Monday, June 25, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Day 5
Tomorrow we will start at the Siskiyou COE. We will then head southwest toward Ft. Jones and will end up at the Trinity COE in Weaverville.
Paul's Day 4 Summary
We woke up early and headed out for Dorris to pick up where we ended on Thursday. I was concerned about Sunday traffic, possible wind, and the fact that I hadn't ridden since Thursday.
I finally got on the bike around 8:30 and headed south.
The road was flat around (4000 feet) the air was cool and Mt. Shasta was directly in front of me.
We tried a new tool- HandlebarCam- and it was interesting to work with it. I can use some of the footage. I rode through the town of Mcdoel and through acres of strawberry fields.
After about and hour or so we reached the base of Mt. Hebron. Time to climb.
Back up over 5000 feet to the summit. A couple of up and downs and then a flat spot through Grass Lake. The wind was present, but not pushing too hard. I also wasn't pressed for time because today was going to be relatively short- about 65 miles.
We took a break at Grass Lake. I was surprised to see seagulls- yes seagulls (Gene called them Rest Area Gulls). Riding through Grass Lake I could hear lots of birds in the reeds.)
Another short climb to Grass Lake Summit a brief down hill and then one last bump up Deer Mountain.
Mt. Shasta was close now. Rising to a height of over 14,182 feet it was magnificent with its glaciers and outcroppings.
Also- a nice downhill began for me. Dropping down to the War Memorial Sculpture Garden the road was rough- but it was downhill!
We took about an hour at the Sculpture Garden just looking at the art and reflecting on what it stood for. I highly recommend a visit if you are in area.
Continuing downhill I soon turned north again to head towards the town of Grenada. The road was still downhill and I experimented with HelemtCam- my phone cam held at head level.
Gene convinced me to stop at the lava tube just next to the rode. Then back on the bike.
We were making good time so Gene wanted to go "offroad" to Pluto's Cave- another experience I highly recommend. But wear tennis shoes or hiking boots- cycling shoes weren't cutting it- and neither were bear feet.
The short break also allowed time for the wind to pick up (Thanks Gene). However, I actually felt pretty good and was able to make Big Springs and Grenada without stressing to much.
Gene relayed a funny story in his journal so I won't elaborate.
The final seven miles were sightly uphill and into the wind, but not too bad.
Rode into Yreka at about 3:45. Day four another success- 65 miles and we passed the halfway point. Bonus miles on Day 3 paid a dividend today. Tomorrow we are back over 100 miles, and back over the mountains.
Day 1: 151 miles (Oroville, Quincy to Susanville)
Day 2: 105 miles (Susanville to Alturas)
Day 3: 100 miles (Alturas to Tulelake to Dorris)
Day 4: 65 miles (Dorris to Yreka)
Total so far: 421 miles.
Since my meeting on June 27 has been canceled, we are going to try and finish the rest of the ride by Wednesday.
Monday, Day 5: Yreka to Weaverville
Tuesday, Day 6: Weaverville to Redding (through Hayfork, Platina, Igo and Ono)
Wednesday Day 7: Redding to Oroville (through Red Bluff, Orland, and Chico)
I finally got on the bike around 8:30 and headed south.
The road was flat around (4000 feet) the air was cool and Mt. Shasta was directly in front of me.
We tried a new tool- HandlebarCam- and it was interesting to work with it. I can use some of the footage. I rode through the town of Mcdoel and through acres of strawberry fields.
After about and hour or so we reached the base of Mt. Hebron. Time to climb.
Back up over 5000 feet to the summit. A couple of up and downs and then a flat spot through Grass Lake. The wind was present, but not pushing too hard. I also wasn't pressed for time because today was going to be relatively short- about 65 miles.
We took a break at Grass Lake. I was surprised to see seagulls- yes seagulls (Gene called them Rest Area Gulls). Riding through Grass Lake I could hear lots of birds in the reeds.)
Another short climb to Grass Lake Summit a brief down hill and then one last bump up Deer Mountain.
Mt. Shasta was close now. Rising to a height of over 14,182 feet it was magnificent with its glaciers and outcroppings.
Also- a nice downhill began for me. Dropping down to the War Memorial Sculpture Garden the road was rough- but it was downhill!
We took about an hour at the Sculpture Garden just looking at the art and reflecting on what it stood for. I highly recommend a visit if you are in area.
Continuing downhill I soon turned north again to head towards the town of Grenada. The road was still downhill and I experimented with HelemtCam- my phone cam held at head level.
Gene convinced me to stop at the lava tube just next to the rode. Then back on the bike.
We were making good time so Gene wanted to go "offroad" to Pluto's Cave- another experience I highly recommend. But wear tennis shoes or hiking boots- cycling shoes weren't cutting it- and neither were bear feet.
The short break also allowed time for the wind to pick up (Thanks Gene). However, I actually felt pretty good and was able to make Big Springs and Grenada without stressing to much.
Gene relayed a funny story in his journal so I won't elaborate.
The final seven miles were sightly uphill and into the wind, but not too bad.
Rode into Yreka at about 3:45. Day four another success- 65 miles and we passed the halfway point. Bonus miles on Day 3 paid a dividend today. Tomorrow we are back over 100 miles, and back over the mountains.
Day 1: 151 miles (Oroville, Quincy to Susanville)
Day 2: 105 miles (Susanville to Alturas)
Day 3: 100 miles (Alturas to Tulelake to Dorris)
Day 4: 65 miles (Dorris to Yreka)
Total so far: 421 miles.
Since my meeting on June 27 has been canceled, we are going to try and finish the rest of the ride by Wednesday.
Monday, Day 5: Yreka to Weaverville
Tuesday, Day 6: Weaverville to Redding (through Hayfork, Platina, Igo and Ono)
Wednesday Day 7: Redding to Oroville (through Red Bluff, Orland, and Chico)
Day 4
My best friend and my Cora who just turned 4 months old today. He picks her up and she just stops crying. How come?
6-24 Day 4 Doris to Yreka
8:45
Well, we went to S.F. to see the Giants play. Bond’s hit 479, but the Giants lost to N.Y. We drove back the next morning to Yreka and spent the night at my house again. Adele, my wife, had dinner ready for us. Chicken enchiladas, refried beans and salad. We talked for a bit and then headed off to bed around 9:30. Before going Paul got to hold Cora who turned 4 months old today.
The next morning we got up at 6:00 a.m. I made breakfast and we took off. I had loaded the car the night before with all the drinks (Sweet Leaf Tea- It's Delicious), ice, chairs, food etc.
8:30
Doris and Butte Valley High School
Just stopped at 4.5 miles out to take the video camera from Paul. He is trying to record from his bike. I hope it works.
Paul heading through the California Check Station. Welcome to California!
9:00 a.m.
Just passed through the small town of Mcdoel 425 pop. , elev. 4100 ft. Stopped to take a picture of the Butte Valley Middle School and then headed west to start our climb over Mount Hebron which summits at 5100 ft.
Made it to the base of Hebron. Waiting for Paul. He is doing well after a day off. I am not sure if a day off helped his legs or not, but he seems to be doing well.
10:00 a.m.
Made it to the top of the first of two summits, one being Mount Hebron at 5200 ft. and Grasslake at 5100 ft.
11:04
Pulled into the Grasslake rest area
From Lake to Wetlands.
During the 1900 a popular 32 room resort hotel was located on the shore of Grasslake. The hotel failed after a dynamite blast created a hole in the lake allowing most of the water to drain through the porous volcanic rock below what proved to be disastrous for the resort was a fortunate occurrence for the much of Grasslakes’s wildlife.
11:20
Stopped at the Living Memorial Sculpture Garden which is on the south west base of Mt. Shasta. It sits on the land provided by the U.S. Forest service. The garden honors honorably discharged veterans of all conflicts and peacetime. The LMSG was founded by a group of veterans circa 1988.
I was glad that Paul wanted to stop. I really wanted him to experience it. I come often. I will never understand the inhumanity in man that we as mortals can do such things to one another.
Glad we're off HWY 97. The trucks are way BAD!
12:15
Stopped along side the road to see if Paul could kill himself at Pluto Caves. These caves were formed by an eruption of basaltic lava which originated from a vent about 8 miles to the northeast. This lava flow is about 190,000 years old, and reaches as far as Grenada.
I couldn't help taking this picture. I am a sucker for flowers. These flowers only grow around the lava tubes. Can anyone tell me what they are?
Pulled into Big Springs School. Waited for Paul, he road on by so I just took a picture and drove on. He is doing well today.
Some of the ranches in the Shasta Valley
2:30
Paul made the Grenada Elem. School. Took his picture in front then sat for a bit and had a drink. It was starting to warm up and the wind is stating to blow. As we were sitting there minding our own business this car full of ladies came by and stops at our car. “Are you selling anything out of the back of that car?” came the words. Paul and I just looked at each other and said NO!
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