Didn’t sleep well-need 2 pillows-Motel 6 refused to give me another 1-OH NO-looks like a truck ran over my face-eyes almost swollen shut.  Can still see policeman take 1 of our neighbors away.  Leave at 7:46-it’s 46 degrees-didn’t like Eureka.  Few miles off 101-start climb-knee hurts-get off & hike up hill.  Now in land of COWS-love it-COWS everywhere-terrible rd-but don’t care-sun is out & no rain.  More COWS than I’ve seen on entire trip.  Get to cute, adorable little town of Ferndale-have Loleta cheese factory nearby-impressive cemetery too.  30 m-eat lunch at cute Mex café in Rio Dell-Australian girl in same shorts comes in-name is Nickie.  Now on AVE OF THE GIANTS for 30 m.  Most fantastic rd so far on trip-RED WOOD TREES EVERYWHERE-very little traffic-put down new asphalt rd just for bikers-no real hills.  Still working on it-see rd closure in 1 mile.  Ask & find out they may let bikers through-workers help carry our bikes over.  Smoothie in Miranda-on to Phillipsville-no more rooms where Jean & Lynn are staying.  Get to Redway-ask for directions to Brass Rail-man tells us it’s a seedy place-we stay in seedy places but when we see it-it’s even below our standards.  Go a few more miles to Garberville & stay at Garberville Motel ($75).  Get food at grocery store for dinner.  Like it here a lot better than Motel 6-gave me another pillow.  Plan to meet up w/Jean tomorrow.  Have huge 5 m mt to climb-thinking about asking for a ride-not sure knee will take it.  Put ice on it (Whitney (dr) & Lynn (nurse) both said to do that. Take Aleve & sleeping pill.  Wonderful day of biking-Love California.

78 miles  10.8 mph (3-34 mph) 7 hrs 11 min biking time