Day 24 - Big Sur

I think it's going to be long and hard day!!!

Guest blog post

Guest blog post: August 30, 2009

After two days of getting a front row seat to see what this whole bike ride  is all about, Jason and I thought we'd share our Top-Five-List of THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN YOU GO RIDING BIKING WITH JEFF REAVES (aka DAD):


5. After 50 miles, you'll wish you were also on a recumbent. His one handed steering, talking on the iphone while riding, makes you feel like he's got a better deal. Plus, his lack of sore shoulders and neck in the morning just rubbs it in.

4. He's always go for dessert - save room at dinner. 

3. While you may feel great about yourself if/when you pass him on the uphill - he'll fly past you on the downhill, and at twice the speed

2. Add 20 miles onto any distance he estimates (40 miles...always = 60 miles)

1. When he says "it's all downhill from here" ...don't believe him

Liz and Jason

Day 23. - Carmel

Today started out a little late, since we decided to have breakfast is Davenport Vs Santa Cruz.  Jason and Liz ate a light breakfast - big mistake!  Jason bonked at about 25 miles but Jeanno showed up with food to save the day.  The 80 mile ride was mostly into the wind all day and the we had little relief since we were traveling thru large agricultural areas of lettuce, advocatoes and strawberries.  We made it to Montery by 3:30 pm. And had a bite to eat with Jan Leasing, a friend of Dave & Esther's.  She gave a great overview of the area and limits on development based on water rights.

After lynch Jason and I took off for the last 15 miles to Carmel.  We followed the coast line to avoid the large hills and rolled by Spy Glass and Pebble Beach!  Definitely the last 15 miles were the best!

We had diner at Hogs Breath, a Clint Eastwood reaturant in Carmel - I had the Dirty Harry diner!  I enjoyed riding with Liz and Jason the last two days and will miss them lots.

Jeff Reaves

Sent from my iPhone

Day 22- south of San Franpsycho

Beautiful day to leave SF, sunny but cool and good steady tail wind.   
The only down side of today was hot interior weather and Saturday  
brought a huge amount of traffic!
Jason and Liz rode with me today and did very well.  Jason is a strong  
rider and zipped up the hills most of the day.  Liz set a steady pace  
and had a smile the entire time!  The climb over Devils Slide was very  
narrow and steep but we all made it without a hitch. Jason and Liz are  
somewhat sore after 70 miles.  But tomorrow will be the telling day.   
Neither of them are use to multi-day riding and I'm sure it will be  
hard to get on the "iron pony"!
Jeannie provided sag support - she met us along the way and most  
importantly had beer waiting at the end of the day!   The Davenport  
Roadhouse was an excellent Inn with great food and rooms.  Everything  
closes down by 9:00 pm, which was good- it saved us from ourselves!

The coastal beaches are beautiful with many of them set in protective  
coves.

Jeff Reaves

Sent from my iPhone

Jason, Liz and Jeff at Pigeon Point

Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Day 20 - San Fransico

Shorty day! Twenty miles into town. Going over the Golden Gate Bridge
was slow - due to the mass of people!

Jeannne, Dave and Esther all met me on the GGB. It was surprise to
see Jeannie! We are all going to "the game" tonight! SF Giants and
Colorado Rockies. It will be Jeannie's first major league game.
Jason and Liz are busy working today. So Jeannie and I have SF to
ourselves this afternoon.

On the 18th day he rested

Oh a total rest day in sunny California! Need to visit bike shop,
barber and massause today. Need to body and bike in good working
order for the final push to TJ.

Stats to date:
ridden 16 days of 18 days
Total mileage about 1,200 miles
Calorie deficiet at 65,000
Lost of weight since start of ride -10#
# of beers consumed - lost count
# of hills I had to walk-up- 2
Fastest downhill decent- 41.5 mph
# of flats- 4
Number jerksI've net along the way - 0

Day 17 - San Rafael

Today was 58 miles from Bodega Bay to San Rafael. Early in the day
was fog and steep hillls but the sun broke out around noon. Hills
gave way to flat riding along Tomales Bay for 19 miles. The bay is
home to a number of oyster beds and Pelicans.

With the afternoon came flats. It was impossible to find the leak
because of the road noise, so I put on my spare tube and twenty miles
down the road had my second flat. This the tube a total loss and I had
to fix the old one and hoped it would last until the end of the ride.

I'm staying with Dave Frey(Jeannie's brother) and his wife Esther.
Funny part of the day was I had been phoning Dave Frey to let him know
of my progress. I called him at noon and 2:00 pm. Turns out I had
Daves old work number and whoever answered the phone sounded just like
Dave and never questioned who I was or my discussion about my arrival!
Needless to say Dave was wondering why he had not heard from me and
I'm saying "I called you twice - don't you remember!" We laughed and
had a beer!

We all went to diner with Jenny and Rich Fowler and they bought - nice
to have the younger generation buy us old farts diner!

The end of the day was definitely the hottest I've experinced on the
ride - low 80's. I think the next few days will be more of the same.

Day 18

Heading into San Rafael to stay with Dave and Esther. Rolling over
some big hills and yesterday's long ride is showing the results - sore
legs! A day off the bike tomorrow will be really great.

Day 17 - Tuesday

JUST SHUT UP AND PEDAL! That was todays thought- did 109 miles (10
hours) to make it to Jack and Sharon Horn's house in Bodega Bay. The
thought of campsite vs hot tub kept me focused up and over the many
hills. This section of the coast is very demanding with twisting
roads, no shoulders and sheer 500 ft dropoffs with no guardrail.
Combine this with fog banks moving on and off the coast and you have
"a great ride". Cars and commercial vechiles were great but I've
decided pickup drivers are all assholes! They thing they own the road
and the noise of their exhaust is problematic. The car companies need
to relocate the exhaust pipe to the driver side of the car. Even
better they should pipe it into the cab!

Day 16 - Monday

Made it up and over Legget Mountain by 10:00 and into Fort Bragg by noon.  Route 1 is very hilly and has some of the steepest climbs of the, although the are much shorter.  Fog, no schoulders and winding roads make for  challenging riding.  Hope to be in Mendicino tonight!  Expect a 70 mile day- just had breakfast at Denny's - Ultimate Omlette- yum!

Love Caliifornia tunnels

Jeff Reaves

Sent from my iPhone

My tent for the night

Staying Mendocino - heading to the Dicks Place for a martini! Three
days of camping is my limit.

Day 16

Today was a short day (50 miles) but very hilly.  Total elevation gain for the day was around 5,500ft.  Pedaled thru more groves of redwoods and along the Eel River.  Got into Standish- Hickey state park around 2:00pm and spent three hours sitting in the river, resting my legs.  I think the legs are tired- which could be a concern since the next two days will be the hardest of the entire trip!  Tommorrow I leave Hwy 101 and its up and over Legget Mtn to Route 1.

Entering higher elevations and hotter temps
Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Jeff Reaves

Sent from my iPhone

Avenue of the Giants

Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Fwd: Ferndale Cemetary

Jeff Reaves

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Jeff Reaves" <JReaves@grpmack.com>
To: "Blog Mobile" <Jreaves5.c2mbike@blogger.com>
Subject: Ferndale Cemetary

Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Day 14 - great day

Today was a Great Day- the day lead me thru Eureka and it's great historic district and then to the Victorian town of Ferndale and the Humbolt County Fair.  The fair was your classics fair with 4H livestock, crafts and of course people watching.  Ferndale was a great small town with lots of neat little shops.   I was told the town was renovated for the Jim Carey movie Majestic.  Leaving town was a fascinating cemetery with family plots demarked by low cement walls.  That, combined with the steep hillside made for a very unique setting.  The miles then glided by with a strong tailwind all the way to the Avenue of the Giants- awesome ride and great organic fruit stands dotted the route .

Settled into camp with JP and a new mate, Ben from Devon, England .  Ben went east to west starting in Virginia then thru the mid west, Yellowstone, Montana, Idaho  and into Florence OR.  He is ending his trip in SF. Fine young man just starting out in life!

Just as I was firing up my stove for diner, a car pulled into our campsite and I was half expecting the people to say we were in their spot when  Jack and Sharon Horn stepped out to greet me!  Jack and I biked from Idaho to South Dakota over Six years ago and have not seen each other since, although we have tried to hookup. Jack and Sharon have been following my blog and with few emails figured they could find me- they did and we had a terrific diner at a local winery called Riverbend Cellars.  Great wine, food and friends.  Thanks Sharon and Jack - best suprise of this crazy adventure.

I 'm sending photos seperately, since file size is limted. Rode 71 miles camping at Meyer Flats

Trivia for future game night!

Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Riding with JP and Ben in Avenue of the giants

Jeff Reaves
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Ferndale Cemetary

Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Humbolt fair -tie quilt

Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Day 13

Today was a Great Day- the day lead me thru Eureka and it's great
historic district and then to the Victorian town of Ferndale and the
Humbolt County Fair. The fair was your classics fair with 4H
livestock, crafts and of course people watching. Ferndale was a great
small town with lots of neat little shops. I was told the town was
renovated for the Jim Carey movie Majestic. Leaving town was a
fascinating cemetery with family plots demarked by low cement walls.
That, combined with the steep hillside made for a very unique
setting. The miles then glided by with a strong tailwind all the way
to the Avenue of the Giants- awesome ride and great organic fruit
stands dotted the route .

Settled into camp with JP and a new mate, Ben from Devon, England .
Ben went east to west starting in Virginia then thru the mid west,
Yellowstone, Montana, Idaho and into Florence OR. He is ending his
trip in SF. Fine young man just starting out in life!

Just as I was firing up my stove for diner, a car pulled into our
campsite and I was half expecting the people to say we were in their
spot when Jack and Sharon Horn stepped out to greet me! Jack and I
biked from Idaho to South Dakota over Six years ago and have not seen
each other since, although we have tried to hookup. Jack and Sharon
have been following my blog and with few emails figured they could
find me- they did and we had a terrific diner at a local winery called
Riverbend Cellars. Great wine, food and friends. Thanks Sharon and
Jack - best suprise of this crazy adventure.

I 'm sending photos seperately, since file size is limted.
Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Day 14 - two weeks and 1000 miles

Sitting in an Eureka coffee and bagel shop -Los Bagels. Foggy again
but should burn off soon. Last night was KOA night next to the
freeway - so I could snore to my hearts content - it was a good night
sleep! Today is Ferndale and Avenue of the Giants most likely will
log 70 plus miles.

Eureka historic district

Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

I must be in California!

Phil can you decifer this? I declined the Walk of Joy for another hill!

Day 13 - Eureka

Today was suppose to be a short 46 mile day but somehow I did 75
miles! It started with a quick trip to a supposedly beatiful spot
called Fern Valley - old growth redwoods and huge ferns. I took the
wrong road which went from gravel, to two track, to single track!
After 6 miles of my recumbent thinking it wasa mountain bike we
crossed the real road! Following it to the trail head where I
encountered a hurd of elk(20 or so) and a somewhat aggressive bull
elk. I waited over an hour for them to move but to no avail. Took the
real road back which was about 12 miles of gravel and washboard. So
my short ride was 20 miles and 4 hours long. I got out of camp around
11:00am and biked through Lady Bird Johnson Grove then a loop along
the cliffs of Patrick Pointe Park with lots of barking sea lions
below. Rolled into Tinadad which has amazing harbor (photo). Then
rolled along 101 which is now a full freeway with off and on ramps.
Tonight i'm staying at a KOA - hot showers and laundry facilities!
Things were getting a little rip!

Day 12. - end of the day

Lots of hills today with two big climbs that seemed to go on forever.
The first part of the ride to Cresent City was alot like riding around
St Paul. But the climbs on 101 were mostly in fog with no schoulder
on most of the climb. I was rewarded with a great down hill descent
thru the Del Norte Coaat Redwoods State Park. The only thing bigger
than the hills are the trees! Truely amazing.

Day 12 - California

9:25 am

Day 12 aka day 11

Looks like I've been calling day 11 when it's been day 12! As stated
earlier it has been a day of fog and temps in the high 50's! Got to
Harris Beach (Brookings) at around 7:30 pm. A little late for me -
especially considering I hit the road around 7:30am! Went for a short
hike to Thunder rock cove. The fog was above me so got some nice
vistas. I had laid my bike down to go on the hike and somehow bent my
chain spent an hour rebending it by hand back into shape. All and all
a good 85 mile day. I cross into California in less than ten miles - I
have logged 730 miles and running a calorie deficiet of about 31,000.
Phil I did roll by your old house but I think the mailbox with the 22
hole is gone.

Picture from my hike

Day 11 - 2nd post

It's 1:00pm and I have covered 60 miles . The day has pretty much in
the fog, so most of the shoreline has been hidden. I have a 25 mile
push to Harris beach with a 800 ft climb over 3 miles. No tail wind
today!

Day 11 - wednesday

It's 50 degrees and foggy this morning with highs expected in the
60's. Today will be a grinder day to get to Harris Beach - 90 miles
and just a few miles shy of the California border. My bailout spot
could be Gold Beach. Legs should be fresh after a dayoff from
biking. Stew and Jack wooped up on me but it didn't matter since the
day was so beautiful. Attched picture is from a few days ago! Wish I
could fit her on the bike.

Day 11 - rest day - golf at Bandon

Playing with Stew and Jackson Maynes.

Day 10 Monday

Got up early and went to Cape Aargon just outside of camp. Got up
and personal with a colony of sea lions. Day is starting out foggy
but will clear in an hour or two. Nice time to ride.

Day 9

Day was short. Visited the Umpqua lighthouse museum and learned alot
about the early days of the Coast Guard. Got on the road by noon and
road into Coos Bay on back roads. Got to Sunset State camp ground by
5:30. Camp is very full! Total of 13 people - I'm definitely the old
man of the group. Everyone else is 20 something. Seattle, Maine,
Canada and Sweden are all represented.

Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Don't trust the gift shop lady!

I took an alternate to avoid the bridge in the distance, on the advise
of the gift shop person at Umpqua Lighthouse. She said it would
beatiful but she forgot the adjectives; hilly, bumpy and narrow!

Day 9 - Sunday August 16tg

Slowing the pace down for a few days. Meeting Stew Maynes and his
son Jack for some golf at Bandon Dunes on Tuesday. Rude to Bandon in
42 mile and I have two days to get there. This area around Reedsport
is a big sand buggy and off- road meca. Dunes here definitely rival
Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan.

Day 8 - Saturday

Logged 65 miles today, suprising since I spent a good portion of the
day, in Florence, at the bike shop getting a new tire for the rear
wheel and doing laundry at the local laundrymat. Definitely a
different crowd! With my new tire and confidence it will see me thru
the ride I made it to Umpqua Lighthouse for the night. A father & son
from San Diego came rolling in to camp around 9:30pm and somewhat
discouraged aboout the ride. Son -14 yrs old has decided he does not
like camping and prefers motels with cable! I say keep camping!

Had my first Blizzard today -Cookie dough!!

Campmates

John from Rochester NY , Theresa from NYC and Saloma from DC. All
were riding Bike Fridays which are folding bikes that fit into a
custom suit case. The case can then be used as a bike trailer once the
bike is unpacked. They were heading to Eugene to visit the Bike
Friday factory.

Day 8 morning

Slept like a rock last night and on the road by 8:30 am. My campmates
left around 7:00 am but I caught them at Sea Lion Caves. The right
this am was a good climb and my last tunnel.

I'm in Florence doing laundry, getting a new rear tire and food.
Looking to do 60 to 80 miles today - have 25 miles in now.

Day 7 Whew it was a busy one

The day started out with a good ride up and over a good size pass.
Made my way into Lincoln City to visit a fire station I am working
on. They were suprised to see me on a bike headed south to
California. Weather today was stellar, good 15 mph tail wind that let
the miles melt away. Had a great breakfast omelet of eggs, oysters
and spinich with a side of home fries at the local bar in Lincoln
city. With the wind at my back I decided to shoot for Cape
Perpetual. So got in 85 miles today, riding from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Came into camp but no campsites - I'm sleeping with a group from NY &
DC I'm the amputheater! Not bad spot. Again another flat just as I
pulled into camp! I'm 86 the tire and going to my spare. Hopefully,
in Florence I can get the bike shop to equip me with the right tire.

Sunset at the beach

Dory -

special boat to be launched from the beach into the surf. Note motor
location.

Day 7 - one week into ride

Today has some mountain pass climbs. Getting early morning start.
Low clouds hang on the mountain.

Sunset and surfing

Spelling mistakes

Please forgive! It is just the lack of spell check and too many beers!

Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Why I love to ride the Oregon coast

Day 6

Good neighbor fence!

Day 6 - ride to Neskowin

Well it was suppose to be any easy day of 60 miles! Day started with
me sealing at 7:00 to get an early start but I had a flat time to deal
with before I got started. I could get the tire pressure to 60# but
felt it would get me to Tillimook,where I would stop at a bike shop
and have them inflate it to 95#. No such luck! I was a Downhill
desent at 30 mph when bammm! I was able to stop the bike and start to
chance the flat. The existing tube had
several holes due to my inabiity to stop quickly at 30 mph. So I
proceeded to use a new spare tube - but the valve stem broke off where
it joins the tube. So I used my entire patch kit of 10 patches to fix
my old tube. With that I limped into Tillamook and stoppped Fred
Meyers to buy a new tube and patch kite and then into a real bike
store to get spare tubes and the tire inflated to 95#. This new rear
rim is an aero rim and has a high profile, which makes the tube very
hard to fill. We definitely 86 this rim when I get home. But with all
that I made it to Neskowin. See next post!

Fwd: Day 6 - sunny! Heading to Neskowin

Jeff Reaves

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Jeff Reaves" <JReaves@grpmack.com>
Subject: Day 6  - sunny! Heading to Neskowin

Coast good neighbor fence

Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Day 5 - 2nd addition

Started the day with a 5 mile hike to a second lighthouse amd then
rode from Cape Dissapointment to Nehalem Bay in Oregon - 70 miles.
Thought the ride over the Astoria Bridge would be hell but turned out
OK . It's strange riding on Oregon since I know it so well! Today
was sunny where I rode but alot of the coast had rain. Rode along the
beach and high above on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific. I don't
know why certain people prefer Texas over Oregon (I'm talking to you.
Ted). Jessica chose not to ride due work - so here are some photos!
Glad to be at Oregon campgrounds - $4 bs $14 and hot showers.

Lions, tigers and tunnels!

Day 5 heading across Astoria Bridge

Bridge he'll!!!!

Day 4 of the ride

Left Westport by 8 am and arrived at Cape Dissapointment by 5 pm.
Rode 92 mile under partly cloudy skys. The ride along Willapod Bay
was beatifull. Large mud flats, sloughs and rivers enter this very
special place. The oyster business is big in this area with 60 ft
piles of oyyster shells.

Canoe races on Lake Quinault

Jeff Reaves
Sent from my iPhone

Day 3 - second post

As predicted the rain came full force all day long. Decided it was
time for indoor shelter (motel) in Westport. The ride today was 96
miles due to the closure of the Ocean Shores/Westport ferry, which
added 25 miles. Started out at 8:30 am and finished around 4:30pm.
But even in the rain the coast is beautiful.

Day 3 in Olympic Rain Forest

Perdiction is rain all day and it's raining now. A wet slog today!

Day 2 of the ride

The ride today was from Bogachiel to Lake Quinault. It rained all
night, so getting the wet tent packed was a little messy. But the day
was without rain and even had a bit of sunshine. The ride took me
along the coast and had the first 40 miles done by noon.