July 7th, 2009

Leggett, CA to MacKerricher Beach State Park

THE HIIL

We left camp and soon left Hwy 101 for good. We turned onto Hwy 1 and started to climb. So the book says that it is not that bad. Well, it wasn’t! Yes, it was long, but not the longest climb we did. Yes, it was steep, but not the steepest. It was curvy and had some flat spots. We did stop a couple of times (well maybe more like five times, buy hey, we are on a tandem and we are old!)

There is then a fast descent. I digress…

Going down a steep hill on a tandem is not fun. In fact, I hold the breaks so hard that my hands hurt. Single bikers (including Doug) get the reward of a fast and exhilarating decent. We get white knuckles and sore shoulders. Next time we do a long trip I plan to install a “drag break”. Maybe then we would enjoy descents and not burn up disk brakes (I’m getting ahead of myself)

After the descent there is a five mile stretch that is relatively flat. We ride fast and hard in the big front chain ring. What a rush but a mistake (see below)

We met Jan for lunch. Hey we had just conquered Legget Hill, let’s have a beer. Mistake. (see below)

The next hill on the map looks easy compared to the one we just did. Ev bonks. I was close to bonking. Doug makes it but is not having fun.

We make it to the coast again. Stay at another great site. Watch the sunset. Life is back to good.