Cali

Greetings from the Golden State! Chiva and I are warm and snug in Lila Owen and Cole Shatto’s (college students of Humbolt State Univeristy) apartment in Arcata.

The trip from Gold Beach into California was a wet one. After a brief layover in Brookings, I crossed the border and found a secluded campsite deep in a dark redwood forest. Hail and rain hit briefly in the morning but soon tampered off. Another day of hill-filled riding got us to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. From Prairie Creek it was off to Arcata.

Coastal redwoods are a magnificent site and have dominated the landscape of this leg. Reaching up to 370 feet tall, they tower over all other trees in the world. Their prehistoric like appearance was used in scenes of movies such as Jurassic Park and Star Wars (Ewok). Fortunately for me, I still have a few more nights camping under these giants. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip thus far.

I have enjoyed my time immensely in Arcata and have been informed about the Lost Coast. Being some of the most isolated and steepest biking in the country, I am excited to give it my all.

Here are a few photos from this stretch:

Grandma Stump treated me like a grandson

I would not dare

Paul Bunyan looking for some redwoods

The redwood dwarfs my rig

College Cove near Trinidad, CA

Thinking about the upcoming Lost Coast