Gypsy General, Pacific Coast Bicycle Route

Pacific Coast Bicycle Route – Day 27 – College Towns and a Victorian Village

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As we cycled out of Arcata, we passed Humboldt State University, the scene of yesterday’s graduation which was the reason for our high-priced hotel room last night. It is a beautiful campus and an interesting college town. We cycled around Arcata Bay for about 5 miles on the wide shoulder of the 101, arriving in Eureka in time for a pastry-coffee stop in the Old Town section of town.

The muffin was called "Grandma Dot's Banana Choc. Chip Muffin" Los Bagels, Eureka
The muffin was called “Grandma Dot’s Banana Choc. Chip Muffin” Los Bagels, Eureka

While Bill finished up his pastries and coffees, I walked over to the bookstore and browsed. Okay, I bought a cool book for the grandkids about a boat from a high school in Japan that made its way to Crescent City, CA after the tsunami in 2011. It was restored by high school students in Crescent City and returned to Japan. The Extraordinary Voyage of Kamome; A Tsunami Boat Comes Home.
Cycling out of Eureka, we passed by the College of the Redwoods, which also graduated students yesterday and caused hotel rooms in Eureka to be expensive as well.
Once more we were in the agricultural area of Northern CA, dairy farms are everywhere.

Signs depicting the agricultural nature of the region
Signs depicting the agricultural nature of the region
Sign depicting the dairy farm industry
Sign depicting the dairy farm industry in the area

We stopped in Loleta for a short visit to the Loleta Cheese Factory,

Loleta Cheese Factory
Loleta Cheese Factory

which was across the street from a defunct creamery – can’t tear the building down because it’s a historical building.

Defunct creamery in Loleta
Defunct creamery in Loleta
Dying town of Loleta
Dying town of Loleta
New creamery 5 miles down the road from old building (Fernbridge, CA)
New creamery 5 miles down the road from old building (Fernbridge, CA)

The new creamery is located about 5 miles down the road. Loleta was an interesting “town”, not sure what keeps it running.
More country roads took us to Ferndale

Dairy farm approaching Ferndale
Dairy farm approaching Ferndale

where we have stopped for the day, staying in the Francis Creek Inn,

Francis Creek Inn, Ferndale
Francis Creek Inn, Ferndale

right off the main street of this interesting Victorian town. After checking in, we took a walk through town,

Main Street, town of Ferndale
Main Street, town of Ferndale

ending up at the cemetery with fantastic views over the town. Yes, we walked to the top of the hill since we didn’t climb many hills today on the bicycles, have to keep the calves in shape. (This town is also referred to as Cowtown).

View from the entrance to the cemetery
View from the entrance to the cemetery
View from the top of the cemetery looking down on the town of Ferndale
View from the top of the cemetery looking down on the town of Ferndale

We stopped for dinner at the Ferndale Pizza Company

Dinner
Dinner

and Bill struck up a conversation with the owner of the old green Chevrolet we saw parked out front.

old green Chevrolet truck
old green Chevrolet truck

Turns out the guy owns the old Ford Motor Company building and had many old vehicles inside – the building is his “hobby shop”.

Old Ford Motor Co. building - hobby shop
Old Ford Motor Co. building – hobby shop
Seventh Heaven for Bill
Seventh Heaven for Bill

He invited Bill to visit after dinner and Bill couldn’t resist. (Another 7th heaven moment).

2 thoughts on “Pacific Coast Bicycle Route – Day 27 – College Towns and a Victorian Village”

  1. If Bill had a shop like that, you wouldn’t be doing what you guys are doing now!
    Where’s the picture of the boat from Japan????????

    1. You are right, Mark. Is it like your tech room? Is that why you all don’t join us? I can’t get a photo of the boat, but I’ll post a photo of the book on your page.

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