Day 20: Back In Oregon

I slept sooooo well last night in Eureka at my favorite hotel. I was gone before 0630--breakfast wasn't until 0600--and at my first stop in Ferndale by 0700.

Ferndale, California, is a quirky little place noted for its antiques and gorgeous gingerbread homes made from the giant sequoias in the now protected Redwood Forest. Many of the homes still have the original wood because the redwood withstands the moisture. The town is definitely worth a visit if you're in the Redwoods.
(https://maps.app.goo.gl/1MVLS8DQpJrikrqt6)

By the time I got to Ferndale, I was very cold again. My heated gear jacket and gloves stopped working late yesterday, but I think the problem is really with the jack that connects to the battery. Maybe it came loose during those other issues.

I'm trying to get to a Cycle Gear that has the wall plug so I can test the gear out. My jacket is still under warranty. I got to a store today, but he didn't have the wall plug. He did have the waterproof backpack I keep my camping gear in. I just bought it in March and in April the zipper busted on the front. Again, it's under warranty, so now I have a brand new waterproof bag.

Back to being cold. And damp from the misty fog. I was tired enough of the weather on the coast to cut out three Harley dealerships. I would have had to ride an hour further south down the coast to get to the first one, and I was ready to go inland. So I headed back through Eureka and then East towards Redding.

After the Cycle Gear and HD in Redding, I headed even further East to the North end of Lassen Volcanic National Park, but just to the sign for the photo. It's a beautiful ride through the park, but I was headed North on California 89.

That popped me out on I-5 just south of Weed, California. Yes, they do all the puns and there is a dispensary every 50 feet 🤣. I filled up there and had some lunch, then rolled out about 1530. What a crazy rest of the day it turned out to be.

I only made maybe 15 miles north on I-5 before I hit twisty roads forever and ever. I am exhausted. Very slow going on steep, switchback, no guard rails, partially gravel, desolate roads for hours.

In fact, I rode 4.5 hours and 215 miles from Weed, CA to Grants Pass, OR, before my low fuel light came on, which meant I still had 1 gallon left in a 5-gallon tank 😳. Other than 3 photo stops and one hop off to ask if the road was paved (most of it was 🤣), I was in the seat the whole time. It may be iron, but my butt actually hurts 🤣.

Did I say I was exhausted? I'm camped at D&S HD 🤫. Out. ✌️.

Miles: 624.7Read more