Gregg wisely listened to his body's signals indicating the need for a rest day to allow his leg to heal, so he has opted to take a break today. On the other hand, Kevin continued his journey by leaving the hotel in Eureka this morning under clear skies that soon turned into rain, marking the first precipitation we encountered during the trip.
During the journey to Redway, Cat and Gregg took a scenic route down the Avenue of the Giants, where they marveled at the majestic giant redwoods.
Just before reaching Redway, they came across a solo bikepacker pushing her bike. They stopped to offer assistance and met Georgie, an Australian cyclist traveling from Canada to Mexico on an older bike carrying heavy gear, adding around 50 lbs to her load. She explained that her tire's sidewall had burst, and she and her boyfriend William were unable to fix it. William had ridden ahead to Redway to find a bike shop. Cat and Gregg loaded Georgie's bike onto their rack and drove her to the bike shop in Redway, only to discover that it was closed permanently. After some phone searching, they located a sporting goods store with the needed tire in stock. They provided Georgie with a ride to the store and ensured she was able to acquire the necessary parts for the repair. Let the good vibes prevail.
Kevin rode into town just ahead of us and we all got together at a local cafe for some delicious burgers. We will take advantage of the afternoon to get some more rest in hopes Gregg will be back on the bike tomorrow. Apologies for the lack of photos, but the internet connection is terrible and I'm lucky I can post anything at all.
Kevin completed 73.29 miles with 3,366 feet in elevation and a total ride time of 4 hours 53 minutes (Gregg says a bit faster without him as the boat anchor).
Love the photo, but I need mor context. Is that a very large tree, or a very small person? ;-)
Aussie cyclists Canada to Mex. Similar experience about 25 years ago. Came across a chap from DU walking his bike into town just north of Santa Cruz. Same set-up - all his gear (camping, cooking, etc.) in his packs. Helped him fix his flat and gave him a place to crash for the night. Off he went the next day. Aussies, Germans, Israelis - inveterate travelers. You find them everywhere.
Loved this entry. It was a feel good day helping this couple even though Gregg has a temporary setback. Tomorrow will be a better day!
Hope triple G is 100% tomorrow!!
Sending prayers Gregg is ok and able to ride tomorrow.
Kat thanks so much for these updates! Let's hope Gregg is back on bike tomorrow!