I often struggle with believing; with having faith in my fellow wo/man, my fellow American. And more than that. Maybe I read the newspaper too much?
But I thought that maybe this trip would help, based on some comments from other bike tourers and things I have read.
"So we got a late start", my favorite beginning to interesting hut/yurt logbook entries in MI and CO, was true of us on this trip. Everything was going great; then we waited at SFO for 5 hours, due to fog. We had planned to build our bikes when we arrived at 2pm in Crescent City and then bike an easy 10 miles to Nickel Creek campground (5 secluded sites, just up from the beach). But instead we arrived in the dark, round 7pm. So I had called the NPS office in CC, kinda desperate to get the free but necessary camping permit from SFO, while we waited and watched the daylight fade. Ranger Mike was awesome. And so we were set, as far as the first night's permit, anyway.
Now, the little airport's employees had also had a long day and closed the building as soon as we got our luggage, basically. So we ended up building our bikes by headlamp in a mist, with the airports fog light doing laps overhead. Lots of people looked at us like we were as crazy as we are, and one of them even offered his backyard as a spot to camp. So instead of biking into town, picking up the permit, then biking out of town to the little campsite we had a nice short 1.5 mile ride with the surf pounding, just out of sight, and had our tent set up shortly after 10pm (after midnight, our time, and we had been up since 4:30 am).
Morning came and we got to go inside and use their bathroom and kitchen. So the first morning was sweet!
And not only did Adam and his friends let us crash there, he also gave us directions to where we could pick up camp fuel and a suggested safer (but hard) way over the first big hill heading South, outta town (rather than US101). The nice woman at the NPS office corroborated his story later that morning, and so we were finally on our way. (We decided to not heed the advice of the four "roadies" we ran into just before the gravel road to our campsite, and do "Ragged Ass Hill".) The only regret was that we were too tired to make it back to town to check out the Smith River before heading South.
The next morning we had our first "Spencer Adventure" and pushed our fully loaded bikes up a narrow gravelly old road bed/path - for an hour. Hard damn work! But also really amazing to then ride the old highway, covered in duff, among some amazing old trees (with no motor vehicles). Truly magical. Spiritual one could say.
So I just want to give a big shout out to Adam and the two helpful NPS employees who helped us in Crescent City. I really needed that - thanks.
Thank you Adam for being kind to our friends Greg and Heidi start/continue with the adventure.
ReplyDeleteI know our transam restored my faith in humanity . . . no doubt the most memorable part of the trip was meeting so many good people (I think we need another trip too . . . too many newspapers as you say). Thanks Adam et al.
ReplyDeleteyes. you know my thankfulness for the cajuns and their machine shop in remedying my sheared bolt. otherwise i would have been done on day 2. and your help too for answering the phone and helping me think of what to do next while stranded on the side of the road!
ReplyDeletethere are good people. sometimes you don't even have to look very hard to find them.
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ReplyDeleteThe post showed up twice; tried to delete one of them...
DeleteFollowing daily with reminiscent fondness for my trip halfway across the country, with all the good and a little not so good encounters. The positive definitely outweighed the negative.
ReplyDeleteRe: faith: There is a little piece of God in each one of us. Figured he'd hide it there in small pieces divided evenly among us, where no one would think to look. Some of us are more aware of its presence than others... and is revealed by our behaviors to each other. And when people who are a little aware of it get together, it grows more than the sum of its parts... It's just so hard when people are "less than enlightened" to remember they too are doing the best they can with what they have to work with.
All the best to you on your adventures, inner and outer.
Big Bro
We thought of (or did?) Inviting you along on (part of?) This trip, Chris. I know, for most people, getting away is hard. So I often don't ask, so as to not "rub it in" (and I get a little tired of all the rejection?)
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that "the four 'roadies'" offerred us their phone number, in case we wanted a local contact. Very thoughtful.
And then, yesterday, another guy we talked to at a service station offered us his yard etc. Lots of good people out here.
You just wouldn't know it listenin' to the likes of Romney or Cantor...
Greg and Heidi: I have no doubt that you'll encounter the best and worst of humanity in a small microcosm of reality. I know when I've ridden and be open to others I meet, the "spirit" in me gets a little bigger.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking your spirits will be growing huge on this trip!
It was a pleasure to offer a yard, bathroom and kitchen to properly welcome you both to the North Coast.
ReplyDeleteSmith River next time. Come after a rain storm and we'll whitewater raft it or summer time fun float.
My friends and I are enjoying your blog!
Rose is moving to Japan next week to teach English. Her unexpected adventure. I'm sure you both have had plenty of those.
until the next cosmic twist,
Adam Spencer (adventure!)
Thanks again, Adam.
ReplyDeleteIt was an auspicious beginning to the trip, for sure.
We're eating fish tacos in Cayucos and a guy who's daughter biked across a lot of the country just stopped and offered us some insider's info on the local area. And the amazing thing that always seems to be true is that if you showed me a crowd of people he's likely NOT the one who I would have picked out to be so friendly towards cyclists...very cool.