So many feelings, experiences, and things happen over the days of cycle touring. So many friendly conversations, so many emotions as you pedal up a hill or hoot and hollar as you whip down a massive mountain you just passed over.
Since I last wrote, I experienced more of the wild, surprising beauty of the Californian environment, people, and places.
Since I last wrote, I experienced more of the wild, surprising beauty of the Californian environment, people, and places.
After a welcomed rest day in Arcata, wandering around and exploring the super transient spliff smoking culture of the town, we bid farewell to our wondrous host Ashley, and cycled into the very brisk northern Cali morning. And onwards we went, into the thick dense redwoods. Along the splendidly indescribable Avenue of the Giants. A quiet road through amazingly silent but powerfully present trees. Indescribable these giants are, as they sit ever so close to the road, moist and still in the dense old growth forest. A super special place to cycle, I was so grateful to be there! Even when the cold rain came. After a soggy, but warm night camping beneath these trees, the three of us cycled further into the redwoods - watching the sunshine twinkle and try to peak through the dense giants, as crystal droplets of moisture fell ever so slowly to the land below. We cycled up into Garberville, and beyond, staying one more night camping out in the beautiful redwoods, and gaining another cycling friend, John from Huston, who's been on the road for 13 months, just him and his bike. Our threesome was now a foursome.
Onwards we went in the wee early hours of the day cycling up some steep hills, and down into epic valleys, eventually cycling into the town of Laytonville, where I gladly warmed my toes, and we began to think about where we may find a place to camp for the evening. And then Sean saw it: "Don't forget the magic" embossed on the side of a trinket-laden, but tidy looking shed - we thought we just can't pass such a place without asking if we could pitch our tent and have a campfire on this person's property. The jolly old eccentric man welcomed us kindly, and invited us to come in and warm ourselves by his wood stove before setting up camp in the fading afternoon light. We had a yummy campfire meal among some pine trees that night and crawled into our tents with blissfully full bellies and tired bodies as it started to pour a cold rain.
The next morning we awoke to more pouring rain, and Sean called his friends in Lake County telling them that we were en route to their house that day. Wendall, our soon to be cowboy, veteran, susty livin family man host at Burnt Buggie Ranch, gladly volunteered himself to drive the hour long ride from their place to come pick us up on that cold day. We accepted this lovely offerring...
Burnt Buggie Ranch became our home for the next 3 nights, as we explored their acreage, went on a horseback ride in the rugged, wild rolling, but desert mountains of Lake county, and sipped plenty a cups of warm tea, and warmed our toes by their wood stove. Wendall, Carlene, and Ashley were such generous hosts - giving their food, showers, beds, washer, and spiritual spaces generously to us to use. We also shared a lovely thanksgiving meal with them and all of their friends, a long table of 14 folks, an eclectic mix of cowboys, raw foodies, astrologists, local wine lovers, musicians and war vets. The meal was traditional and delicious in its fare aside from my lentil sweet potato creation, and Susan's raw gluten free cashew pie. As the off the electrical grid house went quiet, we each took time to express what we were grateful for this thanksgiving. Then the music jam began, and much singing and bopping and digesting occurred!
It was hard to say goodbye to Burnt Buggie Ranch, and our beautiful hosts, but we cycled onwards the next morning, into the grape laden Napa Valley, up and over and then back down Mt St Helenas (possibly the most hilariously FUN downhill I have ever experienced - I could not stop laughing at the thrill of it!) We found a secluded camp spot in between the grape laden fields and huge homes and winery buildings for the evening, and saw clearly oodles of stars through the mysteriously bare but mossy trees as we creeped closer and closer to the bay area. After one more night at a warm showers host in Pinole, talking about their adventures from Alaska all the way down to Argentina, Sean, Emily and I rode into San Francisco! We had made it!
After inspiring and being inspired at the Occupy San Fran movement, we unloaded our gear into Sean's friends tiny downtown apartment, were we cozied up for the evening. The next day we cycled a huge loop around the city, and the weather was clear and beautiful as we met new folks, duked it out with the San Fran hills, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, and generally had a ball. We explored Oakland the next day, with a close friend of mine, and he introduced us to his sparkly friends where we slept for the next two evenings, and to another group of friends who are living in an inspiring way, a collective space where they strive to live lightly, build community within and between themselves and the somewhat troubled East Oakland community, live simply, and grow their own food (figs included - mmm). Some beautiful music was made, food shared, work in the garden done, and connections made with the folks of this special collective.
As I've said before, it's tricky to express in words what an experience has meant to you, to your soul, to your heart, to your growth. And, as Sean wisely put it, I still have plenty of growing into myself to do, but these past months of bicycle adventuring has really been inspiring, challenging, special, wild, and beautiful. I've connected with some really great souls, that I am so lucky and grateful to have come into connection with, and can't wait to cross paths with again. And as I giddily held my bicycle above my head for Emily to take my photo on the Golden Gate bridge, I was especially thankful for her and Sean, who made this journey possible and reminded me of the beautiful universe that was protecting and lovin' us the whole while long.
May the wind be at your back and the air be in your tires Sean and Emily, as you cycle onwards during your ride for peace!
Next stop for Poppy and I: Australia! Southern hemisphere, here I come!
Onwards we went in the wee early hours of the day cycling up some steep hills, and down into epic valleys, eventually cycling into the town of Laytonville, where I gladly warmed my toes, and we began to think about where we may find a place to camp for the evening. And then Sean saw it: "Don't forget the magic" embossed on the side of a trinket-laden, but tidy looking shed - we thought we just can't pass such a place without asking if we could pitch our tent and have a campfire on this person's property. The jolly old eccentric man welcomed us kindly, and invited us to come in and warm ourselves by his wood stove before setting up camp in the fading afternoon light. We had a yummy campfire meal among some pine trees that night and crawled into our tents with blissfully full bellies and tired bodies as it started to pour a cold rain.
The next morning we awoke to more pouring rain, and Sean called his friends in Lake County telling them that we were en route to their house that day. Wendall, our soon to be cowboy, veteran, susty livin family man host at Burnt Buggie Ranch, gladly volunteered himself to drive the hour long ride from their place to come pick us up on that cold day. We accepted this lovely offerring...
Burnt Buggie Ranch became our home for the next 3 nights, as we explored their acreage, went on a horseback ride in the rugged, wild rolling, but desert mountains of Lake county, and sipped plenty a cups of warm tea, and warmed our toes by their wood stove. Wendall, Carlene, and Ashley were such generous hosts - giving their food, showers, beds, washer, and spiritual spaces generously to us to use. We also shared a lovely thanksgiving meal with them and all of their friends, a long table of 14 folks, an eclectic mix of cowboys, raw foodies, astrologists, local wine lovers, musicians and war vets. The meal was traditional and delicious in its fare aside from my lentil sweet potato creation, and Susan's raw gluten free cashew pie. As the off the electrical grid house went quiet, we each took time to express what we were grateful for this thanksgiving. Then the music jam began, and much singing and bopping and digesting occurred!
It was hard to say goodbye to Burnt Buggie Ranch, and our beautiful hosts, but we cycled onwards the next morning, into the grape laden Napa Valley, up and over and then back down Mt St Helenas (possibly the most hilariously FUN downhill I have ever experienced - I could not stop laughing at the thrill of it!) We found a secluded camp spot in between the grape laden fields and huge homes and winery buildings for the evening, and saw clearly oodles of stars through the mysteriously bare but mossy trees as we creeped closer and closer to the bay area. After one more night at a warm showers host in Pinole, talking about their adventures from Alaska all the way down to Argentina, Sean, Emily and I rode into San Francisco! We had made it!
After inspiring and being inspired at the Occupy San Fran movement, we unloaded our gear into Sean's friends tiny downtown apartment, were we cozied up for the evening. The next day we cycled a huge loop around the city, and the weather was clear and beautiful as we met new folks, duked it out with the San Fran hills, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, and generally had a ball. We explored Oakland the next day, with a close friend of mine, and he introduced us to his sparkly friends where we slept for the next two evenings, and to another group of friends who are living in an inspiring way, a collective space where they strive to live lightly, build community within and between themselves and the somewhat troubled East Oakland community, live simply, and grow their own food (figs included - mmm). Some beautiful music was made, food shared, work in the garden done, and connections made with the folks of this special collective.
As I've said before, it's tricky to express in words what an experience has meant to you, to your soul, to your heart, to your growth. And, as Sean wisely put it, I still have plenty of growing into myself to do, but these past months of bicycle adventuring has really been inspiring, challenging, special, wild, and beautiful. I've connected with some really great souls, that I am so lucky and grateful to have come into connection with, and can't wait to cross paths with again. And as I giddily held my bicycle above my head for Emily to take my photo on the Golden Gate bridge, I was especially thankful for her and Sean, who made this journey possible and reminded me of the beautiful universe that was protecting and lovin' us the whole while long.
May the wind be at your back and the air be in your tires Sean and Emily, as you cycle onwards during your ride for peace!
Next stop for Poppy and I: Australia! Southern hemisphere, here I come!
1 comment:
so much love :) the ranch you stayed at sounds amazing... and this post has gotten me so excited for California... would love to hear more about the Occupy San Fran - but, I suppose there are so many stories to catch up on, one day!
Happy Australia to you and your sis :)
C
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