Seattle to San Francisco
Day 10 Harris Beach State Park to
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, CA

Welcome to California I left camp around 8:30 a.m. and cycled South to the California Border. Reaching California, was a major milestone. So, I stopped for the obligatory photo at the State line. Shortly after that, I was waived through the California Agricultural Inspection Station. This is a customs like operation designed to protect California agriculture from diseases and infestations. I passed through a long flat valley before reaching Crescent City. At Crescent City I bought groceries for the night.

Redwood

My guidebook describes Route 101 South of Crescent City as follows:

"Shift low, grip your handlebars and grit your teeth. The next 17.5 miles are over some of California's most hair raising terrain."

Based on this I had prepared myself for the worst. Fortunately, construction made this road a whole lot easier. When I got to the base of the hill, the highway department had narrowed the road as a traffic calming measure. I simply rode inside the cones. At the construction site, the flag person told me to go ahead and ride through the work lane. Once past the construction, the construction limited the traffic that would pass me. I climbed 1100 feet in the redwoods.

I descended to the sea. At Klamath, I was greeted by a giant Paul Bunyon and Blue, his ox. After Klamath, I climbed through more construction. This time, they were resurfacing. I got bits of tar stuck everywhere. I turned off 101 (always a treat) onto Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. This road was lined with redwoods. I am in awe of these magnificent trees. The sight of them is humbling.

Paul Bunyon and Babe

Roosevelt elk roam the campground.

I reached Prairie Creek. I set up camp and wandered off to see the resident herd of Roosevelt Elk and the redwood trees. This is bear country. So we have bear lockers at the campsites. Today's mileage is 65.

Continue to Day 11

Introduction
Day 1 Sea-Tac to somewhere West of McCleary, WA
Day 2 McCleary, to Twin Harbors State Park, WA
Day 3 Twin Harbors State park to Bush Pioneer County Park, WA
Day 4 Bush Pioneer County Park, WA to Cannon Beach, OR
Day 5 Cannon Beach to Cape Lookout State Park, OR
Day 6 Cape Lookout State Park to Beverly Beach State Park, OR
Day 7 Beverly Beach State Park to Jesse E. Honeyman State Park OR
Day 8 Jesse E. Honeyman State Park, OR to Bullards Beach State Park, OR
Day 9 Bullard Beach State Park, to Harris Beach OR
Day 10 Harris Beach State Park to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, CA
Day 11 Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park to Eureka, CA
Day 12 Eureka to Marin Garden Club Grove, CA
Day 13 Marin Garden Club Grove to Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area, CA
Day 14, Standish-Hickey Recreation Area to Van Damme State Park, CA
Day 15 Van Damme State Park to Salt Point State Park, CA
Day 16 Salt Point State Park to Samuel P. Taylor State Park, CA
Day 17 Samuel P. Taylor State Park to San Francisco, CA
Epilogue