Day of Rest

Road into Yreka

Saturday, May 28th
Ashland, OR to Yreka, CA

On rest days, we hike uphill and sit the rides down. Crossing mountains into California. 40 miles.

My knees need a rest. So does Ulix.

Many douchebaggy bicyclists in spandex passed me. Only a few said 'hi'. Of the others, if they said anything it was always snidely telling me my pack was heavy, as they go. Like I don't belong with their skinny weekend wheels.

At the top of the climb, a cocky man waiting for his cycling partner looked at me pushing my bicycle, screwing his face up like I was a monkey in a clown suit. I waved.

He didn't say hi, but asked me if I was making good time. I told him it's my day of rest. He acted like what I said explained everything, too afraid to admit not understanding even if what I said made no sense, like it made any sense to him.

On the way up, another bicyclist who passed earlier was aggrieved on his way back that I was on his incoming traffic shoulder moving at walking speed. He made a point to occupy the driving lane, slow down and lecture me without returning my greeting. "You really need to ride on the other side."

He thinks it's a danger to him that I'm riding toward him on the shoulder and he has to pass me, looking over his shoulder for cars behind him. But it's the exact same as passing a slow rider moving in the same direction, or a pedestrian, or stopped car. Other than him, the shoulder was empty the whole way.

I'm facing incoming traffic for safety because there is hardly any shoulder and I have a heavy, wide load that I'm moving uphill. He only thinks about himself, believes all the rules of the road are written for him. I'm inconveniencing him like he owns the road.

Fucking bicyclists from Whole-Foods-eating Ashland. This town doesn't even have a Safeway or a Walmart.

Emigrant Lake

Morning camp. Off road at the entrance to Emigrant Lake campground near Ashland, OR.

Riding old highway 99.

Leaving Oregon. See ya alligator.

Riding down I-5 South in California. It's legal unless signs are posted.

Sooooo fun! All downhill. Easy, smooth pavement, wide breakdown lane, fast and effortless. Just be careful of unexpected gusts of wind that can throw your bike off balance.

Hammock at a rest area off I-5 in California. Took a long afternoon nap. Randolph C. Collier Northbound and Southbound Rest Area

Ulix been acting all too-cool-for-me since we got into the country of California.

S'up?

Afternoon of rest.

Mountainy road into Yreka, CA.

Blind turns and no shoulder going uphill. Fast cars. My nightmare vistas made real.

I walked through the pass without incident. But I bonked on the side of the road after making the climb.

Low blood sugar, drenched in sweat. Sat eating a brick of Ramen, trying to get my head straight. A nice motorcyclist gave me a bottle of sweetened iced tea and it helped kick start my digestion.

Had a nice ride into town. Yreka, CA.

A Walmart. A McDonald's. No buffets. But thankfully it's not an Ashland.

Services on the way were scant. But we made it, Ulix!

Siskiyou county valley.

Mt. Shasta in the distance.