Day 9, Standish Hickey to Mackerricher SP, 42 Miles

 Today was the day I'd been dreading, going over Leggatt Hill--actually 2 big hills before the coast. I'd tried unsuccessfully to get a ride--good thing, I had no idea I'd be leaving the 101 for the 1. Someone might have said yes, and I'd ended up in the wrong place. Or maybe it'd been okay. More to come 

I set my alarm for 5. Yet, had terrible sleep. All night it sounded like car doors closing. Come to find out this a.m. that critters had gone throughout campground tearing the lids off the trash cans and making a mess.

Anyway, I'd tried to eat up most of my food in order to reduce weight. I had only tactical rations in my handlebar bag. Enough, I thought for climbing and then riding 28 miles to Westport where there was a market with sandwiches, etc. 

After leaving the campground at 7:50 I started out going downhill--boo--then at a turn for the 1, the climbing began. The climb took me less than an hour for about 1000 feet over approx 4 miles. The downhill took almost an hour. At mile 20 came the second hill. About 50 minutes, steeper, and harder. But stayed in the saddle. By 11 a.m. at Westport Market.

Where we tried to figure out bus thing. Saturday looked limited.  I kept going trying to think: How can I catch up a day? 

The coast, riding on iconic Highway 1. Traffic was minimal, the winds stiff, filling my ears. Swinging back and forth from hugging the coast, then away, gaining and losing ground. Suddenly, I stopped caring. I was just so exhausted from the climbing. Each day trying to circumvent the coast would involve sudden steep climbs: the ones I hate most of all.

After getting to camp, reality set in. I'd experience so much already, seen so much. It was time to take the only bus running tomorrow to Santa Rosa. My plan is to cycle to Petaluma, Warmshower hopefully, then rejoin ACA map in Fairfax. Pray for me, will update tomorrow.

at the top?

road ahead