July 19-Day 11 Crescent City to Eureka, CA 83 Miles, 4800 ft elev gain

Todays ride is dedicated to our freinds at Above and Beyond Dentistry! Thanks for your support Dr. Hollar and of course, your excellent dental artistry.

Began the day with some big climbs.  Met the suppor crew at the Trees of Mystery. Lunch in Orick, then...the fog cleared. Sunshine and...wait for it...TAIL WIND! Wahooooo. 

We had an interesting tag along cyclist for awhile.  A database programmer from HI, originally from Germany.  He hollared at me from a campground in Prairie Creek, I slowed down to see what he wanted, he said he confused me with another cyclist he had met.  He asked if he could ride along.  I said sure.  He was fresh on his bike, we are on day 11.  He didn't day anything, but I could tell he wanted to ride faster than my pace.  I couldn't wait to catch up with Kevin. 

We had separated because the young lady at the espresso drive through in Klamath advised us of the alternate route that shortened the climb significantly.  I chose to take that route, Kevin took stayed on 101.  He got an additional 900 ft of climbing in!  I got to ride peacefully with few cars throught beautiful groves of ancient and 2nd growth redwood  forest.  The down side is I picked up the stray.

We eventually joined up again in Orick.  I introduced the German guy to the team.  Following lunch, we started up the next grade.  I told the stray to keep on Kevins tail, he tried.  Within an hour he was at the side of the road fixing something.  I stopped to see if he needed anything, then continued on.  Tail wind picked up and we were making great time 24-26 mph.  Kevin did get ahead again, and I read a sign on 101 that said Bicycles Must Exit.  I took the exit, hoping that Kevin saw the sign too.  The detour routed us around some major construction and took us on some back roads, trails, railroad bridges and then...construction.  2 miles of dirt road that they were in the process of watering.  Oh man, just cleaned the bikes.  Asked the signalman if he had seen another biker, he said nope.  Hmmmm,  is it possible that I somehow passed Kevin. 

Rolled into the Super 8 in Eureka, no Kevin.  Hmmm.  The support team had located a big suite complete with kitchen.  Upon exploration, they found an old pizza in the oven.  Science project, hairy, green and generally unappealling.  Use caution when staying at the Super 8 in Eureka, the room was great but management was really not happening there. 

So...our first day in the redwoods and no Kev.  I showered, Diane did laundry and no Kevin.  I went for a walk on 101 into town with Shannon to see if we could spot him.  His cell phone service is non-existent in the area.  While we know Kevin is a creative problem solver, it was a bit un-nerving to not know where he was.  Its not like loosing one of the kids...well, on second thought....

I decided to stand watch on the balcony, sure enough Kevin blew by on his muddy bike.  I yelled, the girls yelled, he just kept cruising like he was headed to Mexico.  I grabbed Shannon and we jumped in the van to track him down.  Drove half way to Ferndale and no more sign of Kevin.  Great...we returned to the luxurious Super 8.  Did you get him Diane said, nope.  I said, remember, Kevins a smart and clever guy, he'll figure out a way to reach us. 

Within moments, the phone rang with some unknown number.  Kevin had found the last remaining payphone in Eureka, bought a snack to get change and placed an old fashioned phone call.  We told him where we were and met him on the corner with a glass of Recoverite, one his favorite post ride potions.