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Steve & Marilyn & Mark drove to SanFran to meet us. Lots of hugs & photos. Then hurrying of to the bike shop to have my bike shipped home.
Armed with a SanFrancisco street map & tips from locals I negotiated the hills & didn't die in city traffic...a major triumph in my book.
Went out to a nice restaurant & then back to Skinners' beautiful home in Sacramento. Spent the next 2 days sightseeing in Old Sacramento & the Cal State fair and hanging out together.
Friday, Steve had to work & Marilyn took us to the airport.
All was well till we got to Chicago, where there were major thunderstorms (welcome to the mid-west!). Our flight to BWI was delayed a couple hours and finally cancelled around midnight.
Slept (sort of) in the terminal. Actually, I had a good nap since my sleeping bag & thermarest were in my carry-ons. No, I was not too proud to spread 'em out & catch a few Z's.
Today, we're booked on an evening flight & on stand-by for one this morning..It ain't over till the fat lady sings!
It was a difficult last day, filled with unexpected wind & hills, the chaos of meeting up with family & friends, & the mixed emotions of accomplishing a goal & ending an adventure. Hasty goodbyes didn't seem like enough.
Special thanks to Mark for letting me take this trip & to Sharon for her friendship & steadfastness along the way. What a joy to have her for a companion.
All for now, but I'll post some wrap-up thoughts & photos later.
Left Sacramento via the American River Bike path. The river is beautiful & clear. Along it there is a wide variety of wildlife- including mountain lions (which we didn't see), wild turkeys, quail, scrub jays, a small herron I need to look up, & yellowbilled magpie (which has incredible green tailfeathers).
The bike trail connects to others along the way. One went through UC Davis & another parallel to the 6 lane I-80 over the Yolo Causway. (there's also a Yolo County- hope it's named for someone VERY important)
River valley, metro/interstate, a bit of desert, & then acres of orchards near Winters CA with the Pleasants Ridge as a backdrop.
This afternoon Piri & her family surprised us with a quick visit on their way to their own CA vacation. A little later, Sharon's family arrived. After San Francisco, they continue on to the beach, Yosemite & Sequoias for another week.
Camping tonight at a county park along the Putah creek. (can't they come up with better names?) Here there be peacocks!
We got a tip on a short cut & left Silver Lake via the Mormon Emmigrant Trail. 8,000 ft.
Soon we were in Placerville (plasser ville) at a mere 3,000 ft.
We decided to combine two short days & go all the way to Sacramento (near sea level!) so we could have a day off with our friends Steve & Marilyn Skinner.
That was our longest day (84 mi), & even though we went down much of the time it was hot & there were plenty of hills to climb as well. It was well worth it to be with them!!!
Friday we left Lake Tahoe on Rte 89 through Luther Pass & along the Carson River valley, on up to Carson Pass in the Carson Range of the Sierra Nevada Mts. All are named for Kit Carson a scout for Lt? Fremont.
Spring comes late here & the wild flowers are blooming everywhere. Took our lunch break on the Pacific Crest trail atop Carson Pass & finally got to play in the snow. Then cycled a little farther past Caples Lake to campground at Silver Lake where we enjoyed the lake & creek & more beautiful sunny weather.
After much desert, sagebrush & beige, entering the mountains at Tahoe was so refreshing. Half the lake is NV & half is California. The water is crystal clear except for the beach in South Lake Tahoe & an invasion of non-native clams that threatens to cloud the water with algae.
We took a day off & lounged at the beach. Sharons & Edwin went kayaking & Sharon's sister, Ruth, drove all the way from Seattle to visit.
Passed through Dayton (the first gold strike in NV). Virginia City & the Comstock Lode are nearby. They stripped the forests to near zero for building etc. So the forests you see now are young.
Stayed with another wonderful wam shower host- Jodie Scott in Carson City Tuesday night. She did a few XC bike tours. Wonderful to meet her & play with her kitties.
Weds. Was short on miles, but a long haul up Spooner Pass to Lake Tahoe. It is gorgeous! Tomorrow will be beach & water day...no biking.
Rate the state-
Roads- okay, but another state with unpredicable shoulders.
Drivers- not great, or maybe it was just the heavy traffic we had on the western end of the state.
Scenery- a lot of barren hills & wide empty valleys till we got to Tahoe. Like other desert states you have to be alert for the beauty. Glad we had the truck & could skim some of it.
Wildlife- new bird- Stellers Jay. Jackrabbits, supposedly bear & elk.
Casinos big & small- even in a convenience store
