A Bump in the Road - Unexpected down time in Denver :-(

Sunday, August 22 started out as a beautiful day with a planned ride to the top of Mt. Evans.  It is the highest paved road in the US with gorgeous sites and fun roads with lots of twists, turns and switchbacks.  We rode the '42 to the parking lot at the top of Mt. Evans which is 14,130' above sea level.  The altitude and scenery left us breathless.  Because of oxygen deprivation ;-) (our living room is 8' above sea level), we opted out of the hike that would take us to the summit at 14,270' - we had met our goal!  We were treated to beautiful views and Mountain goats made an appearance to make it even more special.

Mt. Evans

Mom & Kid

View from Mt. Evans - the real "Rocky Mountain High"

After coming off the mountain we were riding through Bear Creek Canyon on the way to our camper.  While entering a curve, the back brake failed and we were unable to negotiate the curve and ran off the road into a ditch.  We were slowing down when we struck a large rock - the bike stopped and we didn't. Tim landed in the rocks on his back and I followed - landing on him and rolling on to finally stop on my back. Initial help came from Charlie Hreen - a good samaritan who was out for a Sunday ride on his motorcycle.  He dialed 911 and tried to make us comfortable until the EMT's arrived.  Since we were only a mile west of Morrison, help arrived fairly quickly and we were transported to St. Anthony Hospital Central Trauma Center.  We both underwent Xrays & CAT scans.  I was lucky with nothing broken - a bundle of bruises & scrapes.  My worst pain was in my right shoulder where I landed on a rock. I was released around 8:00PM.  Tim wasn't as lucky... He ended up with 7 broken ribs and a fractured Spinus Process (the bump off the vertebrae in your back).  He was admitted for observation and has spent 2 nights in the hospital.  At this writing, we are waiting for the doctor and believe he will be released today.  We're extending our stay in the Denver area to allow some time to heal.  

Fortuna, CA - July 27-31, 2010

After saying goodbye to Willits, CA. we moved north to Fortuna to explore Eureka, the Lost Coast, Avenue of the Giants and the Humboldt area.  When researching the area, we found CA-36 had the reputation of being a great motorcycle ride and became another reason for us to spend some time here.

The area was known for it's Victorian architecture and we found some great examples.

Carson Mansion in Eureka

Pink Lady - Eureka

Victorian Inn - Ferndale

Gingerbread Mansion - Ferndale

We packed up the '42 for the 140 mile ride down CA-36 to Red Bluff and it lived up to it's reputation as a great for a motorcycle ride - mountains, curves and 2 lane blacktop.  Because you leave the coast and travel inland, there was a 40 degree temperature difference that had us shedding clothes each time we stopped.  When we reached Red Bluff, the temperature had climbed to 97 and it was definitely time to stop for the night.  

Cookie break in Dinsmore

Rock formations to go around

Up hill and around the bend

Scenery was beautiful

What's up hill and around the bend

Tim just couldn't resist this sign in Red Bluff

Leaving Red Bluff on CA-36, the curves start out easy to warm you up

Tim starts the '42 in front of Plantina Store

We stopped at the Harrison Gulch Ranger Station and this friendly squirrel posed for us

White peak in the background is Mt. Shasta

Six Rivers National Forest

On July 31, we took a drive to the King Range National Conservation Area on the Lost Coast.  Our first stop was at the Black Sands Beach. 

The view of the Pacific as we rounded a curve heading to Black Sands Beach

Black Sands Beach looking North

Black Sands Beach looking South

Black Sands Beach looking West

Dramatic wave action



360 degree video of Black Sands Beach

The boys catching rays at Shelter Cove

Tidal Pool at Shelter Cove

Long sleeved shirts on the beach???

Cape Mendocino Lighthouse at Shelter Cove

Redwoods State Reserve in the King Range National Conservation Area

Avenue of the Giants

Redwoods reaching to the sky

Willets, CA - July 24 - 26, 2010

The Willets KOA turned out to be an outstanding RV Park.  It would definitely be a great family destination - petting zoo, playground, water park, pool, miniature golf - you name it they had it!  It also turned out that the weekend we were there was Christmas in July.  Lots of family activities and great sites.

Petting Zoo 

Water Park

Pool

Our site - Easy in - Easy out!

After setting up, we decided to go for a ride down CA-20 to see what was around.  The ride was awesome!  The Redwoods were breathtaking!  Thank goodness for a sissy bar or Tim would have had to stop and pick me up off the road!  Unfortunately, it started to get chillier and foggier as we got closer to the coast.  The mist from the fog was so thick it covered our glasses making for a risky ride so we ended up turning around and heading back.

Tim on CA-20 trying to warm up in the sun

The next day was a ride to the Mendocino Coast.  This time we were prepared for cooler weather!  The drive took us down CA-20 again and then south along the coast.  The views were spectacular - redwoods, cliffs, flowers, ocean - all amazing!  The weather was warmer and skies clearer making it an enjoyable ride.

Our first view of the Mendocino Coast

Tim enjoying the view

The cliffs were unbelievable and the wildflowers that covered them were gorgeous!

Barb enjoying the scenery and momentary sunshine

Watch the video & you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the Mendocino Coast

Tim in a cove near Mendocino where they dive for abalone

We ate lunch at the Mendocino Cafe and enjoyed their beautiful flower garden

Once we had lunch, we decided to take a quick trip to see the Mendocino Lighthouse.  It is one of the few with a lens from England.  The lens has an amber color instead of the typical green.

Mendocino Lighthouse

Our final ride in the Willets area took us to Clear Lake, CA.  The lake was beautiful and the town quaint.

Clear Lake