In the morning, I took a picture of Courtney and Ian before they headed off. I would have left at the same time but ended up chatting with a campsite neighbour, Gilbert.
He said my flag was too low so I raised it to satisfy him. I thought it was fine, as it's more for parking lots than highway, where my blinkies and reflectors on my bags help me be seen. I took a picture of him with his "pride and joy". His tent was minimalist and was erected by his flag poles since his tent poles were stolen. Who steals tent poles? I said goodbye, flag adequately high, and headed off.
It wasn't long after leaving that I decided to enter my first tourist trap attraction, the Drive Thru Tree. There would be no milkshake or fries for this drive thru.
I offered an exchange with this guy Matt and his friend Mike to take video of them going through the tree if they'd do the same for me. It was $3 to enter, so I needed to milk the experience!
I bid Matt and Mike goodbye after taking their video and vicey versy.
Quite a few families talked to me before I left. I kept catching up to this family as they stopped and the father said I would beat them to San Francisco! This is them on a really big fallen redwood.
I passed through Miranda, population just over 200 I think.
And another tiny town. I spoke to a motorcycle traveling group about my solar panel and trike. Up the way, when they passed me, all 6 or 7 of them waved or honked or both as they passed me.
It was mostly a day of redwoods and getting in mileage. The Avenue of the Giants ended and it was lots of downhills and then up hills. It was a hot day and I saw Ian and Courtney in Garberville. I spoke to a guy at the supermarket about my solar panel. He gave his to his father and wanted his back. On one downhill, I lost my flag, but noticed too late, and the year had beat me down and sunset kept me from trying to go back up the hills to look for it. I guess having it up also meant more waving on speedy downhills and it coming off. But I almost lost it on my first day, so at least I got 3 weeks of use out of it! But just like my friend Dino who lost his video camera lens hood when he stuck the camera out my car window to shoot us going over a bridge in Montreal, my trike didn't look the sand without the flag. Might have to get another one even though I'm not sure how effective it is as far as visibility. People see my lights before they see my flag.
I finally got to Standish Hickey State Park and saw Jessie, a guy who used a Bivvy to camp. A Bivvy is just a little bigger than a sleeping bag. It's a sleeping-bag sized tent for all practical purposes. I set up, and saw Ian and Courtney who said the lake swim wasn't worth it. I did my laundry in the outdoor sink after a Spanish speaking family finished charging their cell phones with the outlet by the sink. Then off to bed hoping someone I knew behind me would find my flag on the side of the road. Maybe thd recumbent bike going the other way would have it and I could find him via Bent Riders Online. Or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment