Santa Rosa - Sebastopol - Eureka
en-route to the above coffee stop we dropped by Chris' cousin's place in Sebastopol so that Chris could drop off some kit and I could sort out the dreadful, saggy saddle bags on the triumph....... if I could work out how to take the seat off first!
That sorted we set off for the coast again but Chris pointed out this local artwork. These pop up all over Marin county*
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* I always lusted after a MArin mountain bike so it was a treat to ride through some of the places that the models are named after. I even passed what looked like Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB) HQ - great saddles! However, Chris' mate Noel told me that the proper (posh) pronunciation is "Mu-RIN" - with the emPHASis on the second syLLABle.
Anyways, after said coffee stop and a bit of Pacific Ocean gazing...
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All that coffee and seawater had a certain effect so I headed to the car park - be careful how you flush!
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As we continued along PCH 1 I couldn't help but reflect that California is supposed to be a hot place and Alaska a cold one. The continual sea fog (Fret or Haar) keeps the temperatures well down and I was starting to wish I had my Keiss jacket with me!
I think the Red tailed Hawks sensed my eventual demise!
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It would soon warm up by 30 or so degrees C as the road turned inland north of Rockport and into the mountains / trees;
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Note the Hi tech luggage fix with a strap between the two saddle bag handles to keep them off the exhausts. With the Cats inside the mufflers those things get very hot indeed. Anyway, I digress.... trees I said;
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I ain't seen nuthin yet!
Across through the trees to Leggett to join H101 again .......... A simple sentence that does nothing to convey the absolute joy of that section of PCH1. From where I parked above to the gas station at Leggett, I don't think I was on the centre of the tyres for more than a few seconds at a time. Sheer biking nirvana...... so obviously no pics
but a huge grin on my face all the way. I'd have loved to do that on my own GS but the Bonnie handled it beautifully!
At the gas station we got talking to a coupe of guys who'd followed us in and discovered that the reason US bikers have so much stuff strapped to the back of their bikes is that the OEM luggage is full of snacks!
Off again and joining the old Redwood Highway; The Avenue of the Giants; I went in search of my roots;
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and we paid homage in a more poignant moment....
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Man those trees are BIG
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Bonnie looks tiny amongst them
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Back on to H101 for a quick blat up to the quirky town of Eureka
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A meal and a couple of pints of White Shark at the Lost Bay brewery then call it a day... although I seem to know this guy from somewhere....
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