Chapter 21

Chapter 21

 

 

 

 

 

Elk Prairie Camp to Eureka - 48 Miles

 

Well I was still all there this morning when I awoke. No Bears! black or otherwise came to visit... well! Not as far as I knew. A few of the guys were gone but unless the tents were eaten as well.. there was a good reason for it. 

It’s a beautiful crisp clear morning at 7am with a thin strand of mist brushed along the forest in the distance. The sun is trying to come out and everything has a layer of condensation on it.... There is something about waking up from a night’s sleep in a tent. It’s hard to say if it is a good or bad feeling but it is definitely different, and everyone should try it at least once. I pack up my bags, trying to put on something that is not damp… not easy. Getting dressed in a tent lying down... an experience all its own. Certainly not done at speed. Up and at em! “Up with the dawn and out with the dog” as Tommy used to say but in this case the bike. The big steel bear box seems untouched. But looking across the long grass I see a number of young Elk who have come visiting. They are not that close mind but close enough to feel the wonder. This is so beautiful to see. I feel so lucky. They wander off as quickly as they had come and they are gone. 

I’m packed up and ready to go now. Everyone else has left and when I’m ready I spin on down to Orick for a coffee and a muffin. ALAS POOR ORICK! Nothing happens too fast here I would say. Even a fire would take its time. 

There are certain places in America where things haven’t changed for 100 years. Orick is one of them. Such a quaint old place that time forgot. Worth a stop to soak it up. Which didn’t take long.

Today has a few climbs but nothing like yesterday. The day looks good and I am soon passed by Alaska who says he will stop in Trinidad for breakfast and invites me to see him there. These young speed merchants! I’m taking in the sights, it’s a lovely run the 25 miles to Trinidad but he is nowhere to be seen. I have a huge breakfast of 2 eggs “over easy”, 2 strips of bacon and pancakes with syrup and 2 big slices of French toast and the proverbial gallon of coffee. Eleven dollars and worth it all. 

Heading out I meet the two girls and guy from Seattle heading for San Francisco, who were with me in camp last night. They’re stopping for food. It’s all the young people here talk about is food. I kid you not!

An uneventful downhill spin into Eureka... Eureka!! Tired but happy. First place I see is the campground... hesitate for a milli-second and say 'not tonight my lady' I’m for the fluffy bed tonight... don’t know when I decided that, but it was sometime around the time I was putting on my damp lycra cycling shorts at 7am.... I think!! Carleton Hotel... dinner included, pool, jacuzzi, washer/dryer coffee machine and a bath. No Danger!!! In fact, time I had a day off so ..... 2 nights. There goes the inheritance kids but it’s for a good cause ... your poor old dad's weary bones... We will have a leisurely chat tomorrow... when I get up...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

Terry Logan said: Hi John been following you blog. It is being discussed on Naas Club Sunday runs all the time. I was just thinking that being from Bangor you would have been used to dealing with wild animals. Easter Monday down the seafront springs to mind.

 

John replied: Good man Terry. Great to hear from you. How are the Sunday rides going? I should be better for keeping up when I get home. Tell Cormac to watch out. Yeh! But Bangor was never like this!!

 

Terry replied: Sunday runs going well. The sprinters went to Carlow last Sunday while the mere mortals went on a pleasant spin on some of the Maire Keating route. The weather was surprisingly good.