Day 45: August 25th, 2010 (Route: Russian Gulch Campground, CA just sout of Fort Bragg, CA to Bodega Bay, CA)

Day 45: August 25th, 2010 (Route: Russian Gulch Campground, CA just sout of Fort Bragg, CA to Bodega Bay, CA)

Technical Data:

Distance, miles: 101.22
Ride Time: 7:58:42
Work, kJ: 5138
Average Power, watts: 178
Normalized Power, watts: 220
Average Speed, mph: 12.6

Forecast: Sunny and beautiful!

Waking up this morning was the hardest thing I have done in weeks! I just didn't want to get up, the blanket EJ bought me has been the best blessing since this journey has started I kept thinking when all snuggled up! I just didn't want to move, the legs are close to being shot and the motivation is starting to become tought to muster up! After rolling around in the tent, I decide to write a little before I get out of the tent, I had a letter that has been on my mind and I have to write it! I don't have an address on where it goes, however once I can get the thoughts out of the head the less I'll think about it! So I write it and then finish the rice crackers I bought the night before for breakfast. I know not a healthy one, however its what I have so it will have to do! So differnt then living in a house, were we take for granted that ice box down the hall in the kitchen!

Rolling out of the tent around 9:30 this morning, one of the latest days I have slept and I know things need to get rolling. Pack up the Bob and roll out as I needed to get on the road! The campsite was buzzing this morning, with a Park Ranger holding a Junior Ranger meeting first thing in the morning. I should have attended as this was something I never experienced as a kid! It was cute though as the kids were enjoying the Rangers talk and you could tell by the smiles that things were going great!

The climb out of the gulch first thing in the morning was not something the average cyclist wants to wake to after the last couple of days I have had, exspecially towing Mr. BoB. The campground was nice, however having to pay for a shower is a bummer! One would think for $35 dollars a night to throw a tent on State land would warrant a warm shower. The campsite was right off the 1 so getting back on route was so easy, rolled out and headed on my way. With little breakfast in my belly I knew I would have to focus on taking in the right nutrition along the way in order make sure I made it to Bodega Bay today. Adding up the miles I thought the ride was close to 75 miles, however as you can tell by the technical data I was way off, another indicator that my mental processor is in need for some rest!

Rolling down the coast now and enjoying every minute of it! The ocean breeze feels great and I'm really enjoying the ride. Suns high and I'm feeling surprisingly great! The terrain is great, rolling and not going to let down until I get to San Diego! I'm looking forward to the training today as I'm really looking forward to a couple days off which I plan in the San Fransisco area. Kit, my friend that I meet in Eastern Colorado plans on meeting me in Bodega Bay, I'm really looking for a hot shower the next couple of days.

Tons of thoughts going through my head along this stretch! The ocean waves breaking on the rocks and the beaches grabbed my attention throughout this entire ride today! Its growing on me, I kept thinking about EJ and how she so elagantly descrived the ocean when we went for out walk along the windy beach a few days ago, about its force and beauty! Thoughts of her come in and out all day and I can't wait to see her again, hopefully that time will come! The mind is all of ther place and starting to creep into a dark place along this first section of this ride, I was fading fast and the body was going with it! The power was fading, all because of the residual fatigue, the last four days of riding, the lack of proper nutrition and sleep. I'm sure hydration has a huge part of that as well.

I point my thoughts directed to the goal of Bodega Bay, however that felt like it was a million miles away! So as I thought about the shorter distances, 10 miles at a time today as the miles were not passing with ease! About 40 miles into the ride I have to stop at a grocery and do what I rarely do on a ride, however in order to get to my destination I was going to need a lot of help today! I went for the Starbucks caffeine today, I sometimes do this when I'm driving long distances if I'm fading for my safety. Well, I thought this a little more important and since I rarely take lage doses of caffeine, don't want to fall asleep on the bike as that wouldn't be safe...

I down the caffiene while talking with Ian, an extremely nice guy from the area while shopping in the small grocery store! We chat about my journey and the area a little bit, along with a little Lewis and Clark history. After talking with Ian I get back on the bike, just waiting for the caffeine to kick in and the little caffeine I added to the system. Few miles down the road and Ian pulls up next to me in his little white sports car and says he wants to give me a CD (music). Find out he's an artist in a band that produced the rock CD! We chat for a little bit and exchange information, looking forward to listening to the music! I had to share with him my sister and her music, now I can't wait to get to wi fi now...

Heading South now I roll out of the forested area where I had some pretty good climbing and roll out onto the coast, what a coast it is! Ian mentioned that this area is typically fogged in, however today that is not the case! I get blessed with some of the most beautiful Northern California coast I have experienced yet! Amazing...

The riding is easing and I'm enjoying life right now! The ride is where every cyclist with an opportunity to ride this section of coast should do so! The terrain is not easy either, I keep thinking flag down someone to drop this BoB down the coast 40 miles and I'll ride too it! That would not help with training but it sure would make the ride a little more enjoyable! I keep cruising and stopping to snap a few photos, however if I keep doing this I'll never to get to my destination!

Then it hits me, a 15-18% percent grade!!! I was able to ride it in my 39/26, however when at the top I was so thankful for it to be over! There was a guy hiking down the coast sitting at the top, I'm assuming he just hiked and said "That climbs a bitch isn't it!" I laugh and cruise on down the highway! Would have loved to chat with that guy, however I'm in need of some sleep and some rest there is no way I'm stopping! Enjoying the coast line I start feeling better, the calories have digested to usable energy and I'm feeling pretty alert! Such an altered state of mind when on caffeine for me, I can tell how alert I get and now I can understand why people need this to wake and how its a billion dollar industry!

Continuing my journey down the coast I roll up on the best riding I have experienced I kept thinking. I wonder how many times I have mentioned this on this trip when writing! So many great places to ride a bicycle with such a great view! The climbing continues and its not going to let up, the short steep climbs are continuing and riding out of the saddle is allowing me to get stronger. This riding was so much fun and I couldn't keep from smiling!

I think I could write on and on about this coast and the riding along it! All I can say is that I'll be back as I really want to ride this without BoB and with friends! I have so many cycling friends that would love this ride!!!!!

I finally arrive at Bodega Bay, CA after having a poor conversation with the next to no cell service out here on the Coast. Texting Kit where I am and when I'll be there, et cetera was such a pain to try and communicate out here. Along this stretch earlier in the day I had the greatest "Up Draft" a single man could have while out here on the road while riding and feeling like quiting for the day! EJ sent me a message this morning asking where I was and if I was safe. Talk about making my heart lift a million miles into the heavens! I keep thinking about here and hoping things realign so we can see each other again, until that time comes I'll continue to pray! The real bummer of it is though, I can't reply and I hate to allow her to worry as I'm safe and enjoying the day! I know she's safe as another email mentioned how much fun she is having with friends in San Fransisco, so elagantly put, described to allow a picture for me to view through my curious imagination I can share the moment with her!

Continuing on down the road I keep thinking of getting to Bodega Bay and shutting it down for the day! One more climb, after passing three cyclist at the base of the climb eating dinner I start the climb and think I have to be close! Up the hill and feeling good I roll right into Sonoma County Beach Coastal area where surfers are having fun and familys are about to blessed with one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever scene! What a view...hard to top the sunsets in Hawaii but this sure does come close! Putting in a hard days work and this for a reward, gotta love my life right now! I keep thinking about how this needs to continue, how I feel so alive and how I love it! Blessed is the only way to explain it...

Rolling down the coast, passed by the train of cyclist sitting at the store! I think this sucks, their traveling so lite and drafting, not a way to tour I keep thinking. The guy pulling is jamming out to his Ipod and I'm thinking again not away to do a coast to coast trip. He's missing out on all the things happening around him, I love music but listening to the sounds of the ocean the last couple of weeks along this NW coast has been amazing and worth not bringing the tunes! I do miss them though as they really bring me down to earth when I'm deep in tought. With about five miles to go before I hit the Bay I think, empty the tank with any energy left, you have a couple days of rest coming up so I put the hammer down and pass the group of three never to see them again. Okay, I'm a little competitive and I'm enjoying this so why not!

I roll into the bay and head to a store where I can charge my phone that has now died, I figure I can connect with Kit and hope he hasn't left the area since he had dinner plans at 7PM. I figure I could be waiting for a while since I wasn't able to text back over the last 50 miles or so. After collecting enough electrons to power the radio in my phone I call and luck has it, he is across the street having dinner with his family. I think how wonderful! A family dinner to send his son off to school! I head over to meet Kit to throw my things in his truck, then I relax while they have their family dinner eating a little and trying to get some calories into my system...

After dinner, Kit invites me over for coffee and I'm able to meet his family and down some remaining desserts they didn't finish off! I figure I'll take as many free calories as I can at this point! His family was great! Ex-wife, daughter, son, sons girlfriend, and grandfather. It was great to chat with them for a little bit, then we headed out. The entire familiy was extremely tall, son was 6'7+ or so! Every one made me feel so short! Heading out Kit and I chat about the journey's we have had and share all kinds of stories!

We head back and I'm tired so I try and crash as soon as possible, showere, little more food and then to bed! Nice to be inside a house, on a couch, and not taking for granted of the little things that God has blessed me with today!