From the redwoods to the Pacific

It was a big day today, starting with ~1,000 climb. That might not sound like much, if yer riding a 15lb carbon race bike. But with a loaded steel touring bike it is tough, fer sure.

 So naturally, we got an espresso first. There was an awesome little convenience store across the highway from the campground, lucky for us (both in the morning, and when we arrived the night before. For some strange reason a bag of chips, a warm [NOT cold] Coke for Heidi, one tall boy beer for me - and a huge deli pickle did the trick).

I have been having some speed wobble problems, for the first time ever. It is both freaky and scary. And with the ~1,500' downhill we were expecting after today's opening climb we had decided to try to adjust our front panniers etc a bit before setting off. Not a big deal, at home, in a heated garage. But when it is 33'F and you just got out of your sleeping, and it might have warmed up to 39'F - you have to be sure. We made some subtle changes and set off.

Anyway, the climb was slow and steady, and the descent was OK - not too much or too bad speed wobble. in fact, I was thinking that the downhill may have made it worth it to bring the GoPro! Sweet, flowing turns down and down and down. Awesome!
 And then, of course, we pop out at the Pacific Ocean...

 We're sitting out, on a picnic table, under the stars, listening to the frogs and distant surf (ok, and motor vehicles on the road and the dogs barking too) and when we turn off our headlamps we see the same Big Dipper you do.

Night
night!