Manchester Bay to Bodega Dunes State Beach, California

Surfs up

Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Manchester Bay to Bodega Dunes State Beach
70 miles

It is hard to believe, but the high pressure system is holding and we woke up to another brilliant day.....sun, HOT and no wind.  We are pinching ourselves that we are getting this kind of weather in May.  Every day of sun feels like a bonus day.

As we left Manchester Bay, we cycled through rolling hills and farmland.  The rollers are always fun as you try to get enough speed on the down, to make it up the next up!  Sometimes successful....sometimes not, but always a thrill.

Rustic wood fences line the route

After a couple of hours in the country side we returned once again to cycle along the shoreline, listening to the sounds of seals barking.  There was very little traffic, so we could hear them for miles.  They sure had a lot to say.

We enjoyed a second breakfast at a bakery in Gualala (fun name to say!) and met a couple of Aussies who were cycling the route south to north.  We shared campsite advice and hill warnings with each other and of course talked endlessly about FOOD.

Today was another perfect day of riding.  I wish I was a real writer, able to capture the true beauty of the landscape we are travelling through. (pictures will have to suffice, but even they don't do it justice)  Each and every day brings something different, something amazing and almost always guaranteed to take your breath away.

I have always loved wildflowers, especially those found up in the high alpine meadows.  The flowers we have seen this trip have really captured my imagination.  How something so beautiful and delicate can grow in the harshest of conditions is intriguing.  Of course, I have had ample time to observe the flowers this trip due to my very slow uphill speeds.  In fact, if I was going any slower, I would be going backwards!

We have also been intrigued by the number of Eculyptus and Cyprus trees that have been planted along the road ways as wind breaks.  They create these amazing shade tunnels, a welcome relief during hot afternoons.  The Eculyptus also have a very distinctive smell that permeates the area.  Quite stunning.

We took a few minutes off our bikes to check out Fort Ross, a fort built in the 1800's by Russians and Eskimos to grow grain for Alaskan settlements.

The afternoon took us into range land - complete with cattle guards, which you really do not want to cycle over at speed.  We had to be careful as there were goats and cattle on the roadway.  Rob gave one poor old goat quite a scare.  (and the old goat was NOT me!)

Memories of prairie roadways - an unexpected cattle guard

The terrain for the afternoon reminded us of a race car track as we negotiated hairpin turns, winding roads, narrow shoulders, 100 foot drop offs and steep ascents and declines.  Magnificent and terrifying all at the same time.

During one particularly long climb, which we were hiking parts of, a young pair of cyclists caught up to us.  We pulled off and chatted, secretly wishing we had their legs of steel.  Sophie and Marie are cycling from Vancouver to San Francisco - they are rock stars and a lot of fun to boot!

Jane, Sophie and Marie admire the views and take a break from the climb

As we hit the final stretch to Bodega Bay we were treated to the afternoon surf show.  50 or more surfers were in the bay, trying to catch the perfect wave.  We pulled off and watched as they battled the sea.  The sea was winning!

Dinner finds us camping in the sand dunes at Bodega Bay......another great end to another great day.

Hiker/biker site at Bodega Dunes Campground

Giggle of the day:

For the last 3 days, we have been leap frogging with a SAG (support and gear) vehicle for the popsride.com (Pedal over Parkinsons).  Today, we finally met some riders from their group.  They are on a fundraising tour, cycling from Vancouver to San Diego.  We have felt a little embarrassed as each and every time they pass us, we are either eating or hiking up a steep hill.  They have never actually witnessed us riding our bikes.  They are a great group of guys, with a great cause and rumour has it their SAG vehicle has ice cold water and cookies......