Another multi-day post. Apologies, but wifi is hard to come by in the remoter bits of Northern California ! Anyway, this is a monster four-day post as we approach San Francisco.
It’s a foggy, cold day as we leave Van Damme. There are a lot of bridges to nowhere this morning.
The fog lifts slowly, and the scenery gets better.
San Francisco gets closer, and there’s now actually a town called Elk ! Still no live examples, though.
The day remains largely cool and windy, though, and eventually we haul into the KOA at Manchester Beach. We were considering the state park, but it has no showers, so lots of tourists end up here. We have a very convivial evening chatting to other cyclists, cooking in the campers kitchen, eating ice cream and sitting round the communal camp fire. Most are ending their trip in San Fran, so we’ll probably see them again.
Next morning, we swap names and emails and take photos before heading off to Gualala. The bike in the background has a snapped spoke on the rear wheel, which is being repaired with a kevlar spoke. Interesting device, and it did the trick, as I watched the bike ride over the Golden Gate a couple of days later.
After a fairly uneventful ride, we pull into Gualala, where we buy groceries. I am feeling a bit under the weather, so we bunker down at the campsite for the afternoon and then eat sandwiches for dinner, all I can manage. This proves to be a mistake J The site is nice, next to a river, and pretty quiet during the week. The hiker-biker area is a bit small for our tent, so we take an empty normal camping slot. The ranger, though, lets us have it for the hiker-biker rate, $5 each, as they’re not even remotely full.
Next morning, we’re off to Bodega Dunes campground. Not eating properly yesterday takes it’s toll, and I’m a bit weak and watery. We grind along until we stop to chat to a support vehicle for a supported cycling group. The guide is very generous, and gives us Oreos, Clif bars and various energy goo thingies, which perk me up no end. Just as well, really, as the route is very hilly.
This was a true alpine-style climb and descent, switchbacks and all.
On the way, we cross the Russian River, where a load of seals hang out.
And finally, we arrive at Bodega Dunes campground. This is a very nice, sandy hiker-biker, and we meet up with some of the guys from Manchester. After pitching we ride into Bodega Bay, have very good fish and chips, and buy some beer. We chat relatively late into the night.
The following morning, we’re off the Samuel P Taylor State Park, our last stop before San Fran. We stop in Bodega Bay for breakfast, at The Tides. This is a rather plush hotel and restaurant complex which replaces the original Tides from the film The Birds, which burnt down in 1968. They have tons of memorabilia on display, and the breakfast was good.
It’s right on the water, and lots of wildlife swims and flaps past.
Wonder if these were extras in the film who never got over it ?
Anyway, it’s a lovely ride to Sam Taylor, along Tomales Bay.
We set up at Sam Taylor, and again meet up with some guys from last night. We all eat all the food we have so we don’t have to carry it any further, which makes for interesting meals.
While I’m having a shower, a deer appears behind our tent and Diane takes a photo of it.
To bed early. Our plan is to get up and away early doors, and arrive in San Francisco early afternoon. Exciting !
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