Day 10, Mackerricher SP - stealth camping Marin County, 44 miles

 Sooo, last night, between calls, etc and flakey signal, it was decided I would abandon the coast, eclipse a few days, and hopefully set myself up for SF tomorrow. A few details.

1) It was a monster getting over Leggatt and the second hill. I got out and got on it, so that 1 was to the coast by 11 a.m. So that's not the problem. What I realized was how much daily climbing I was going to have to do, and I knew my timetable was way off 

2) Joy in the journey. It's been beautiful and difficult. There's seldom been other riders in the hike and bike. But in Standish Hickey the 2 guys there were totally wasted. The one guy just lay on the ground. He slept there all night long. 

Anyway, it's been hard to find joy in the journey. Each day is full of climbs, inland almost 100 degrees heat, and by the coast WIND. 

I've had to navigate with poor eyesight. I know, I came anyway despite the cataracts, and mostly it's worked out. 

Today, more difficult.

I arose at 4:30 and began to break camp. I ate a dry breakfast and left around 6 a.m. for Fort Bragg to catch the 65 bus, Ukiah to Santa Rosa. It was beautiful out there so early. I could hear seals barking on the rocks off the coast. There was a slight fog hanging over the bike path that wound me around the main part of town and along the water. 

I was very nervous for some reason. Mostly because I was going off route. Also I'd tried for a Warmshower in Petaluma and was declined by several hosts. So I was trying to figure things out. The bus left from south Fort Bragg at 7 a.m. 

At first a guy waiting for the bus said I would need cash. !! I counted out $22.50 in my wallet; he gave me a dollar to make $23. Come to find out credit card was fine. The driver said it would only be $2 if I understood him right. This was a LONG, WINDING JOURNEY. Not sure how many miles; I transferred in Ukiah. Another 60 miles to Santa Rosa where we pulled into downtown at 10:10. 

I unloaded, fixed front brakes a bit, loaded up bike, then off to look for potty and water. The ride to Petaluma was only 17 miles and supposedly the easiest thing ever. Sheesh.

I had turn by turn directions on, but forgot to start it. So wasn't talking to me. It took me 2 false attempts, on wrong paths, 6 wasted miles, and nearly an hour. PLUS, it was HOT. I was freaking out from the heat. I don't do well in the heat. Then . . .

I rode smack into a barricade. 

I didn't see it. I was busy getting turned back around, cursing fate, and my stupid self when BAM! I was actually lucky. The bike still worked, I wasn't knocked unconscious or thrown over the handlebars, but I jammed a finger. It immediately swelled up and turned purple. It's a little bent, but I can hang onto the bike and brake. That's the good news.

I made it (finally to Petaluma) about 1:30. It was fast and slow on the SMART Path because I was so dumb at the little turns. I had water, but no sandwich. I ate a pnut butter on corn tortilla ration from the other day. 

In Petaluma, I stopped first at a bike shop to check tires and oil my chain. I'd been having an awful squeak in some gears, not sure why. The girl there also gave me Intel on the county park I'm hidey camping at. The road was supposed to be hilly, 1000 feet of climbing. I wasn't sure how my finger would do.

Come to find out my bike is having issues. I don't think it's related to the crash. Maybe. And I didn't know until I was on the road to Stafford Lake, my front tension shifter is flabby. It keeps wanting to sink to baby gear, so I continually need to give it a pull. Very annoying for the 13 miles from Petaluma to the lake. I'll try to figure something out. 

My plan is to leave again super early, there's about 600 feet of climbing to Fairfax, where I can resume my ACA directions/map. Hopefully, tomorrow Golden Gate Bridge achieved.