been good to take a break for a while and has given my body a chance to rebuild its strength and energy. It has also given me time to focus on my thoughts and also about what all I have experienced so far. This has been refreshing, but challenging for me, as I am a person who likes to move and experience things. Thankfully, that all starts again tomorrow.

Easter Break

So I am finally posting again. I am in front of a computer and it should be a little better post. I ended up leaving Hollywood on Thursday midmorning. I was a little nervous about riding Laurel Canyon Drive because that road leads up to Mulholland Drive, the road where the Hollywood sign is at. Laurel Canyon is a winding and steep road that I new of due to my tour leading days out here. I was still sick when I left, which made me more nervous about getting up the hill. It turned out not being as bad as I though. Once I got over I had a nice downhill to the 101. After I crossed the 101 into North Hollywood, there were bike lanes pretty much all the way to the 5. I had another hill just before the 5 and it was much worse than Laurel Canyon. I ended up walking a bit of it because my body was wore out from being sick and I had no energy.

The route I chose from the 5 had one hill and then it was pretty flat all the way to my cousins house near Santa Clarita. This was encouraging since pretty much everything around there is hills.

I was only planning on staying with my cousins a couple of nights, but they talked me into staying until Monday morning. I played with their two kids and talked with them about many different things. It was a relaxing and enjoyable time. Their two year old, Bryce, was quite shy when I got there, but on the second day he opened up. He doesn't talk much and has only a few recognizable words. When he got tucked in the second night he was asked if he had a good day and he said, "josh," after a fashion. When his first grade sister, Kate, was tucked in the first night she was trying to figure out if I was homeless or not, and was told "sort of, but not really..." She also asked if I was married and then prayed for me to find a good, godly wife.

On Monday my cousin drove me over the grapevine (a mountain pass) so I wouldn't have to ride back roads or on the interstate (if it was allowed, which we couldn't find out). She took me over and dropped me off a few miles south of Bakersfield, a little worried since it was the middle of nowhere. When I got ready to leave, Bryce, who had been asleep in the back seat, started throwing a fit. He eventually calmed down enough and watched me ride off before they headed back home. I rode into Bakersfield and got settled for the night, then went around town and looked around. Buck Owens' Crystal Palace is in town, but it was closed.

The next day I rode to Hanford to where my great aunt Lila lives. She had contacted me a while ago and said I was welcome at her place. It was one of the reasons I chose to go through the valley instead of along the coast. A free place and less hills. I fought wind and pushed to beat storm clouds the whole way. About twenty miles away I was exhausted. I eventually made it in. It was a fairly flat ride, but very windy and wet (where the wind was blowing fertilizer).

A couple days before I arrived, my aunt said they were leaving a day after I arrived, but I was welcomed to stay as long as I wanted. I decided with all the free time I had right now, and the fact that there were storms north of here predicted for a few days, that staying would be a good rest and allow me to be near a church for Easter.

I am now relaxing and continuing to figure out how I am proceeding from here. It is restful, but also challenging for me to sit still and not allow myself to try and get settled in. That's part of what this trip is supposed to help me with - being okay not working when I have free time. I am excited to keep moving and am anxious to be done, but want to be done once I have completed the ride through 48 states.

Anyways...I am safe and getting rested and my health is improving.