Day 7 – Upon Us All A Little Rain Must Fall - Led Zeppelin

No shoulder

Dr B’s wood

We began our final day in Hales Grove. It was an hour drive from our hotel. There is nothing in Hales Grove except a guy selling a bunch of redwood slices. Dr B and Maureen couldn’t resist a small souvenir of Ian’s Ride 2020. Fortunately Edwin was available to carry the slice. The woodsman asked about our group and we filled him in. He kindly offered his bathroom if we needed it. This amused me since this crew of mine has done everything imaginable behind redwoods over the last week.

Invacare, the manufacturer of my wheelchair was the sponsor of the day. We all huddled up and posed for a few shots to thank them for supporting Ian’s Ride. Although we thought rain was in the forecast, our confidence was high because Jimmy told us it was not going to rain. We set off on our final start under rainfall that persisted for the next 3 1/2 hours and 20 miles.

Monterey Cypress

Merman suit works!

For battery strategy we started well before the big descent that awaited us. We had about 5 miles of relative flat and then began the up and down. The traffic was mellow. The drivers passing us were attentive and even enthusiastic. We saw a big nest which was either osprey or eagle. There were gullies and rivulets that were emphasized by the continued rain. It was beautiful and wet.

The wet conditions were only doable because of good gear. The phones, jacket, canopy and rain chaps (which the crew now affectionately call my merman suit) are all waterproof. The fuzzy dice didn’t fare so well. Without all the proper gear I could not have endured the rain so long. I still had problems. The jacket/rain chaps junction was not properly sealed off. So I was wet in the groin, which thankfully I could not feel. I had water in my eyes and worse, I had water dripping down into my trach which caused occasional coughing. I had a couple moments of lost traction on the white stripe on the side of the road. Generally I prefer smooth asphalt roads, but they are not so friendly in the rain. Chip seal was much better.

Thanks Invacare!

The crew was a lot more wet than I. It turns out that Vans can really hold a lot of water. They were pouring water out of their shoes. Jimmy was upset that his Skittles got wet. Our support vehicle was

Windy Roads

gone for 2 1/2 hours looking for lunch for the crew. We had no cover other than the trees.

This is not advisable in a power wheelchair

After the descent we hit the coastline which was slightly underwhelming due to the low clouds. The shoulders started to get really sparse, and the traffic started to increase both in volume and speed. Just past Westport I heard brakes squealing, a car sliding, a honk, and some loud expletives from Dr B. An impatient driver tried to pass a car that was slowly following us when an oncoming car approached. It was hella sketchy and put us all on edge. The support van, my mom, arrived with lunch just in time to see this close call. She was now on edge too.

I was cold. That water in my lap wasn’t helping. I was slightly bummed from the endless miles of rain. It was a sketchy part where we stopped and we would have to get back out in the same stuff. I rolled into the van to try and warm up and rest. After an hour and a half with little change, but ridiculous antics from the rogue theater group that is my crew, I agreed to carry on.

Some encouragement from the crew to get back on the road

We had 10 more miles to go before we could leave the highway for good. We went through a one lane construction zone and a beautiful grove of Monterey Cypress. We saw some socially distanced cows, the rugged coastline, and finally we saw the sun. Traffic continued to grow and we just fell into a pattern of pulling out when we could and using the crazy arm waving mama bear support vehicle in the back to slow the cars down that were speeding up behind us on blind curves. There were a couple more buttheads but we managed. That last stretch of the 101 was stressful and indicative of the entire ride.

Beautiful rugged coastline

At about the 30 mile mark, we left the highway for good, and rolled Into Mackerricher State Park. Jimmy’s family was waiting for us, and they hopped on bikes to join us on the final four miles on MSP Road. It was fun to have the girls and Leah along for the last bit. The MSP road is a multi use trail that is really just a decommissioned road. It was bumpy and uneven but we could finally relax a bit without all the cars whizzing by. The ride ended just across a trestle where we were joined by two of our gold sponsors, Dan from Diestco with his friend Pete, and Tim, from Safe Path Products with his friend Lori. Maureen’s parents, Fran and Eileen were also there along with my Mom and Edwin. The sun was setting, it was 7 pm. We were a bit emotional.

Nearing the finish line and repping Invacare

As mentioned, this was the most technical and difficult ride I’ve done. There were two good days, and the rest was sustained stress. There were moments of beauty and extreme laughter, and moments of nail biting concern. The challenges we experienced didn’t deter us from enjoying our time out on the open road, but it gave us an appreciation for the challenges of bike routes.

Thanks again to my amazing, entertaining and hardworking crew for always lifting me up.

Riding with the Quenelle Family

Day 6 – The Test of Risk

Tough guys at the start

I woke with the smug satisfaction of having just crossed off a top-ten bucket list item- a birthday in Garberville. All of yesterday seemed like a dream as I shook off sleep inertia and looked toward present challenges. Some coffeeshop wares combined with continental breakfast goods fueled the crew as we packed up on our second consecutive move day. We got a group photo in front of an Avenue of the Giants mural map that had Brookings, OR and Fort Bragg, CA labeled on each end. We made sure to proudly display our Diestco shirts and handlebar bags, and I’d like to extend a special thanks to Dan for all of his support of this endeavor. We got to have dinner and beers with Dan in the evening, but first things first.

Dr. B, Jimmy and I started the day’s stretch on a fairly quiet road called Redwood Drive that links Redway to Garberville. Celina joined us in Garberville, at which point we jumped onto 101. Maureen was too swamped with school work to join us. I hope that she can aptly recover from falling behind in the name of Ian’s Ride.

The Alley of the Giants

The first stretch on 101 was short (about 2.5 miles) and relatively easy: there were wide shoulders and no tight corners. We quickly assumed our positions, with Jimmy in the lead on debris patrol, Celina right behind me, and Dr. B taking up the rear.

We got off the highway at Benbow and onto a quiet road that led us through a couple of sweet little redwood groves, leading us to designate it the Alley of the Giants. We had ample space and very few cars passed us. The most challenging parts of this road were the dirt and rock stretch of the road and my girlfriend’s suicidal tendencies on the large bridge toward the end. Regarding the former, my Invacare chair took an absolute beating on a short but brutal stretch of road with large ruts and rocks. The chair took it like a champ and kept cruising. Now, I don’t want to jinx anything, but we brought spare parts for the chair that we haven’t had to dip into yet, despite this being the most technically challenging trip I’ve taken so far. If there was a time for wheelchair mayhem, this section ought to have been it. But we just cruised right on. Regarding the bridge, Celina insisted on sitting with her legs and feet hanging over the hella high bridge that crossed the Eel River. It was a cool bridge, but the thought of Celina falling helplessly to the rocks and water far below made me nervous. I could just see all of the eels in the river feasting upon her remains. That was a risk she was willing to take on what, as you’ll see, was a hella risky day. Before the day’s riskiest moments, however, we enjoyed a light hearted moment at the end of the Alley of the Giants when our antics made my mom pee her pants with laughter. She had to dry her pants in the van for a little while.

Invacare is off-road ready

An ominous warning

Then it was back onto 101 for what was a rather awful stretch. The shoulders were nonexistent, the corners were tight and the traffic was heavy. Vehicles of all sorts, including semis and RVs, were screaming by, their drivers still in full on highway mode despite the change in road conditions. My mom went from sheer laughter to sheer terror. The driver of a semi loaded with dimensional lumber angrily blared his horn at us for a long time in the midst of relentless traffic. For the first time ever, over the cumulative course of thousands of miles of riding, I wasn’t comfortable with the risks to myself and to my crew. I felt that this went beyond pushing the envelope in the name of promoting accessibility to just being too dangerous. This went from pushing the limits to being downright treacherous. There was the unpredictability of people’s reactions to our caravan, and there was absolutely no room for error on my part. This is a high order for someone controlling a 400 pound power chair by sipping and puffing on a straw. I felt that I was toeing the line on safe riding.

After that hellish stretch, we got off on 271, which had mixed surfaces but almost no traffic at all. That was an utter relief. There were some cute little redwoods, so we decided that this was the Avenue of the Dwarfs. Toward the end of this road, just before we had to get back onto 101, my mom showed up with lunch. We ate, then had a team meeting about impending safety risks as we knew that we had a really lousy section coming up. Crew Chief Dr. B told me that he’d let me know if he didn’t feel safe, but that he’d otherwise let me make the call. Jimmy and Celina were right there with him. I knew that they’d do it if I did. They were committed, and I felt the weight of that bearing down on me. I concluded that we’d proceed, and play it by ear.

Just then Jimmy got another damn flat tire, after two full days of no incidents. Just the confidence builder that we all needed right then. He fixed it quickly enough and we proceeded. We didn’t go far before things got very hairy with the now all too familiar safety hazards compounding to scream danger in my mind. I had to make a call. I was racked with indecisiveness. On the one hand, the constant microadjusting in the face of abhorrent conditions was wearing on me and I feared for us all, but on the other hand I have never bailed on a section of any Ian’s Ride event, and that includes two traverses of the state of Washington. I decided that these people who I love aren’t expendable.

The safety factor exceeded all else, and I made the call to skip an 8 mile section. It was an emotional moment for me. I had to listen to my gut. As the Man in Black said, “I keep a close watch on this heart of mine, I keep my eyes wide open all the time, I keep the ends out for the tie that binds because you’re mine, I walk the line.” Only in my case, I roll the line. I could tell that I had the backing of everybody in the crew.

We loaded up into the Quadessy and bypassed the dangerous section. This brought us to the junction of Highways 1 and 101, at which point we visited a drive through tree (the Chandelier Tree) that provided some fine photo ops.

Bridges after Benbow

Almost there

From there Dr. B, Jimmy and I rode up Leggett Hill on Highway 1, which took us west toward the coast. It was a steady uphill for a few miles, but the shaded roadway was cool, and though there were hardly any shoulders, there was very little traffic and people weren’t going fast. This was an enjoyable section. Dr. B carried a watermelon that we ate at the top of the hill. We dropped 4 miles down the west side of the hill, and concluded the ride portion of the day there.

This is by far the most technically difficult ride I’ve undertaken. I do not recommend that people do those sections of 101 in a wheelchair at all.

When we got to our hotel in Fort Bragg, Jimmy’s wife Leah and their two daughters, Anna Wren and Linnea, greeted us. It was great to see them. After some clean up and decompression, we met up with Dan of Diestco and his buddy Pete at North Coast Brewing Company for some much needed outdoor and socially distant refreshments and food. I had my first flight in a long while, and enjoyed some barrel aged Old Rasputin as well.

Tomorrow brings another round of challenges, but hopefully the worse is behind us, and hopefully we can safely navigate all the coastal bends to conclude this journey.

Great beers with Great people

Day 5 – The dream birthday in Garberville

We all woke to the smell of bacon and eggs, and the sound of the smoke alarm.  Both a courtesy of Maureen.  She woke up early, made the team breakfast, which included some vegan “breakfast meat” which we think may be made of recycled paper which explains their ability to catch fire and trigger the fire alarm.  There was a special birthday plate set aside for me with bacon and Ensure, my two favorite forms of pre-ride nutrition.  The team sang happy birthday while eating breakfast and scrambling around.  We had to pack everything into the Quadyssey and Jimmy’s truck since today we were leaving our cozy Airbnb in Ferndale and move all the gear to Garberville for the night.  I’m always amazed at what looks like chaos somehow manages to get everything we need (which is a lot) into two vehicles.  I remember Dr. B’s lecture on entropy well, and always think of it when I see our crap spread all over the place.

We love Nelson-Boyd!

Our sponsor of the day was Nelson-Boyd Attorneys. Deborah Nelson and Jeff Boyd are spectacular people and a highly-regarded legal duo. These two have supported Ian’s Ride since 2016 at the very start, and the non-profit would not exist without their expertise and friendship.

Gorgeous lighting on the Avenue of the Giants

 Once we had the van and truck packed we drove to Scotia, where yesterday’s ride ended.  Our starting point was just outside a lumber yard with logging trucks coming and going.  My experience has been that cyclists and logging trucks don’t always see eye to eye on road etiquette, so we were pleasantly surprised with all the smiles and waves we received as we got myself and the bikes prepared for the road.While we were finishing getting the bikes prepped we all heard the distinct sounds of a fire hydrant.  The source of the noise will forever remain a mystery.  The time to get on the road was here, so I gave the team their pre-ride pep talk.  I could see the inspiration on their faces and knew we were in for a great day.  We got on Highway 101 heading south for a few miles before getting off at the Avenue of the Giants.  

Birthday Full Moon

 There was an immediate relief from the noise of the highway.  One of the most unsettling issues for me (and my team) is the speed at which most cars travel on the highway, and how fast they come upon us when they’re moving at over 70 miles per hour.  The team does everything they can to make sure cars and trucks see me, but it is stressful for all of us.  The Avenue of the Giants eliminated a lot of these concerns.  It is far too beautiful driving among the redwoods for cars not to slow down and enjoy these majestic trees.   The same was true for us.  Within a few minutes we were all looking up at the trees, and we took our first of many stops to get off the road and take a closer look at these wonders.  Much like I felt at home among the hippies in Arcata, I feel at home among the redwoods.  I have enough twigs and leaves in my dreads some might say I’m part tree.  Jimmy and Dr. B tried their best to ruin the serenity of the moment by pulling their pants down and riding right in front of me.  Here I am in one of the most beautiful places in the world and two of my closest “friends” are ruining the view.  I’ve been told sometimes I don’t see the forest for the trees, but this was a case of not being able to see the trees with two giant bright white butts blinding me.  Never have I longed more to have a turbo switch installed on my chair so I could fly past them and leave these images behind.

Some of the trees were accessible!

 Eventually Jimmy and Dr. B pulled their pants up and I regained my focus and appreciation for the surroundings.  A few miles in we were told by some locals the Avenue of the Giants would continue for another 30 miles.  I knew if I could convince Jimmy and Dr. B to keep their clothes on we would all have the best day of the trip so far.  Along with the wonderful views, the next 30 miles seemed warmer and quieter than what we’ve experienced since leaving Brookings.  We had time to talk with each other, which makes everything better.  I was able to spend quality time with Celina.  I even found myself wanting to take some breaks and explore some of the groves.  As usual we had a schedule to keep, but we were in a far too beautiful an area to miss certain things.

Lunchtime shenanigans

A little more than half way through the Avenue of the Jimmys we stopped for lunch in a clearing where we all soaked up the sun.  While relaxing and talking about how beautiful the day had been so far two guys stopped and wanted to know what Ian’s Ride was all about.  They had seen us earlier on the road and really just wanted to give us their support and let us know they thought what we were doing was pretty cool.  Overall, these types of interactions are something that has been lacking this year due to the Covid world we currently live in.  I do miss meeting people along the way.  Meeting people and getting my message out is one of my favorite parts of these rides.

Really having to focus on staying on the shoulder.

 With the team warm and fed we got back on the road and enjoyed every inch of the Avenue of the Giants before heading back onto Highway 101 for the last few miles.  Up to this point today’s riding had been the easiest of the entire trip, but we knew it was time to put our game faces on and focus.  I told Dr. B and Jimmy to keep their pants on and keep me safe.  Dr. B was hanging back waving his now famous noodle trying hella hard to intimidate semis and RVers.   Jimmy was in front of me kicking debris out of the way.  Earlier I had hit a stray road reflector which pulled my chair hard into the guardrail.  And all along Celina was right behind me helping communicate to me what was going on behind me.  I like when she’s close by.

Trying on some swag which may be a tad small.

 We made it to our exit and got off the highway safe and the team breathed a sigh of relief.  We loaded up into Quadyssey and headed to our hotel in Garberville.  Today I accomplished a lifetime goal of mine, which was to spend a birthday in Garberville.  It was pretty tight.  After taking care of some business we opened some beers, ordered some food and had a wonderful evening as a team laughing and giving each other crap in the best way possible.  Jimmy always gets a little more crap than the rest, but he deserves it, and he knows it.  I really enjoy these moments surrounded by this great team and realize how many wonderful people I have in my life. 

Day 4 – Idyllic Byways

Today started like any other; with some domestic and cycling challenges. After many days of riding, everyone’s bike shorts were in desperate need of a wash, so Jimmy thought he would get ahead of the curve by starting laundry at 6:30 am.  Too bad the AirBNB’s fancy washing machine’s typical cycle is 63 minutes, and since we had a strict departure time of 8:30 am, he thought he would outsmart it by pulling his clothes out 5 minutes early. Sadly they hadn’t been through the spin cycle so they were dripping wet but he was able to get them dry in time as Dr. B was rushing to load the van. Unfortunately, Celina had taken the liberty of spilling an entire cup of coffee on the van seat and despite the cleanup that ensued, a T-shirt had also suffered during the great coffee flood, and so Jimmy’s dry shorts sat right on top for the ride to our starting point and he boasted a lovely stain for the first hour of the ride. 

Warming up for the day with my crew,

Our first foray off the trail and onto the highway.

We were one member short today as Maureen had some online learning to do… today was me, Jimmy, Dr. B, and Celina, with Teena my fearless mom acting as pit crew. We started the day off at the south end of the Hammond Coast Trail. This ran about four miles adjacent to the highway and allowed a nice easy start to the day. It was still foggy and slightly chilly, but the scenery was nicer than a highway shoulder. Eventually the trail ended and we hopped on the 101 heading south. Luckily the highway today was filled with wide shoulders and plenty of straight sections- the perfect antithesis to yesterday’s route. We eventually pulled into Eureka where we rolled onto the Elk River Access Area-Hikshari’ Trail and got to see the sights of downtown for a bit.

Despite getting a warm start to the day, I decided mid-morning that it would be best to don my Diestco Weather Chaps which wrap around my lap, legs, and feet to provide a toasty warm layer that protects from the elements on a long day’s ride. After these were in place, we trekked along back toward the highway, and were approached by a  representative of Caltrans who had heard about the ride and asked for my opinion on a project called an “Active Transportation Plan.” I’m looking forward to filling out the survey given my lengthy time on the California roadways. 

Found many birds along the trail, real and otherwise.

Keeping it well below the posted speed limit.

The back and forth between trail, town streets, and highway were dizzying, but we managed to find our way onto some back roads that took us past the College of the Redwoods and led us into the small town of Loleta, where we stopped for lunch and a warm-up in the van (the fog really did bring our temps down but on the plus side the redwoods get more than half their moisture from it!). Once we had full bellies and some warmth in our bones, we hopped on the 211 south towards Ferndale. 

The highway into Ferndale was a quick and easy few miles, starting with Fernbridge - still the longest functional poured concrete bridge in the world. Despite its “functionality” the bridge is very narrow and quite long, and the cyclist warning light didn’t accommodate my 7 mile per hour speed. Luckily drivers were very gracious and patiently waited to pass us along the way. As we approached Ferndale, the sun made its first appearance of the day, shining down on the tiny town of some-odd 1,364 residents. The area is chock-full of Victorian-style houses and  shops along the main drag, as well as the historic cemetery (which tends to make the top-ten list of things to see in the town). If you’re ever in need of something to do in town, grab an ice cream at the Cat Shack and make your way to the cemetery for a spooky walk!

Country road, take me home…

The last major section of the day was by far the most peaceful. We rode along back-country roads with scenic pastures filled with grazing cows and the ever-curious sheep who eyed us suspiciously as we passed. Just as we were getting into a rhythm, a large dog ran into the road, hungry for Dr. B’s noodle! He chased Dr. B down but quickly veered off across the road to bark at some neighboring cows and we were spared seeing how long it would take an ambulance to track us down.

Farmland galore.

Keeping it steady on the last section!

Eventually the scenery changed and the last few miles of our route were straight up and down hills. Celina decided to jump ship and hopped in the van, waving as she passed. Without her at our side, we persisted into the town of Scotia, and were back on track for our mileage! Today I pushed my chair and new battery further than I’ve ever gone, and set a new personal record of 44.3 miles! Shoutout to my GreenLiFE Battery for getting me to the day’s finish line! 

The evening was finished off with an outdoor socially-distanced visit with Thomas, an old college friend from my Santa Barbara days. It was great to hang out and relive some good times for a few hours. Tomorrow is likely to be more challenging than the mellow day today, but it’s my birthday, so I’m hopeful for some sunshine and a smooth ride!

Day 3 – Pea Soup and Rumble Strips

Today was moving day. Time to say goodbye to Crescent City and relocate to Ferndale. We had to pack up our stuff, which included the typical stuff six people would need for a week long trip and then my slightly larger pile of clothing, equipment and supplies. We had a delicious hearty breakfast thanks to Maureen, and we did our best to leave the place as good as we found it with all the Halloween décor in place. Needless to say we had a slightly late start out of Crescent City, and then a one hour drive to our starting point of Orick.

We set off around 10:35am with bright hopes. I knew there were some lagoons at the beginning of our day and was looking forward to seeing some birds. Instead we were socked in with fog. We saw a few cattle egret and heard some mallards. We also saw a herd of elk.

To be quite honest, the first fifteen miles set the mood for the day. It was really difficult. Some might say it sucked. Had it not been so foggy, we might have been distracted by fabulous views. But we had no views, and it was a tough trip. We spent that first bit on the 101. Due to the thick fog we spread out, keeping just enough distance to hear each other. We all had blinking lights, Dr B had his noodle, and Maureen was prepared to curse at anyone that came too close. I was going much slower than usual, averaging 4-5 mph. The shoulder was often missing entirely, but most of the time it was right about the size of the wheelchair. This caused me to constantly hit the rumble strip. The sip and puff was being temperamental and I found myself constantly readjusting. This constant effort limited my ability to even speak to the team. I tried straddling the rumble strip at times as there was often debris in the shoulder that had to be avoided. I found it best to look twenty yards ahead, and try to relax somewhat. Focusing closer caused me to make micro adjustments that caused me to swerve into the road a couple times. It was all stressful, but for me the worst was the elevated areas with a cliff on the right, rumble strip on the left, and semi trucks whizzing by. It felt as though I was fighting for meters. I would not recommend this section for a power wheelchair.

We were thrilled to leave the 101 and move on to Patrick’s Point but it was short lived. The surface was really disappointing. It seemed patchworked with asphalt, then chip seal, then dirt, then really rough dirt. The good news was there was no traffic. The bad news was we had to sit in that cold fog waiting on a construction flagger.

We rolled into Trinidad for lunch and I was frozen to the point of sleepiness, so I sat in the car with the heater blasting to get warmed up. Despite my mom’s concern and the teams eagerness to drink beer and check out the new digs in Ferndale, I was determined to get a few more miles. We’ve been behind schedule a tiny bit each day, and I really didn’t want to fall further behind.

We headed off from Trinidad on Scenic Drive which alternated dirt and pavement for several miles. The views would have been fantastic if we could have seen through the fog. Jimmy got his fourth flat tire. My mom went to help him. Helping Jimmy is one of my moms favorite things.

As we approached McKinleyville, the temperatures warmed up a few degrees and we got on the Hammond Coastal Trail. Bike paths are my jam, and although there were some bumpy drainage bump areas, my spirits lifted, and I encouraged the team to keep going. Maureen did great today, and I told her she should be awarded the most improved rider of the trip. Shortly thereafter she ran into me and her title was revoked.

We sailed into Arcata, and it was hella cool to be in familiar places and around so many dreadlocks. I was amongst my people! The bike route goes right through Humboldt State. While we were cruising through Arcata, Jimmy zipped over to the bike shop to buy some new tubes. He got his 5th flat just after leaving. Mom found him conveniently at a brewery where he was installing the new tube.

We stopped in Arcata at 6:45 pm. It was a long day. We went 38.86 miles and are now five miles behind schedule. It wasn’t all bad. What we gained is the appreciation of completion. Theodore Roosevelt, a big fan of getting outside is credited as saying, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty…”. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring.