I walked the first 1/4 mi. hill & most of the hill to Hwy 3. Am I crazy to try this? Most of us ate a second breakfast at the Mustard Seed restaurant in Weaverville. I walked some of Oregon Mountain. We ate again at The Outpost in Big Bar - huge (too big) burger & root beer float. (I’m mentioning what I ate so often because I lost 4 lbs on this tour and want to remember how I did it.)
A chip truck almost got me plus Len and Edy, but we recovered control. Dave went off the road and into a ditch on purpose. I would probably fall if I tried that. I think the truck driver came close on purpose. It’s very hot. The tar on the highway is melting. This has been a 10 hour day.
The Lazy Double-B RV Park has nice bathrooms which we have basically to ourselves, but they are too far from the site assigned to us, which is dusty and HARD ground. The Whole Enchilada is supposed to be a good restaurant, but we’re too tired to ride the one more mile. I bought a few canned goods and made my dinner.
I saw an eagle along the river. We’re on the Klamath River now. Most of us got wet in a spring coming down from above the highway. My kerchief comes in handy to wet myself. We didn't go on to Somes Bar - Dave, Len and Edy were too hot. We stayed at Orleans Riverside RV Park - real nice, with clean restrooms, also to ourselves. It's quiet, with lots of grass and trees, AND lots of mosquitoes. Bill almost got hit by a falling banana slug, just missed him and I cracked up laughing, it was so gross. We ate across the highway at a wonderful restaurant. I had prawns & salad.
I rode most of the hills today!! Dave, Len and Edy had root beer floats while Marsha, Bill, & I explored the river banks. We didn’t find the swimming hole but found lots of blackberries. The Klamath river doesn’t look good enough to get into. There is a great, friendly "guard" cat in camp. He is a Maine Coon cat.
Now were headed for the town of Forks of the Salmon, passing beautiful river areas, but hoping to meet up with Dave, Len and Edy at the town store and have lunch and rest. I plan my shopping list as I ride - beets and milk to eat there. Also, bananas, and some kind of bread or crackers. I know the store has lots of stuff and tables to sit in the shade. A friendly store keeper too. Later we meet a couple that say the store (built in early 1800’s) burnt down last November! I know there will probably be water at the store site anyway and they offer to give us water when we pass their mining claim and camp. This road has areas of new tar and the rest of it, as most of the roads lately, is melting now.
About one mile from the town we get a shock! - Marsha on the road, face down on the pavement with blood running 20" down the road and coagulating already - blood from her head! She was just ahead of us. I thought she was bleeding from her mouth - internally and possibly dying - I kind of "lost it". Then we decided Bill should ride for help. Just then a truck came around the corner and I stopped them. Soon we had about 8 people helping, some with EMT experience. Bill kept pressure on her deepest head wound for a long time while several of us shaded her with a blanket. A fire truck was among the helpers. We also cleaned her up a bit & talked to her (she was unconscious for a bit at first). They found a neck brace that fit. An ambulance came from Cecilville! and they got her on a backboard. I gave them her glasses - all parts and her husband’s telephone number. Bill gave them her packet of ID (I didn’t even think of her fanny pack strapped to her handlebars.) She was stuck to the pavement - hot tar, when we moved her to the board. She kept saying "what happened? What are my son’s going to say? They’re racers, And they don’t fall. Thank you folks. You’re so sweet to do this." They took Marsha to Yreka Hospital, about 100 miles and her bike to Harry Lipke’s barn nearby.
Bill and I went on to town. I got water from a faucet near the burnt store foundation, it tasted mossy. I used the telephone but no answer from her husband so I called Julie, my daughter, and Jim to make the call - who knows when we’ll be near another telephone! Jessie Rose, one of our helpers, offered us a ride which I accepted gratefully - I don’t feel much like riding anymore today. We waited at the outhouse while she trucked her two big dogs home and came back for us. She talked to us of her life and the area She had even lived across a swinging suspension bridge on the other side of the river with a small son. She’s a really nice lady. Dave, etc. weren’t at Matthew’s Creek campground, but it looked inviting with a green area and a deep pool of water. Jessie took us to the next camp - East Fork. She even offered to stop at the Cecilville store, but we didn’t want to trouble her, so we’ll have to go back 3 miles in the AM before we go on.
The rest of our group was at this campground - right next to the river. I gave Jessie $10. and a hug for being so great! Later we all got in the creek. I used my water purifier. There’s no water here, as there was suppose to be. Up the creek was a deep hole for swimming & rocks to sit on. Also, trees with grey-green leaves, almost white - pretty. After dinner we walked down the road a bit. Dave, Len & Edy told of seeing a black bear on the road and riding with a cute dog they called Ruby, who would run ahead and then wait for them. I guess she did this for miles. During the night most of us heard an animal making a throaty sound. I was scared! I couldn’t catch an eye glint with my flashlight or wake Bill with it either - to hold off a possible invader! Everybody’s food is in a tree nearby. I think it was a Bobcat, he finally left.
We rode to Cecilville, shopped and I ate a can of beets and drank some milk. I started by riding, later walking lots. We cooled off in a creek off the road - a climb up and down to it - and got water. We used my water pump again - it’s really, useful!! Trail Creek is below the highway on a dirt road. I’m so tired I’m afraid to ride down so continue walking. Dave, Len and Edy are not here. They must have gone on. I’m sure they climbed better than me and didn’t backtrack to the store. They also left about six A.M.! They aren't enjoying this trip - too hot for them. They got up at 5 to ride nonstop. (They won’t have to keep stopping to wait for me anymore.) They plan to shorten the trip and start back tomorrow. Dave has a deadline and needs to rest up for a 200 mile ride coming up. We want to go on, it’s hot yes, but not that bad! Now we’re out of traffic, it’s almost nonexistent and you can hear it coming for miles.
It’s strange the roads are wide and well maintained but almost empty. We walked to the creek after we set up camp and round great waterfalls which we used and enjoyed. I feel pretty clean with just water this last couple of days. We took some pictures, the creek is very clean and pretty. We’ve been keeping up with laundry and it’s not bad with three outfits - they even get dry! We ate a camp dinner and did the dishes, then walked toward a trailhead. This is a quiet and beautiful place. Our campsite is huge. It’s a long walk to the outhouse over uneven ground. The sky is cloudy, but we didn’t get rain. Screech owls started early in the evening and continued all night. I wanted to sleep at the base of a tree above a hill, but I was afraid I would step off if I went the wrong way at night. It’s a good thing I didn't, it was black there after dark. I had trouble finding the outhouse as it was! The temperature in the morning was 51 degrees.
We headed toward Etna on Highway 3. We found out later it would have been nicer to take Eastside Road - no traffic. My hands got numb for the first time during this stretch of road - the only traffic for days. We ate at Sengthong’s, Thai-Vietnamese restaurant in Etna. The food was pretty good, but not enough for two hungry cyclists. It's Sunday, (it takes time to figure what day it is) stores are closed and it’s too late for showers at the pool near the high school. We’re pretty tired and I don’t remember how the hills on the Scott River road are. It’s about six and we don’t want to be caught without a campground, so we decide to stay in the city park campground. It’s ok but, one noisy neighbor makes me uneasy after dark. Also, the toilet facilities are barely adequate and there is no paper. There was a faucet and a hose. I washed my hair with shampoo at the hose and took a sponge bath in my tent, I feel clean!
The road was good and I’m still riding! There are some logging trucks, but no problems. The blackberries are not ripe, but there are lots of them. We found Jones Beach and stopped to cool off and wash up. We met a lady from Seiad Valley with her twelve year old nephew. We talked to her for about quite awhile. The river here is not very clear - mossy and not even cold. We stop at Indian Scotty campground - if we go further we will have more climbing to get back this way tomorrow. Indian Scotty is nice and the river is much larger and clean and clear now. Campsite 26 on top is the best yet. We have a beautiful view of the river and the hills around us. We walked down to the river. I saw a deer wading and enjoying the water and a large black snake lying in the sun on a huge white rock with "wash basins" carved in it by the water. The river is cool here also. A breeze sends a "gentle roar" thru the tree tops on surrounding mountainsides - sounds wonderful. I got lots of laundry washed. There are lots of mosquitos in the evening so I’m constantly swatting myself in the ears, etc.
It’s hot!! We went to the local bike shop, Country Pedaler, to buy another tire but they have only mountain bike tires. I bought a cute tee shirt and two water bottles as souvenirs. I need more weight, ha! We ate at a Deli in town. My vegetartan sandwich and salad were very good, but Bill said his burger tasted precooked. This pizza deli has pizza only on Saturday! I had planned to have ice cream at the old fashioned soda fountain in the pharmacy across the street, but I’m too full.
We took Eastside Road - the California/Oregon Stage Road - this time to Calahan. It’s much nicer - no traffic, cows, calves, horses, colts, and llamas. I used clean cool water in a shallow ditch to dip my jersey in. There are cattails and teasel growing here. We reached Calahan - 3123 ft, where I had ice cream and Snappy Tom again and used the restroom to wash up. They have no bananas or milk. We saw the Catholic church that dates back to 1856. I keep trying to call Jim till 6 or 6:30 to find out the results of his visit to Kaiser Sacramento. Finally we give up and start up Scott Mountain. I have to walk a lot. I saw a Western Tannager who seems to follow us as we climb to 5401 ft. We also see a deer who ignores us as we pass in almost darkness.
It gets completely dark and we don’t see Scott Mountain forestry camp! (I found out later lots of signs in the area - 5O - have been stolen.) Now I’m walking 7-9 miles down the mountain, following the white line. There is no traffic. It’s hard to hold 55-60 pounds of gear on the bike and walk downhill! My feet feel like I’m getting blisters. (My Shimano SPD bike shoes make wonderful walking shoes I’ve found during this trip - better than any of my running or walking shoes!) After awhile I don’t see Bill for a long time, it seems. My shoulders hurt and as I get further down the mountain it gets darker. I can’t get the light on my bike fork (can’t use my handlebar one because of the handlebar bag there) without someone with a flashlight. I’m not sure I want to ride down this steep hill in the darkness anyway.
Finally I see Bill and we get the light on. I try riding fearfully and carefully, but better than walking...I’m making progress! About 10:30 or 11:00 we see a sign saying "loose gravel" and decide we’d be foolish to try to get thru this in the dark. Coffee Creek RV park is still about 13 miles ahead, it’s late and we’re tired. We pull off the highway and camp between logs and rocks on the edge of the road.
Dinner is simple and wonderful - Vienna sausages, untoasted English muffins, string cheese and a bit of the water we have left - not much. Bill took the sausage can, etc. across the highway so the bears hopefully wouldn’t come to us - we still have our food near by in panniers (we usually put it in a tree). We can pick this up to dispose of in the morning. As soon as we settle down about ten CDF fire trucks come down the mountain right next to us. The bright lights in the forest reminds me of the movie ET, when they were looking for him. We wonder "what’s happening?", "Where’s the fire?", "Are we in danger?" (I found out later there was a real bad forest fire between Lewiston and Weaverville. These were fire trucks from neighboring communities on their way to help.) I actually slept that night! This is really roughing it, but fun!
We stopped at Stony Point campground after talking to some fire workers at a forestry station where we got water and called Jim from the phone there - he’s alone now! I washed in the sink in the camp bathroom on a hill and did my laundry too. I noticed there was no light so I’ll have to remember to bring a flashlight if I go up during the night. We had a simple dinner and got set for the night. A fire crew of three came in with a fire vehicle to camp for the night. They seemed to be noisy, but they were soon quiet, and no more came in. The lake is very low and thus ugly. There were lots of mosquitoes the camp is not pretty and there are bear warnings at this camp. I slept almost all night for the first time!
I lost four pounds on this trip and it stayed off!!