Anyway, off to bed on our last night before we would head home... why does it go by so quickly? Seems like we just started out and it's already time to head home?? But wait!! We have one more day... it started out like this...
But got fixed like this...duct tape and zip ties will fix pretty much anything...
And then we were greeted with a bit of this to start out with...
Which quickly abated and we rolled along the Avenue of the Giants... one of my favorites...
We stopped at the junction of 101 and 1 for a bio break... the local gas station owner refused to let us use the facilities (he's was a bit of a jacka$$ about it) so, since the matter was now urgent, we decided to fork out $3 and visit the drive thru tree... while no one really had it on their list to go, they all surprisingly enjoyed it... there's a really pretty meadow laden with wildflowers next to a pond...
I walked closer to the pond and saw a bunch of bumps in the water which I thought was some sort of foliage... as I got closer I heard the croaking and realized they were froggies... tons of them croaking away in the morning sun...
And dragonflies flitted about... they always look like a magical type creatue to me... brilliant colors and gossamer wings...
And then the rockin' section of Hwy 1... that really fantastic section between Leggett and Fort Bragg... oh darn! No photos other than looking back at the end of it as you break out along the coast again...
Someone mentioned a great place for lunch in Point Arena with a great view so we headed south on Hwy. 1...
I couldn't figure out where you had a view of the ocean in Point Arena but if you turn right on Iverson Ave. at the south end of town, follow onto Port Rd., it will take you right out to Arena Cove and Pier Chowder House & Tap Room with, yep, you guessed it... stellar views of the coast!
Working boats get no breaks on the weekend...
Townfolks with a sense of humor...
And then the time had come... it was time to head for home... I was sad for the trip to end but was looking forward to sleeping in my own bed... we traversed the Marin backroads and then I naively thought that I could hop on 80 to 880 since usually the worst traffic was on Sunday around there... WRONG!! It took me an hour to go two miles (and unfortunately the only downfall of riding the Spyder is no lane splitting)... just as I was ready to hop off the freeway and find some surface streets, the pace magically picked up and was clear sailing the rest of the way.
I forgot to share this poem that was posted at the viewpoint on the Cascade Hwy... I think we all have times in our lives when we feel like a mountain... solitary, the world on your shoulders, a bit beaten up... but I hope you each hear the "Well done."
Recap - two weeks, amazing roads, incredible scenery, new stories to tell, memories that will stay etched upon my mind, gratitude for being alive and being able to experience it all, and the cherry on top... a myriad of wonderful friends to share the laughter, tears, (s)miles with... blessed? You betcha!!
FIN (thanks for hanging in there with me! B) )
