Tuesday 4 August

Today's ride was from Fort Bragg to Manchester. The ride was mostly along the coast. 

 Going down the road I saw a couple of cyclists had stopped for coffee so I pulled over. And what would be the first question you would ask?

Kalra and Maria. They are from Germany. They just graduated and will be going to University in September.

 And the answer to your question in, yes they are twins. 

All along the coast there are many places where there are arches, holes or natural bridges.

 In the town of Elk I met another group going South to San Francisco.

 The coast road here is between 100 and 200 feet above sea level. The problem is the road every few miles makes a series of hairpin turns down a steep grade then a hard right turn to a series of hairpin turns up a steep grade. The second set of these outside the town of Elk was the steepest road to date. Parts of the road were over 20% grade.

Note the hard left turn.

This right turn was so steep there were skid marks where cars had lost traction going around the corner.

 So, at this point a little commentary. This series of turns, I confess I walked up most of it. This evening, at the campground,  met up with the group of 14 and 15 year olds and I asked if anyone of them had cycled the hill thinking none of them did, and they said they all did.  I thought they were pulling my leg and one of the leaders told me they have a no walk policy. My hat is off to those kids, they may have stopped and started a few times going up the the hill they put their heart and sole into climbing the hill.

a few miles from the campground there was a mule dear doe and her fawn crossing the road. The fawn couldn't be more than a few days old because it was very unstable walking.