We didn’t really make very good time today, although I guess technically we still beat the ghost (the pre-tour estimate).
We got another late start today. Max wasn’t doing a very good job being entertained by the TV while we shuttled everything downstairs to the parking lot, so he kind of wandered up and down the walkway. It was isolated enough to be safe and got hopefully not annoy other guests.
Once everything was ready, we had to get down the ramp from the hotel. Not just steep, there were 90 degree turns to avoid going off the cliff. I figured I could better control the bike riding than walking, so I gave my brakes a nice workout. Anne followed my lead.
The ride itself was frankly a little boring. Like yesterday, it rolled around the hills, without sustained climbs or descents. There were some nice views to look at, but nothing especially dramatic. We were against a moderate headwind, which probably didn’t help, but otherwise the weather was nice, in the 60s. Traffic early was a bit heavy, as weekenders headed back to San Francisco, but it got better later in the day.
We ran into the cyclist that we passed yesterday, and stopped to chat a bit. He complained about the gearing on his current bike (only 24 teeth in back, not nearly enough for climbing with a loaded bike). He also complemented Anne’s legs, for being strong. I think they’re pretty nice in general.
I guess we’re the talk of the campground. He said another cyclist was convinced that we had a dog in the Chariot, but he knew we had another kid in there.
We picked up lunch in Anchor Bay, then ate it in a county park north of Sea Ranch. By the time we finished, it was almost 2:00, but we had only covered 16 miles.
Sea Ranch itself is kind of weird. From the highway, it just kind of blends in, although you can see some interesting buildings. There are a ton of roads, though, with big private road no trespassing signs. It keeps going for a long time, with the same signs every half mile or so.
During a short but winding climb back up a river bank, we accumulated a few cars behind us, since the lead was (for once) unwilling to pass us on a blind turn. Somebody honked, but it turned out they were just trying to tell the lead pickup that his tailgate was open. For once we weren’t the cause. It was very exciting.
Near the end of the day, Ruth spotted a deer 25 feet into the woods. Then Anne spotted another, this time an antlered buck, around the next bend.
We knew there would be no restaurant near the hotel tonight, the Fort Ross Lodge, but there would be a market across the street. When we checked in, at about 5:10, they said the market closed at 6. Just enough time to drop off the bikes, throw on some street shoes, and go shopping for a microwavable dinner.
The market had a bunch of food, but more in the snacky variety. We decided to get a packet of hot dogs and some buns for everybody. They didn’t have ketchup, so we got a can of chili instead. We didn’t have any plates, so we adapted. We used our collapsible silicon Tupperware thingie to nuke the chili, then scooped it up with the hot dogs. We’re classy people.
After dinner, we went for walk in the paths behind the hotel. Anne was worried about falling off a cliff, but then when we got close to one she was the one who kept going further. Ruth spotted another pair of deer tromping about.
We keep getting closer to San Francisco. We’ve been seeing distance signs since entering California, and now it’s below 100 miles. I think it’s making me feel like we’re closer to finishing than we really are. After all, San Diego is a lot further south.
Tomorrow’s ride is a similar distance and total climb, but it looks like it’s grouped into some more substantial climbs. I’ll probably think otherwise in the middle of it, but right now it sounds nice.