June 29, 2002

Just trying to get out of California

SR-139 MILE 34.5 MODOC COUNTY, CA - Adin will officially be the last time I camp in a city park--at least one with grass in it. I woke up to pee around 04:00 and heard sprinklers going. Thinking that it sounded like bad news I moved my tent and bike over where the grass didn't look so green. Close but no cigar, an hour later: "glug, glug, glug, cur-chunk, chunk, chunk", that part got watered too. So I moved the bike and tent again, this time onto a patch of dirt between the restrooms and baseball field. Soaking wet I changed into dry clothes and managed to get back to sleep.

The second time I woke up was under much more pleasant circumstances. A bit of precision sleeping-in had allowed my stuff to dry, and put me right on track to be at the Frosty when it opened at 09:00. I got down to the general store, picked up a couple of things (the owner remembered us from last summer) then went to get my breakfast on.

My standard cycling breakfast consists of two eggs, hashbrowns, toast, and a short stack of pancakes. I remembered the Frosty doing a quality breakfast and I wasn't disappointed. The only thing I will say is that I miss midwest prices. In a small town in Iowa or Ohio you could get that same breakfast and cup of coffee for $5.

I moseyed on out of town a little after 10:00 and headed out on a county road, it's a much more gradual climb that meets back up with 139. It's a long straight road with almost no traffic, perfect for riding but it gets a little boring. I practiced playing the harmonica, listened to the one radio station I could get, really what ever I could think of to stay occupied.

The knee's doing alright, both my mom and a nurse on the list recommend icing it. Good advice (like you can argue with your mom AND a nurse), now I've just got to find some ice. I guess I'll keep my eye out for creeks.

The afternoon was great, I had a tail wind all the way up the hill going to meet 139. Coming down the hill was another story, it was all head winds. I guess I'm maturing as a rider, the wind didn't really bother me. It starts blowing, just put it in a lower gear and keep on pedaling. Come to a hill, just put it in a lower gear and keep on pedaling. Maybe riding 4000 miles on an overly ambitious schedule will put you in that mind frame.

Random Thoughts (Feel free to skip on down):

  • Fruit Newtons: never as good as they look, no matter what flavor. Save your money.
  • I don't mean to speak ill of a tailwind but, moving the same speed as the air, you sure do get hot.
  • Sunglasses: Man they're nice. How did I ride without them?
  • New marketing campaign for Wet-Wipes: They make showering once a week bearable.

I think I'm about 40-50 miles from Klamath Falls, barring the unforeseen I'll get in there tomorrow. All I really need to do is hit a bike shop and get some lube on my shifter cables. Then it's over into the Willamette Valley and North.

Posted by drewish at June 29, 2002 12:00 PM

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