It’s drizzling again-breakfast is served at 8:00.  Have waffles-walk bikes carefully down big hill.  More hills-at least wind is at our backs. This is going to be brief–we didn’t see ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE FOG-MORE FOG-ALL DAY. We are on narrow rds w/little or NO shoulders. Hope cars can see my orange jacket. A biker passes & says too bad-ocean views are fantastic along this rd–not coming back to see. See COW signs–next 9 miles-cross numerous cattle guards. What a joke-MT straight up on left-cliff to ocean straight down on rt. A cow could tumble right off one cliff across the little rd & into the ocean! I just need to concentrate so I don’t fall off the cliff. Get to Manchester for lunch-sun is out for 1st time-1 has vegan sandwich & the other clam chowder. Take a delicious looking gluten free muffin-UG-give it to the healthy one. As soon as we leave for yet another climb-the FOG is back. Get to Bodega-go to tourist info-she calls for CHEAP motels-go to Bodego Inn ($95). We all arrive at same time–walk bikes up dirt hill to Inn. Nice, clean w/flowers outside room & view of the ocean-look at it for 2 min. Eat & have map rap meeting-Jean says we climbed 4.400 ft today-my body is aware of that. Says tomorrow will be short-40 m-raise my hands in the air-YEA! Looks again-no it will be over 60-BOO.
64 MILES 10.5 MPH (3-39MPH) 6 HRS 2 MIN BT 4,400 FT ELEVATION

Look out window-rose bushes blowing like crazy-drizzling-don’t want to leave.  Leader has on rain gear-me too.  Head wind most of day-except when we are climbing & trees protect us.  U-HOO-see Jean at camp site-ride around in circles.  She goes back to 101-Armand finds gravel path.  U-HOO-see Lynn at street corner-U-Hoo-here comes Jean.  Eat breakfast at Ft. Bragg.  Slow going-wind is a killer.  Armand waiting at top of hill-see some birds fly away.  Man tells us they’re homing pigeons-he brings them up here for exercise–also competes.  Longest race was over 500 m–I don’t think I can find my way home without my leader.  Stop in Elk at grocery store for lunch-in walks Jean–later here comes Lynn.  They give us a box to hold on our laps-chili & chips & root beer.  Starts to rain again-ask man if it’s all down hill now.  Oh-NO-hate to tell you but the steepest grade (25%) on the entire Pacific Coast is coming up-but it’s only 1/2 m.  We all end up walking except for Armand–I think it’s because he’s a vegetarian.  After 27 m we get to Point Arena-only 2 motels in town.  The Wharf Masters ($130) is a m out of town & by the ocean.  Unbelievable-steepest uphill to lobby I’ve ever seen-we all walk our bikes (except for 1).  Jean has found another great place-huge bath tub & lady washes our clothes for free.  Eat pizza for dinner.  Another day of 4,800 ft elevation.  Have trouble walking up steps to room.

Slept till 8-counting on a short day-want to catch ride up mt.  Stayed on 101-very little traffic-bike route didn’t look good.  Get to Leggett (pop 123)-hungry-need to find a ride.  Stop at small (very small) old gas station (like you’d find in west TX).  How far to town? This IS the town!!  Do you know anyone I can pay $20 to take me to the top? NO!!!!  Have Gatorade & 2 bags of chips-sitting on ground-looking pathetic–big dog walks over to share my chips.  ATTITUDE-I NEED AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT.  Leader is mounting up-that’s my clue.  Now off 101-beginning of 1-Narrow, steep, no shoulder, very winding & curvy.  Turtle rides again-5 m to top-going down riding brakes-going faster than speed limit for cars.  Luckily very few cars on rd.  Oh-NO-Another 3 m climb-why am I doing this?  Finally get to the ocean & Westport Inn ($88) @ 3:30.  Inn says closed but key is in the door.  Jean is great at finding us places to stay.  Man has caregiver who is trying to open Inn again.  Room is very clean-have electric fire place-eat at little market across street.  Jean says we climbed 4,800 ft.  Have map meeting-compare adventures-& knees-Lynn’s look much worse than mine.  We also agree that we need different bikes w/lower gears.  WE ARE WORKING WAY TOO HARD.  WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO EVEN BE HERE.  Tomorrow is another day.

53 MILES  9.8 MPH (3-35 MPH) 5 HRS 20 MIN BIKING TIME  4,800 FT OF ELEVATION