Homeward Bound

Another longish drive down the scenic US 101 back to San Francisco for our return flight. We stopped in Santa Rosa for lunch,

 temporarily said goodbye to the 101

as we went around San Francisco Bay and over the Richmond Bridge, 

before rejoining it again for the final leg into SFO and home.

So it's time to bid a fond goodbye (and thanks for all the fish) to Il Giro di Pacifico. Hope you enjoyed the ride as much as we did!

Eureka!

UI picked Eureka mostly for its name but also because it was on the coast and within reasonable driving distance to the airport. I had also picked  slightly classier accommodation for our final two nights and Carter House Inn didn't disappoint. Set in the "historic" Victorian part of town, its gothic architecture echoed those of its surrounding neighbours.

This one is now a private men's club...

After our evening stroll, we enjoyed a complimentary glass of wine (the hotel has a renowned cellar apparently) and retired to bed.

I had fully intended to join Jon on his round the Humblodt Bay ride the next morning but decided that a cycle through the fog wasn't the most fun thing to do so didn't! I am really pleased that we didn't plan too much time at the coast in this area, the fog makes everything grey. However, we did some more exploring around the old quarter and then went out to the coastal nature reserve, saw some Plovers and Sanderlings and got temporarily lost amongst the dunes!

 Eventually, we found our way back and returned in time for our complimentary wine and a sumptuous dinner accompanied by a very fine Pinot Noir.

Elk Picnic

As we headed south on good old Route 101, we p,p,p picked up a picnic and looked for a place to enjoy it. On the promise of Elk spotting (only animal not seen yet and Liz says that they are everywhere!), we hauled into Orick. 

Without an Elk in sight, we then hiked 5km to see some decidedly average waterfalls. 

The walk back was fun through some magnificent redwoods but still no Elk to be seen.

It was only as we were driving out that we saw the Elk - loads of them!!

We eventually had our picnic in Trinidad - not in the Caribbean, but about 20 miles short of Eureka, where we find ourselves now.

Two more sleeps to home - can't wait to be back!

Rogue River Ride

Mrs 'A' created her first route in Strava (for those uninitiated, Strava is a motivational fitness app), up and around Rogue River, close to Gold Beach (Oregon), about 40km.

A consequence of a very uncomfortable bed, was an early start - and what a ride! Ospreys were 10 a penny, as we circumnavigated the River.

The first nest was silhouetted against the morning sun.

Then a pair enjoying the sunshine.

Mrs 'A' climbed some epic gradients too, and came face to face with some big trucks.

Mr 'A' cycling off into the sunrise.

Then back for breakfast but via yet more Ospreys.

What great start to the day!

Sunday...

We drove on Sunday... and drove and drove and drove... That is all (apart from this light house in Newport.)

Oh, and Mrs 'A' lost a hat in the wind...

There were also some great rock-pools:

Edward Crabhands...

We have discovered that Edward Scissorhands' cousin, Edward Crabhands, is alive and well and living in Lincoln City...

There She Blows!

With the sun out and encouraging us to desist from our laziness, we headed to Depoe Bay, to visit the Whale Watching Centre. A lack of parking spaces, in some way a result of an infestation of pirates (don't ask), meant that we overshot and ended up at Whale Cove. As luck would have it, this was at the same time that the local Gray Whales had come to search for food. We spent the next hour, watching the whales track up and down the coast, while we tried not to get sun burnt or feel too smug at getting to see whales, up close, without paying to go out on a boat!

As if this were not enough, a snap of a flying seal, sealled the day (see what I did there?...)

We could only top this with Chowder and fries at The Sea Hag (http://www.theseahag.com) - it's where all the pirates hang out, apparently...