Final Stage: Dipping into my bag of courage!

Last day from Bodega Bay to Sausalito met us with climbs are quads could barely overcome. From steep and short with little descending in between to long and gradual that forced you to find your tempo and maintain it. I had the honor of leading the group into the city with my GPS2009 navigation system (aka writing all the turns on a strip of paper and then taping it to my top tube) with no wrong turns along the way! Some pretty attractive bike paths along the way, but none too attractive than the riders on them. Welcome to San Francisco!!

The final count: 786 miles for me (about 820 for Gia b/c she didn't have to sag,wah)

Quad measurement : 21" even (somehow I lost a 1/4 in, probably on the climb above)

Things I've learned from road signage:

"Passing lane 1 mile" means you are starting a climb

"Vista point 1/2 mile" means you are almost done with the climb

"20 mph slow w/curve symbol" means sweet descent ahead, don't hit your brakes

7% grade with semi-truck symbol sloping down means "yeah! I just did that!"

Things I've learned from Paolo:

"I'm feeling mellow today" means he's going to hammer

"My sleep was marginal last night" means he's going to hammer

"I'm going to take it easy today" means he's going to hammer

But what can I say? HIS quads are huge and he's yet again conquered another ride on his fixed gear. A reminder that age doesn't mean you have to get older. 

It was a great journey with unforgettable terrain, beautiful views, and refreshing company. Riding your bike for this long is kinda like the road of life itself: sometimes it sucks, sometimes it's exciting, scary, frustrating, but at the end of the day it's just a blessing to be alive to do it all over again. 

A slight setback turns to conquering switchbacks!

Day 9-10-and 11: from Scotia to Bodega Bay...

There were 4 mile climbs, hairpin turns, sweeping descents, and a whole lot of chamois butter over the last 3 days.

Entering California brought steeper climbs like the Leggett hill. On day 9 I completed the route but with wincing knee cap pain caused from all the cumulative riding.

Day 10 we awoke in Leggett to tackle it's fabled "hill". I slammed some ibuprofen and enjoyed the climb over 1800 feet. It was spectacular. However, the pain didn't stop so I sagged the rest of the way in the mothership motorhome that's been following us all this time. Out of all the terrain, hills, and weather, choosing to rest was the hardest thing.

Day 11 was a spicy 99 miles from Mendecino to Bodega Bay, CA. I can't upload pictures right now because of no service, but this was the most beautiful coastline vistas of the entire trip. So beautiful that tears came to my eyes not from the grade of the pavement but from the no shoulder "I'm on the edge of the world" winding road we were riding. It was stunning. Took my breath away but not enough for me not to finish. A great comeback.

Day 12 (today) knee is feeling great and we have a 64 mile route to our final destination Sausalito, CA.

More soon! Particularly pics from the GG bridge!

A big man meets big quads in the Redwood Forest..

Current mileage : 540

Quad measurement (above the tan-line, mid quad) : 21.25 in

# of huge, lumberjacks welcoming us to the forest with blue bull : 1

Day 7 had us traveling 62 miles from Crescent City to the Inn at Trinidad. Like Joseph and Mary of biblical stories past, we rolled in to the completely full Inn tired and hungry. However, our version found us with room reservations, a roll away bed, and complete coverage of the Tour de France. Excellent. After a quick in house bib cleaning (where are the soigneurs!?) Seeing the Spaniard Alberto Contador dance his way thru the Alps to secure the yellow jersey was just what we needed on our ride today. 

Day 8 (today) Trinidad to Scotia Inn, most haunted and creepy place in Humboldt County. We're the only guests and I KNOW there are friggin' ghosts here. Way to many mysterious sounds that I'm not going to explore (that's how horror movies start!).  My legs are getting sore, like REALLY sore, and there's much more climbing to be had tomorrow. Word on the Round Table the climbs are gradual but long. Which suits me better than the steep quad busting crap we climbed today. 

What would Paolo do when faced with 7 sharp climbs of about 100-300ft each? Take the alternate route on 101. Proving that he DOES have some common sense left, but he's still on the fixed gear plus he's already done the needles I did on a fixed gear (and a tandem) with not so pleasant results. Live and learn. 

DOWN the OR coast and UP the stairs in style

Day 4, 5, and 6 have been beautiful at times, difficult at others, and epic in every way. 

Day 4: Florence to Bandon : 75 miles, one long bridge, and about 5K of climbing...

Umm most memorable: the climbing road was called 7 Devils and it took me climbing up Devil #4 to realize why they called it that...With our fearless fixed gear leader still out with fever and stomach cramps I paid homage to him and did long pulls and climbs in the big ring. 

Day 5: Bandon to Gold Beach : 56 miles and one fantastic burger. 

Well, I paid for ridiculous climbing techniques, and am dealing with a sore knee and Gia pulled her achilles. However, the quad bulging properties make it all worth it. 

We stayed at the posh and secluded Tu Tu Tun lodge, posed for the paparazzi before relaxing poolside in an unsuccessful effort to even out the tan lines. 

Day 6 (today): 66.5 miles from Gold Beach and into sunny Crescent City, CA! Less climbing than expected and practically no sun except for when we took the picture below. We refueled in Brookings at a fantastic coffee shop that was on top of an art gallery, fully equipped with a handicap chair/stair climber as seen in the popular Pixar movie "UP". A quick ride and a quick 30 miles later we found ourselves in the Pacific ocean, getting a much needed ice bath from it's dark and churning waters. 

What would Paolo do? Swim about 25 yards out, screaming that he needs a blog photo taken and when it's not happening come inside with seaweed draped all over his body before depositing it on the sauna rocks and before he was physically removed from the sauna by fellow traveler, Joey. Who stated, "He acts like a damn 2 year old!"

Whining in haiku:

knee pain go away!

friggin' big climbs are ahead

dude! check out the seals

Pressing the limits of digestion

Day 2: Tillamook to Otter Rock, suggested mileage 61, actual mileage 84...5000ft climbing and yes my legs were feeling it. A late start had us missing the rain and a couple of scenic loops added on miles and centimeters to my quads. We encountered a 4 mile climb that brought us to cloud level and whales escorted us to our lodging at Otter Rock.

Day 3; mileage was less only 59 and climbing that was gradual and views that were stunning. We caught a tailwind that was successful in bringing up the avg speed and a little bit of breakfast in the paceline.

Again, the 'mammoths of the sea' were escorting us. Also took some well deserved stretches viewing the huge sanddunes below.

My stomach is still gurgling thinking about it,but we also enjoyed a buggy ride in the dunes.

Arrived in Florence 59miles later, Paolo special ordered off the menu and apparently pissed the cook off in the process...

Recap in Haiku:
Climbing legs turned on
Saw the Devil's punch bowl
Stuck on toilet bowl

day 1-0: thor god of thunder welcomes us to oregon

Day 0: Astoria, OR. Hometown of of travelmate and yogi badass, Gioconda. After an espresso and quick spin around the ol' 'hood, we climbed to the Astoria Column. Pictured here and the highest point in the town.

What would Paolo do? Climb it in his Chaco's

Day 1: to Tillamook, OR. 66 miles, 5486ft of climbing.it was a downpoar for about 60 of it.

What would Paolo do/say? "I need to check my derailleur, my bikes not shifting right"

More soon! Typing by blackberry

A champion is born...

On Saturday, I leave at a painfully early hour to travel to Astoria, OR to embark on an epic journey of suffering, accomplishment, and quad-building cycling down the west coast...

OUR end point: San Francisco, CA
Total days: 12
Total miles covered: 778
Total elevation climbed: 76,435 ft

The characters: me, Paolo (owner of Castle Hill), Gia (yoga instructor), Tom Green (friend to all)

Stay updated by subscribing and you'll get a taste of my experience with:
pictures!
videos!
quad measurements & tanline progression!
tales of courage!
maps!
whining in haiku!

Not to mention a "what would Paolo do?" commentary to educate us all on how to be authentically "euro". And while I might not be a champion like this guy I'll at least come away with some amazing stories.

"WHAT WOULD PAOLO DO?" do this ride on his fixed gear