David vs. the Giants

It's nice to stay in a nice hotel with cushy pillows and a soft bed.  Too good in fact as it was nearly 9:00 when I woke up.  No way I would packed and fed by 9:30.  Oh well.


Fortunately across the street was a McDonalds.  While not usually my first choice, it would be quick and would allow me to leave Eureka behind soon.  As it turned out, I would have the most meaningful conversations of the trip there.


As I set my tray down, I noticed a man sitting quietly two tables over, sipping a coffee, but no food.  I would learn his name was Ron.  We've all seen Ron before, or someone just like him.  Ron had the tell-tale signs of a guy who lives outside - a full beard, layers of bulky unmatched clothing and a backpack slung on the chair that probably contained everything he has.  I decided that rather than averting my eyes, I should strike up a conversation with him and offer him some breakfast if he wanted.


I learned Ron had been living outside for about a year and a half.  He hadn't always lived this way (as sometimes we view street people) - far from it.  His wife left him and took everything, and left him destitute in what should have been his retirement years.  We chatted for some time and learned he had family about 150 miles away which was incomprehensibly far for Ron to get to.

Ron

I also met Ambrose in the parking lot.  I'd guess Ambrose is in his 50's and has been living outside for "a long time".  Over the course of our conversation I pieced together that Ambrose was abandoned shortly after birth and basically, had no stable upbringing.  In fact he knows very little about his origins as he could not even locate proper records through the government - he was told many documents in the county were lost in a fire.  It would seem with no guidance in his youth, many years ago he ended up getting nabbed for possession of a large quantity of marijuana and went to prison.  He regrets it but was never able to fix his life because nobody wants to hire a convicted felon.  So he lives outside too.

Ambrose

It's important to remind ourselves how fortunate we are - but also that nobody chooses to live outside and there's usually a tragic story behind each face.  Most of us won't miss a few $20's but they can really help somebody in dire need.




Exhale. Ok, so that how my day started so I'll get off the soap box.  Lets get on to the ride.


I left Eureka bound for San Francisco and before long the 101 gets pretty uninspiring.  Four lanes, controlled access; very "Interstate"- like.  However, perhaps a 1/2 hour after leaving Eureka, I saw the sign for the Avenue of the Giants scenic bypass.  I had read about this in the Road Trip book my lovely wife bought me for Christmas, but I thought it was the section of redwoods I rode yesterday near the California border.  I decided to get off the 101 and give it a go.  It's about 30 miles long and runs basically parallel to the 101.  It's a piece of cake to get back on to the highway when you're done.


Whether you're driving a car or motorcycle it's definitely worth the detour as the redwood scenery is awesome.  But if you're on a motorcycle, it's absolutely necessary to take this detour.  I haven't ridden the Tail of the Dragon (yet) but I have got to think this is as good or better (and it is longer by almost 3x).

The trees are so dense that more than once my GPS lost its signal!


After reaching the end of the Avenue of the Giants, I reluctantly got back on the now 4-lane 101.  Shortly after, I saw a sign for the hokey-sounding "Drive-Thru Tree".  I couldn't say no to that picture opportunity.  Enjoy these two photos because they cost me six bucks entrance fee!

The sign says the tree is 315ft high,
21ft in diameter and approximately 2400 years old.
It's still alive with this tunnel through it!

After returning to the 101 it switches from 4 lane sections down to 2 lane and back.  "Progress" I guess.  

In a two-lane section I found this Bigfoot wood carving
attraction/shop.  Love the fromage!

About the last 90 minutes or so on the 101 is effectively interstate but runs through the some of the nice California wine country.

Just before entering San Francisco, I pulled off to get some gas and found myself in Sausalito.  I was reminded of the 1980 Diesel song, Sausalito Summer Nights - "Hot summer nights in Sausalito....can't stand the heat another mile..."  It's actually quite a pretty seaside town located at the opposite end of the Golden Gate bridge.

After leaving Sausalito, I got onto the highway and almost immediately the Golden Gate bridge.  When planning this epic trip, I thought a lot about this particular moment.  Not sure why but crossing the Golden Gate bridge on my Harley marks a real travel milestone, in my mind anyway!

No riding tomorrow; strictly a tourist in Frisco!