Myers Flat. That’s not a description, it’s where I am now. A small little ‘town’ of 200 souls and a camp site by the river, deep in the heart of redwood country. Charming.
I’m on the long climb up to Leggett, which I’ll be tackling tomorrow. It’s at over 1700 ft elevation, but I think it’s quite a steep climb, so it might be a long, hard day in the saddle tomorrow. But if I make it in good time then it’s a free-wheeling, feet-up on the handlebars glide to Westport (pop. 238), and a beer and good times. Haven’t a clue what Westport is like, but it’s going to have beer and good times whether it likes it or not!
Today was pretty much more of the same; cloudy to start, sunny to finish with wind out of the north. The knee felt fine, but I only made about 65 miles. I also got my third flat. This caused by a small bit of roadside shrapnel that managed to penetrate the Batman-esque aramid layer in my tyres. There is so much junk on the side of the road out here; bolts, fishing lures, a piston con rod I saw today, wire of various sorts, shredded tyres and lots of bark. In fact it took me quite a while to figure out why there was so much bark everywhere. Fallen from the trees? No. Discarded by beavers? No.
You’re probably ahead of me here, but I only twigged when another huge logging truck roared past and actually dropped some bark… ahhh, I thought, that’ll be it then. It’s been by the side of the road since Anchorage. There is still an awful lot of logging going on up here.
Here’s me stood in a redwood tree. Before the loggers get to it.
Someone say, ‘hobbit’?
The cyclist’s tan is coming on beautifully. Arms are bronzed, as are the lower legs, but I’m especially proud of the fine patterning I’m achieving on my hands.
I think I’ve invented a new make-up for some sort of subtly different sci-fi human. Get me Spielberg, stat!
Love
Pete
Patagonia Pete 
That is some pretty impressive two tone hand action going on there, are you sure that’s not from applying your Essex fake tan lotion??
Good that the knee problem has been successfully addressed, is amazing the difference a few mms adjustment can make, bicycle set up and mechanics is a fine art it seems for sure.
Happy bark collecting!
Love the crosshatch tan.
Can`t believe you´re in California already – amazing.
I see from trusty Google Maps that you´re on the Redwood Hwy, and when you get to Westport, on the coast, you´ll be on the Shoreline Hwy. Very literal minds, these Americans.
Have you decided yet whether to take Highway 1 or go inland on the mountain bike route?
California, dude! As you may have seen from mum’s comments, I’m with Frank on this; it’s cold and it’s damp! Where’re all the surf-a-hula, clam bakes?!
I used to be as dismissive as you about the colonials’ inability to think for more than five seconds before naming a place until I realised pretty much all European place names are the same, just in Olde English/Olde Welsh/Olde Norse whatever. Look at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerewllwindroblllantysylyagogogoch (or some similar spelling). If memory serves it’s just a description of where the White church is. In a green field I think? Alex, if you’re reading this please confirm. Go back far enough and all you get is a description of where, who or what founded the place. Not quite so smart are we! Give it a thousand years and the word ‘highway’ will be as anachronistic as ‘futtock’ is now. Sam, tell her about futtocks.
Anyway, I’m going to stay on the damp pacific coast and head to San Francisco and all points south.
Love Pete
Sent from my iPhone