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.

Day 2 – Blue Balls and Noodly Appendages

The fog wasn’t as dense and thick this morning as it was yesterday, that we gleaned right from the start. The sun sifted through the marine layer as we loaded the van up with our equipment, and we left the house with ample time to meet David Hayes of the Del Norte Triplicate at the day’s starting point just south of Crescent City. Dr. B, Maureen and Jimmy opted to ride 4 miles from the house to the start point, and they came rolling up shortly after we noticed elk grazing a few hundred meters from us. I was engaged in an interview with David as the crew made final preparations before departure. These preparations included figuring out the use of a swim noodle (hereby referred to as Dr. B’s noodle) as a visual reference for drivers streaming by us. Dr. B graciously waved the noodly appendage from his bike while taking up the rear for the day. And what a day it was. Preparations also included donning our handy ASL (Adaptive Switch Laboratory- the day’s sponsor) fanny packs, which further served to increase our visibility with their bright red color. Dr. B put all of his cash in his ASL fanny pack, and he didn’t lose a single bill. Perhaps his trust in his ASL pack was based on my mom’s use of an ASL corkscrew opener to access a bottle of wine last night, and in Jimmy’s use of chargers provided by ASL to juice up his iPhone. A lot of people use ASL products for far more serious endeavors than those, and I’d like to shout out ASL for offering unique, creative solutions to those who are accessing their environments in nonconventional manners.

Ready for lunch after a sketchy morning ride!

Just a few hundred meters from the official start, Jimmy suffered his third flat of the trip. This was a most egregious deflation of his pride, and he really had to suck it up while David took photos of the repair efforts. I mentioned that these are the challenges of the road as David snapped away. Fortunately, unlike yesterday, this was the only flat that Jimmy (or anybody) suffered today. Before long, we were rolling again, and immediately we encountered a 4 1/2 mile climb out of the Crescent City area. While we tackled the route, which was replete with ascents, descents, blind corners, big rigs, RVs, some careless drivers who the crew cursed (especially Maureen the sailor), streams of traffic, narrow or nonexistent shoulders with heavy rumble strips, potholes and rocks, my mom brought the Quaddesy to a Les Schwab for 4 new tires and new rear brake pads. 

Today was on par with the descent from Washington and Rainy Passes in the North Cascades in 2018. At one point, Dr. B proclaimed today to be worse than that day. Jimmy wasn’t ready to go there yet, despite admitting that he did want a shot of whiskey at the end of the day. At one point, we came upon a large construction zone, at which traffic was alternately directed to one lane via traffic lights. These light aren’t calibrated to people going hella slow, so after letting all the vehicles go by on our turn, we set out to cover the stretch. Jimmy rode ahead to stop the oncoming traffic, which otherwise would have started our way. The drivers that we held up were gracious to the interruption, and a number of them waved enthusiastically. Throughout the day, a number of people, including motorcyclists, expressed their encouragement and their support to our endeavor.  

With such encouragement in the face of ample stresses, we quickly arrived at the Trees of Mystery, where I posed beneath Paul Bunyan and his blue ox. Now, Paul, he’s burly, and as you may have heard, “he once had a fight with a thunderstorm on a cold dark night. I ain’t sayin’ who won, but it don’t storm at all… round here… thanks to Paul.” Now, under a sea of blue beneath the ox, I admired a pair, and thought about how my crew has the same, facing what we did today while continuing on in good spirits.     

Half a mile down the road, we enjoyed a fine lunch, then continued on. The Quadessy was still being repaired at this point, so my mom and Edwin were using Jimmy’s truck as the primary support vehicle. Thanks to Edwin for driving around today!

Enjoying the roadside attractions.

Maureen only collided into me once today, and she deftly swerved out of my way a few other times, so her Ian’s Ride skills are rapidly improving. We passed a fellow who was sitting by a small fire in front of an elk and salmon jerky shop who was excited to see our caravan. Jimmy stopped to purchase some jerky, and said fellow told him that we were the coolest thing he’d seen all day. Speaking of fire, smoke from the August Complex, which has burned over a million acres now, increased through the day. We crossed the Klamath River, then began an ascent that brought us to the Newton B. Drury Scenic Bypass, which provided a remarkable contrast to the stresses of the highway. We rode along in the midst of gorgeous giants, enjoying the soft, smoky sunlight resting upon the cinnamon bark of redwoods. Big leaf maples added nice splashes of fall foliage. We were able to ride side by side and have conversations, only occasionally falling back into line to allow vehicles to pass. Prairie Creek Redwood State Park, which the road goes through, was a highlight of the day for all of us.  

Big Tree

Then it was back onto the highway. Another construction zone, during which we noticed a bull elk hanging out in front of some RVs off the highway. I dealt with battery challenges throughout the day. I always used my lead acid battery in the hills so that it could recharge during the descents. I took both batteries to their maxes today, completely draining the lithium battery just as we got into the town of Orick. 

We finished day by picking up Greek food and spending the evening by a campfire in the back of our rental house. We were joined by local outdoor enthusiast Mary Esther, and her mother Robin. She is an awesome individual who I’m thrilled to have met, and who I look forward to interacting with again. Stay tuned for day 3…

Finishing the evening off with a wonderful visit with new friends Mary and Robin.

Day 1 – Coffee and Stray Dogs

The day started out feeling like a lyric from a from a John Prine classic, “when I woke up this morning, things were lookin’ bad.” The day began with the team searching the Airbnb for coffee and Jimmy. To be honest, the coffee was a bigger concern since we’re used to Jimmy wandering off. When Jimmy walked though the front door with coffee for everyone we knew we were in for a good day. We loaded up the Quadessy and Jimmy’s truck with four bikes, seven people and me and my chair.. We drove to Harris Beach State Park in Oregon and got ready to start our ride toward Fort Bragg. Just as the coffee was wearing off we came across our first hurdle. Our newly repaired Yakima cargo carrier decided to break. Thankfully we always carry bungees and straps. A little low-class but problem solved. We were on our way.

Made it to the border!

Harris Beach to the California border should have been relatively uneventful, but this is Ian’s Ride, and that means to expect the unexpected. Jimmy had the first of his two flat tires before we got out of Oregon. I suppose this isn’t unexpected given the size of Jimmy compared to the size of his tires. My brand new tires I had installed for the ride have made controlling my chair a little more difficult which causes me to come to sudden stops which the team is not always ready for. Not long into the day our newest team member Maureen rear ended me, twice. The second collision was particularly noteworthy because it was a chain reaction initiated by Jimmy (which he denies) that ended with Maureen shedding the first blood of the ride. And shortly after that we had another chain reaction event when Celina ran into me, then Maureen ran into Celina. I’ll accept 99% of the blame.

A large portion of the day we spent riding through quiet farm lands which was always welcome compared to the alternative of the highway. Celina and I were able to find two Geo Caches along the route, one in Oregon and one in California. The second Geo Cache was found along the Smith River in what turned out to be a perfect location to stop for lunch. My mom brought tasty Mexican food which the team inhaled as a curious dog (or perhaps local in a costume) watched with intrigue. While we were at lunch my temperature began to drop due to the cold weather and fog. Eventually my mom brought me some wool socks to cover my hands which really completed my outfit. Even though the socks/mittens helped, the remainder of the ride and even a few hours after were spent trying to get my body temperature up.

Our lunch companion.

West Coast Best Coast.

Just when the scenery was beginning to become monotonous, we turned a corner and the ocean came into view. This seemed to perk everyone up a bit. We were in the final stretch and really enjoying the view and thoughts of a warm house and some local beers. I was hoping my batteries would get us to the end of our 36 mile day. I haven’t been able to “train” my batteries lately on any long rides so I was unsure whether they could make it. Well, we made it. It was hella close, but we did it. The riding portion of the day was behind us, so we headed back “home” and enjoyed some beer with a side of dinner.