Summer's on its way

Memorial Monday afternoon, May 30th
Weed, CA to McCloud, CA

Hot day. Left Weed around 3 pm, just an hours trip south to Mt. Shasta, the next town, to buy some groceries.

Railroad tracks and paths alongside that were barely a strip of dirt. I pulled my bike up a traction-less steep hill, only to steer it right back down.

Forget the path! I'm sticking to the railroad. At least the loose stones next to tracks are on level ground.

85 F. My brain felt mushy. If that's how hot feels, I'm so screwed when it gets 100 F in Texas.

How a mushy brain feels

5 pm. Restocked on bread and beans at the market. Also ate an entire Tubbb of ice cream. :)

Got Ulix a sticker of Gracie giraffe to keep him company.

7 pm. Checking NBA updates. How OKC you lose this series?

8:30 pm. Better head to McCloud before dark.

Farmer's market in Mt. Shasta

Sweating uphill in the dark. Holding my dinky flashlight phone in my right hand.

There are random pockets of hot air in the mountains. Then it gets balls cold on the way down. Riding brakes to cut the wind.

11 pm. Got into McCloud covered in cold sweat. Tomorrow I'm riding during the day, mushy heat or not, at least I can enjoy the ride down hill when it's hot.

Camped in an alley behind a market.

Tuesday, May 31st
McCloud, CA to Burney, CA

Sheep Heaven :)

Easy navigation. Scenic highway 89 for 35 miles. Small shoulder. Construction 8 wheeler trucks rolling by. Not too bad. The flatbed trucks do need to make some swerving to get around.

I keep hearing the "Bernie and Phyl's" furniture store jingle when I think of Burney. Quality, comfort, and price. That's nice!

Met a family on bicycle touring in the opposite direction. Daddy, mommy, and a baby girl in tow. Talked, talked, and talked. First tourists I've met, or they've met on this trip.

The head of the household was a hardcore touring enthusiast. Been all over Europe and Asia. Telling me places with far-out names that sounded neat to visit. I never heard of most of em. Sounded as cool to me as touring the rings of Saturn.

I forgot to take a picture. They have one of me though. It's all good.

How come both times I met travelers, they had babies and brought them along?

Sitting off the road in national forest, eating beans and feeding mosquitoes. Listening to music. No phone service.

Will be nice to loiter McDonald's in an hour. There's a casino in town too. I wonder if they have a buffet. Ulix, come. Let's go find out.

Supposed to be 90 F today, but it feels a lot better than yesterday's 85 F. I wonder why?

It got down to 40 F last night. Today I set out at 8 am, when it was fairly cool. The morning hours are pretty good for travel. Takes a few hours to pre-heat the oven.

View from Rt. 89

Won $12 at the Pit River Casino in Burney, CA off free play credits. Bringing down the house, again!

Big win. $12 from a 10 cent bet. Ding ding ding!

This sign is the best. Can't argue with that!