The Great Pacific Coast Escape

Day 16: Back to the Pacific Ocean
(Leggett to Van Damme SP at Mendocino)
date: Tuesday August 20, 2002
daily miles: 67 miles (108 km)
total miles: 1,193 miles (1,920 km)

Back at the Pacific Ocean

The ride out of the campground and up Leggett Hill was awesome!!! The biggest hill on the coast supposedly. I just flew up it in the middle chainring and just had a blast riding this morning. I truly felt invincible!! New pavement, perfect temperature, lots of fuel in my gas tank for once from last night -- thanks Steve!!!

Just typical of the views today

Downhill was fun too. Passed a couple of cars on the way down -- they were just puttering along in comparison to me! I even scraped the sides of BOB a few times when I was leaned over in the corners – not for the faint of heart to try. I ended up in a construction zone and the flag person lets all the cars go first -- I was partly discouraged after having passed them all over the preceding few miles -- so I just parked the bike for a few minutes after I got through the construction zone. No cars for the next ten miles though!!!

Hit the Pacific Ocean again. The sight of the beautiful sunshine beaming down from the blue sky was just incredible -- and truly welcomed. I saw some seals down on the rocks sunning themselves - I'd do the same if I were them and saw the sun for the first time in awhile too.

Just more of the same =-)

At the campground

What I got into the town of Ft. Bragg today, I was hoping to find Internet access. I couldn't even find a phonebook anywhere -- they were all missing. Asked a lot of people within Safeway -- but nobody was sure if there was one in town or not.

I made it to Van Damme State Park today just outside of Mendocino. I can't hear any kids yelling, parents partying, semi's blasting down the road a couple of feet away --- none of that. Just the sound of a small creek trickling nearby and I think I'm going to get a good nights rest!! Steve’s here again – and it is great having someone around to talk to.

A quiet evening at the beach

Later-

Mark

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Introduction time Two weeks before - Welcome to "BOB" One week before - Panic time! The trip begins! (Bellevue, WA to Sequim) Awesome sights to be seen (Sequim to Sapho) The longest day (Sapho to Ocean Shores) Casual cruise to pavement pain (Ocean Shores to Raymond) I survived the bridge!! (Raymond to Ft. Stevens, Oregon) I talked with a real bicycle tourist! (Ft. Stevens to Cape Lookout) Hills, hills and more hills (Cape Overlook to Newport) It was slow going today (Newport to Florence) Kickback, relax and just surf (at Honeyman Camp in Florence) Time to escape the convention (Florence to Bandon) Sputter, misfire, detour... and a new direction (Bandon to Brookings) Please turn off the fog machine!! (Brookings to Prairie Creek Redwoods, California) Keeping it simple (Prairie Creek Redwoods to KOA in Arcata) Enter the 'Avenue of the Giants' (KOA in Arcata to Weott) Running on empty (Weott to Leggett) Back to the Pacific Ocean (Leggett to Van Damme SP at Mendocino) The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Van Damme SP to Stillwater SP) Just another simple day (Stillwater SP to Samuel Taylor SP in Bodega Bay) What were you expecting -- Baywatch??? (Samuel Taylor SP to Half Moon Bay SP) There actually is sunshine in California (Half Moon Bay to Sunset Beach in Watsonville) Sleeping in late means a late start huh? (Sunset Beach SP to Pfeiffer-Big Sur SP) Riding above the clouds (Pfeiffer-Big Sur SP to San Simeon SP The ranger told me that I probably wouldn't want to camp here (San Simeon SP to Oceana SP) I see cracks!! (Oceana SP to El Capitan SP near Goleta) Are we there yet? (El Capitan SP to Leo Carillo SP near Malibu) The “City of Angels” in one day (Leo Carillo SP to Doheny SP at Dana Point) The end has arrived (Dana Point to San Diego) Equipment Reflections Personal Gear Review Review -- Planning and Maps Would I do it all again?