Gypsy General, Pacific Coast Bicycle Route

Pacific Coast Bicycle Route – Day 31 – Downhill Run back to the Pacific

This morning we “hit the road” bright and early as our host at the motel explained that traffic on our route wouldn’t be as busy as we tackled Route 1 with its thin shoulders and narrow, windy roadway. We lucked out and conquered the major part of the climb (1000 ft to the summit at 1900) by 9:00 AM and then a sweeeet downhill run for about 7 miles

Profile of the hill today!
Profile of the hill today! Yeah, that tall one!

n the meadow at the bottom of this climb, we were greeted by these beautiful elk and striking wildflowers (wild hollyhocks).

Elk in the meadow
Elk in the meadow
Same elk different view
Same elk different view
hiding in the meadow
hiding in the meadow
Wild hollyhocks
Wild hollyhocks

 

I should have looked closer at the map. I was so psyched out by the highest hill that I didn’t look any farther… so we got to the bottom of the first hill only to find we had another steep  700 ft. climb and then another few miles downhill-and then the glorious, powerful Pacific Ocean again. I have missed you, mighty ocean.

Glorious Pacific
Glorious Pacific

While I have enjoyed parts of the inland sections of Northern California (the Redwoods, the dairy farms, the Victorian village of Ferndale) , I was expecting the cycle ride to be on the coast, since it is called the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route. I can ride in Virginia and see similar scenery to the inland section of Northern California – but I sure can’t see this amazing Pacific coastline in VA.

Steep cliffs along the coast
Steep cliffs along the coast
The power of the waves
The power of the waves
Taking a break to breathe in the ocean smell
Taking a break to breathe in the ocean smell

Today’s ride was even better with temperatures 20 degrees cooler than the past two days. It is much easier to do those climbs in cooler weather. Once we conquered those two hills and reached the coast again, we had about 5 miles along the coast before we reached our destination for today, Westport. We are staying in a refurbished “hotel” from the 1920’s with a view of the ocean.

The Westport Hotel
The Westport Hotel

I’m enjoying the beautiful gardens and the warm sun.

Lunch on the deck, Westport Hotel
Lunch on the deck, Westport Hotel

We’ve taken a walk around this coastal village, can’t believe they actually brought ships in here in the late 1800’s. Powerful waves.

The power of the water
The power of the water

We stopped by an AirBnB house, Whale House, and Derrick, a local artist, showed us around, quite a quaint property. His artwork is in the following photos.

Derrick's art
Derrick’s art
another piece of Derrick's art
another piece of Derrick’s art
Local blacksmith did this sculpture for the hotel
Local blacksmith did this sculpture for the hotel
and when the blacksmith died, the local artists (13 of them) did this tribute to him (Toby Hickman)
and when the blacksmith died, the local artists (13 of them) did this tribute to him (Toby Hickman)

We’ll also be able to dine here this evening as the Abalone Pub is part of the hotel.

Tomorrow we head to Fort Bragg and hope our packages have arrived at General Delivery. Thanks, Kate Grass, for teaching us the intricacies of using the US Mail system when you are on the road.(And thanks, Kristi, for taking care of our forwarded mail.)