Day 19 (delayed) report - Ferndale to Miranda via The Loast coast

Total Miles 79.7 (although map says a couple more - GPS was struggling in the redwoods)
Average Speed 10.7mph
Total Ascent 2399m

Well, I was hoping for a little warm up before the big climbs, but no, not to be. All of 1 minute and 36 seconds into my ride (I looked!) the road turned to the left sharply and the incline was significant. On the highways and main roads the incline is never more that 7% or so - the hills can grind on for a while but you can just get into a rhythm and churn it out. This first climb of the day already had me in totally different territory. All the posts before about tough climbs can go into the "I was but a child then" category. This was 6mph and fighting for it all the way. I was very glad of the minimal traffic because it meant I could be a little naughty and take the shallowest line on all the switchbacks/hairpins. I could hear anything that was coming anyway so it was safe enough...and necessary.

On the first climb of the day I was fresh with plenty of energy so made it up there ok without requirement for a stop. So now onto a descent - just as steep and windy - and this was when I noticed the bad road surfaces. Pot-holes a plenty, cracks, gravel. Steep, tight descent plus bad road = descending is almost as nasty as climbing - come on! at least I could pat myself on the back about upgrading my wheels to Shimanooooo touring 36 spokers for this trip. They took a beating and didn't complain a bit.

I picked my way down what I expected was "The Wall" and didn't fancy my chances of making it up if I had been going the other way.

The town of Capetown was very small and went past in an instant. Little did I know that the next climb of the day was upon me - and this one was even steeper! I had to get off halfway up to catch my breath. Now, this is not always a good strategy with clip in pedals. A hill start is not easy at the best of times so I had to wait until a relatively flat part so I knew I could get going again. Otherwise, you stop-you walk.

Somehow I made it up climb two and wasn't too pleased to read that I had not quite done 1000m climb yet (this was about 16 miles into the ride) so had not yet done half of the climbing!
Now, however I did make it to the Lost coast...

It was nice enough, but pretty much like what I'd been used to (spoiled eh?!). The difference was I had this pretty much all to myself. Also,  you never know unless you go!

So the next stage was relatively flat. First to a town called Petrolia (30 miles into the ride)- lunch, snack, water (can of fat coke too!) stop. I met a guy there called Gib and he said the grades got a lot steadier from now on. this made me feel a little better...but there is a grave danger in taking anything for granted. I'd only mustered a pitiful 10mph so far and was already looking at my clock for sunlight. Time to get a move on.

A little rest on the way

The valley ride took me another 15 miles to honeydew (45 miles into the ride). Second snack stop. Now the endless hill would begin. Now, usually in North America the names of towns etc do pretty much what is says on the tin (I was a little concerned about Bear river earlier in the day for example!) But endless hill cant be accurate. It nearly was!

I started up and although the gradient was a little shallower it was still pretty painful. After a little while a guy shouted out of his truck window "Good luck" with a big grin on his face. A genuine well-wish? or spiteful humour? Either way it motivated me to show him!

I needed a couple of stops on the way up this time - carefully chosen as usual.

 The views were going some way to easing the pain! I did see two vultures, er, bald eagles or some sort of bird of prey circling again - they are wasting their time on me! For eventually, even the endless hill does actually end.

However, this does mean the endless, steep, sharp winding, bone shaking, wheel not breaking because I upgrade descent begins. No respite.. until - I must've been congratulating myself for the umpteenth time that day on my new wheels when I was broken out of my trance - "Oh - Oh Mr Peevley" (remember the hear bear bunch?) That's a Redwood!!

This was the quietest and best grove yet!

So, you know already that I had to make do with Micro meals that night... but it was washed down with some lucky 13..

You little beauty!!!