Day 6, Gold Beach, OR to Crescent City, CA.  59 miles and 2550 feet of climbing.  The first "leg" of the trip is done.  Tomorrow is a rest day (and very much needed - by me!).  After 6 days of riding my cyclometer shows that I have ridden 420 miles.  It is "true confession" time:  I did not anticipate this ride as being as tough as it is!  I arrived in decent shape, but my longest ride of the season was only 60 miles, my largest weekly total was 220 miles and I rode no hills in over a year.  Even Mom/Grandma Donna knew it was going to be tougher than I thought it would be!  Is she ever wrong?  Oh well, I am still having an incredible time.  Slept well last nite.  In the background was the sound of the surf and occasional fog horn.  Very nice!!  Today's route took us along the coast where once again the views were super.  Within two miles I decided to take a side trip to a view point.  It involved two monster climbs of 18% grade.  The first one was 1/2 mile long and the second 1/4 mile long.  Once at the top I discovered that the view was shrouded in fog. All I could see was grey and a flurry of spots in front of my eyes from the extreme exertion.  Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  I did get to see my first whale.  It was quite aways off shore and all I could make out was an occasional black dot.  Others at the site assured me that there were several whales in the area.  I do not ride with my glasses so I will have to take their word for it.  We entered California around noon.  The terrain abruptly changed to agricultural land.  Saw and smelled lots of cattle.  The county of Del Norte is the Easter Lilly capital of the world and I saw acres of dormant lilly's and new fields being planted.  As we entered Crescent City we rejoined the same rocky beach terrain that we had witnessed in Oregon.  One large rock formation was covered with seals and sea lions.  I would have missed them had they not been making such a ruckus.  They sounded like a kennel of dogs barking.  I spotted a place nearby on the beach that has my name written all over it.  I suspect I will be spending some quality time there tomorrow!!  On Sunday we will enter into "Redwood" country.  Mike, our ride leader, says that we will be in awe.  Oh how I like the sound of that!!

 

Either my helmet is too small and makes my face look pudgey or its the camera.

 

Typical early morning scene.

 

Well, I better go check it out.

 

Sorry, nothing but grey fog.

 

Standing in front of "Arch Rock".  Nope it's not the helmet. Must be the camera!!

 

Now that is quite a drop.  Another "true confession" - oh how I wanted to relieve myself from the top of this bridge!!

 

The sun makes the views come alive.

 

Maybe its the beard.......

 

Now that is some bull!

 

I will be sitting, laying, sleeping on this beach tomorrow.

Hope the seals are still there.

 

 

Crescent City Lighthouse.