by Liz

Day’s mileage : 15

Running total : 979

This rest day hasn’t had much rest in it so far. It’s been full of logistics like:

Getting the bikes serviced (thanks Adam at Revolution Bicycles).

Doing the food shopping.

Picking up Cathy’s rental bike.

Not doing the laundry because, while we thought there was a washing machine and dryer here when we booked it, there is in fact neither (our mistake). 

Cathy is in the yoga lounge at San Francisco airport awaiting her onward flight to McKinleyville. She gets in at 23:15 so it’s going to be a late night, but tomorrow is just 36 miles so we’ll be fine.

I’m planning to make some changes to how I write the blog, when it’s my turn. You wouldn’t think it would take long to write a few paragraphs but when I turn the light out at 11.30pm, with the alarm set for 6.30am and 50 more miles to ride the next day, I know it’s too late for my own good. So less perfectionism and more brevity are on the cards. 

Highlights of today: Adam at the bike shop. Sam and Crystal at the bike rental. Sunshine after the morning’s rain. Finally getting photos to send to Jesse of the cool postal delivery system they have here. Cathy’s travel working so far. Chatting with Helen. Finding she’s right on it with preparations for her house move this week. Sitting with my feet up now and a cup of tea. Our bedroom here looking out on a sunny jungle. The Terry’s chocolate orange the owners of the AirBnB left for us. Sam offering to take us to the airport to meet Taffa, the best and kindest ❤️

Lowlights: cycling in the rain this morning. Drivers that land on their horns 😡 

Today’s smell: the bike shop (rubber!)
Today’s sound: the cockerels crowing round the back

Philip says he doesn’t want this trip to end. I don’t either.

Additional notes

Rest day in McKinleyville, Humboldt county, CA.

Weather: Drizzle as we rode to Arcata. Sunny after we did the shopping, with a cold wind.

Things we did: We had a slow, leisurely start before the day got busier. I called my mother. Cathy messaged with a photo of herself and her panniers at Forest Hill Station, on her way to the airport, and she stayed in touch all day. Rode to Arcata at 9.15 to get our bikes serviced. We walked to Safeway in Arcata and did our shopping, this time with Cathy in mind. We were back at the house at 1.05 and left again at 1.25 to collect Cathy’s rental bike. Philip pushed his bike so we could ride back together. It was an hour’s walk. We were there for about an hour then rode home. I wasn’t that keen on the bike. I wrote the blog in a simpler way, as it’s been taking me too long. I had a chat with Helen, ready to move house. We had a sleep as we’ll be late to bed this evening. I made lemon scones (from a packet at the house) to say thank you to Sam for the lift to the airport. He collected us at 11pm, we scooped up Cathy and her scrumple and were in bed by midnight.

Breakfast: The Wildflower Café. I had an apple pancake and Philip had small pancakes with egg and cheese. They were quite hard work.

Lunch spot: We didn’t need lunch.

Dinner, made by Philip: Salmon, mashed potato and vegetables. Strawberries, banana and yogurt. Terry’s chocolate orange from the welcome basket.

Wildlife: Too busy to notice.

Plants: Ditto.

Things we saw: A market with live music in Arcata. The postman on his delivery round near Sam’s – I was able to get some photos.

People we spoke to or saw: Adam, the gentle bike shop assistant, who serviced our bikes. Sam and his wife Crystal, very warm and friendly.

Incidents: We weren’t anticipating a very restful rest day as there was a lot to do. Cathy’s photo of her panniers in the laundry bag at the airport, looked like a little scrumpled bag of rubbish. I felt fragile as usual on rest days, troubled by the fact it was raining and I was riding in my evening clothes, which have to stay dry. On the way out of McKinleyville I misread the road and a driver landed on his horn; I felt shaken. We did a lot of walking and that’s something which isn’t so easy now. Walking to Sam’s, another driver landed on his horn for no reason whatsoever. Cathy had hours to wait at SFO and took a train one stop to explore but found herself walking along the 101 in a howling gale :(. After that she went to the yoga lounge which was better.

Shopping: Safeway, Arcata.

Accommodation: Our comfy, light house in McKinleyville.

Today’s sound: The cockerels behind the house.

Today’s smell: Rubber in the bike shop.

Special moments: It stopped raining. Adam in the bike shop was sweet. When we woke from our nap Sam had messaged to say he would take us to the airport to meet Cathy at 11.30pm, a great relief. A beautiful sunset from our bedroom. We felt all ready for Cathy to join us and she had prepared really well. After so many months of planning, this was actually about to happen.

Positive experience from my journal: Having time to relax after 4pm.

Appreciation from my journal: Looking after myself and getting some rest today. Moving from feeling fragile to doing much better.

Blog comment from Jenny: ‘Still really enjoying your blog and your trip vicariously’.

Social media replies from Clive Brooker and Colin Darling.

Mementos: Safeway receipt, Arcata. Revolution Bicycles receipt and business card, Arcata.