Monday, June 25, 2007

Day 5

Day 5
8:30

Riding in to the Siskiyou COE greated by a great group of people.
Left to right: Heidi Jankowski: Executive Assistant, Bob Caddell: Technology Analyst, Cheryl Hayden: Media Technician, Anne Hinchcliff: Instructional Media Center Manager, Mae Vaughan Chilson: Technology Support Specialist, Jason Singleton: Outdoor Educational Specialist, Paul Haas, Mike DeRoss: Assistant Superintendent, and Kathy Graves
As you can see from this picture, everyone loves Sweet Leaf Tea. They haven't tried it yet but Paul and I am sure they will?

Talked for a bit and then Jason and Paul head out for Ft. Jones. I go to get, yes, you got it, gas, ice……
After getting ice I head toward Ft. Jones and catch up with them soon. They were making good time over the first of 2 summits.

Today as we reached the top I had to stop and take a picture

of a water tower that was a God sent for so many travelers that needed water for their over heated cars back in the 50s and 60s.

The other picture is of a marker telling about Robbers Rock. “On this site at least four known stage coach robberies occurred. In the hold-up of Sept. 25, 1897. The robber William Harrall was trailed to Delta, Shasta county where he was killed in a gun battle during which he killed Undersheriff William A. Radford. The last hold-up here and in California occurred on July 5, 1908 and remains unsolved to this day.”

As we crest the summit and head down the other side I have a chance to clock the two guys at 45mph. As we hit the valley floor we head to Ft. Jones

and Scott Valley Jr. High School

and Ft. Jones Elementary. From there we head south on Eastside Rd.



10:20

We see deer, horses, mules and the Marble Mountains Wilderness area and just this one really cool thistle.




11:13
Have gone 36 miles and are getting into the Scott River Valley.

There are dredger tailings left behind by a dredger. The dredger sat in the middle of the river for 50 some years until the people that owned it sold it to a company in Brazil during their gold rush in the 1980.








Just talking to Jason in Callahan about the cycling team he rides for and asked him to give me some information about it. Jason told me that he rides for the DeSalvo Custom Cycles. It is a racing team based out of Ashland OR. They race Criterium (Crit), Road Races, and Stage Races, which are muilt day races. Some of the places they have ridden are the Golden City Criterium in Yreka, Table Rock Road Race, Oregon State Champion Road Race and in Aug. they will be doing the Eugene Oregon Stage Race which will cover 60-70 miles each day for 3 days.

1:00


We started up Scott Mountain and I am staying very close this time. This is without a doubt the steepest grade we’ve hit. At one stop I got out of the car to get my crutch in the back set and fell. Not to worry, I started rolling down the hill, that’s how steep it is.

This fern was growing out of the solid rock at the top.



1:06
1.5 miles to the summit. This picture shows the mile marker and the snow pole in the background. Paul, you are the MAN!

1:15
Sitting at the top of the Scott Mountain, HAY MAN You made it!.

This is also where the Pacific Crest Trail comes through.
So we start going down, down, down. I tell Paul to go slow and watch the turns. What the hay, I’m sounding like his mother. Guess we’ve been spending too much time together. Anyway he takes off like a bat out of &%$$ and leaves me in the dust. I try to stay up but have 12 cases of Sweet Leaf Tea, 2 cases of water, 1 case of Sport drink, etc. and they are sliding from side to side. As I start to gain ground on him at 50 mph I see his back tire start fish tailing. Oh boy, I though, there he goes over the cliff. Well if he does he’ll never know what hit him.


He stopped his bike and got it off to the side of the road! We sat and then talked about how lucky it was that he had purchased a tire and tube in Susanville. He got the tire fixed and off he went only 60 miles more to go.

4:30

At Trinity Lake still doing well, have 36 miles to go. I hope we get our cell back soon. Lost it in Callahan and haven’t gotten it back yet. There goes Paul and where he goes so do I.

I know.... another wildflower. Anyone what to guess?




6:10

Still going, Paul is tired. I can’t believe he’s still going. He’s tired. This has been the longest day thus far. Not only the two summits, but all the way around Trinity Lake. Many steep grades that a friend told us weren’t there. I guess I was like that the first day too. Never have been a biker and you miss all those…grades that aren’t very steep when listening to a good song.

6:33

I don’t really know what is still driving him to keep going. It is up, up, up. I really believe his body gave out but some how his drive, will, honor whatever you want to call it keeps his legs going. He has done something today that not many get to witness in life.

6:54
We made it to Weaverville pop 3550 elev. 2045
Will be heading to the Trinity COE in the morning and then off to Shasta COE.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

You're awesome Paul!! Such determination and conviction!! I hope you get some "sweet rest" tonight. You've certainly earned it. You too Gene...I hope you stopped rolling before you hit the creek. Burrrr!! Keep up the good work!! You're almost finished....

Anonymous said...

Hi Gene! Just want you guys to know how proud we are of you. It's been such a blast following along on "Gene and Paul's Excellent Adventure". I have to say I tried to identify two of the wildflowers you posted with no luck. Will keep looking. Ride on!!! Anne H.

Tami said...

Great photos for Day 5, Gene! Ok...very scary. And Gene, those would be pink flowers and prickly flowers.

Anonymous said...

Hi! It was so fun to see you guys off yesterday morning! Thanks for the tea--it honestly is Deeee-licious! Wish I could have given you a few historical notes on my hometown of Callahan prior to your arrival, but when you look at the picture of the bar, you can know that this old Media Technician danced on it when she was a can-can dancer for the old Callahan Jubilee days. My father-in-law was born in the Callahan Ranch Hotel. Keep on pedaling! You are doing a he-man trip for wonderful resources for our kids! Thank you!!!! Cheryl H.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful captivating photos Gene!

Kathy G. said...

Ok, that flower photo posted for Day 5 is driving me nuts. It isn't in any of my wildflower books for mountains or California, so I've rallied the help of the Klamath National Forest office, however, their flower person is on a fire (probably that awful one in S. Tahoe). The closest I could find using my various sources is:

Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
(Asclepiadaceae)

Am I close?