Foggy and/or Overcast weather was the characteristic of this exciting trip which added to the enjoyment of riding in IDEAL temperatures as well as making the scenery so much more mysterious and magical. Leaving Mendocino was no exception to the rule -- so much so that conditions were so poor to start that my favorite Sagster ORDERED me to step into the wagon for the first 6/7 miles!! The ride was as beautiful as ever but some parts were very steep with NO bike shoulder forcing me to get off and "wagon it" over the crest(steepest section of the pacific coast route !!)and get back on the bike to continue the ride to Gualala ,where we stopped to pend the night.
On the way to Gualala we took a side trip to another Lighthouse (Pt.Arena) which is Historic but no longer functioning.
Spent a lovely evening in a delightful small motel which had THE most comfortable and cozy beds of the whole trip (Quite a bit better than our first night under the stars!!)
Took off the following morning (You guessed it -- foggy and overcast) and rode to
Bodega Bay which was a little hairy as the coastal ride was significantly narrow,
shoulder-less,trafficky, and ascended 600-700 feet into fog that was like "sea-poop"
thick making it SAG time again!! Finally got to Jenner and found that the cafes and restaurants were closed (Monday!!).
However, just across the Russian river bridge we found an Indian Restaurant which made excellent curries which was just right after a somewhat cold and foggy ride! The ride continued along the coast passing many beaches and inlets, with fascinating rock formations, and funnily enough, quite a few people on the beaches in spite of the overcast weather (temperature in the low 60's and light winds).Landed in a B & B for the evening, sea -food dinner, of course, and a fireplace in our room for the night.
The last day of riding was on familiar turf as we were in Marin soon after taking off from Bodega Bay with a stop in Marshall to do a small sketch. The final leg through Tomales (the bakery was closed--Tuesdays!!) and on to Pt.Reyes Station via the Tomales Bay Coast-line which, as you all know, is beautiful and was a wonderful ending ride to an exciting, spectacular and fabulous trip. Entered PRS to find a wonderful welcoming group of friends waiting for us at Toby's Coffee. (Of course we had to finish the ride with the best cappuccino on the West coast to be drunk with good friends and hugs to go with it).
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN
(We would like to thank you all for your support and comments that helped make this such a wonderful and exciting adventure for us both!! A special "Thank you" to Janet Robbins without whom this Blog would not have been possible!!)
Hope you enjoyed this as much as we did.
Bikester and Sagster.
