The winding road follows the coast under blue skys, with views of sea stacks and arches. The are only a few scattered houses and our destination, Point Arena, turns out to be another small town that is closing down. The RV site has turned into cheap housing, and both the towns motels are derelict. A lady pulls up her Ute as she sees us stumped and directs us 1 mile to a little fishing harbour where there is a posh hotel and restaurant. When the Maltese manageress hears our Brit accents, she gives us a generous discount for the only rooms left, the honeymoon suites! The jacuzzi is just what a cyclist needs!
Next morning, an undulating ride in scenery that is Mediterranean; rosemary, alovea and pines under a dark blue sky. We purchase bananas at Stewart Point in a beautifully maintained timber general store (1868), and the local sheriff was having his coffee break too! These chaps stop for cake as often as cyclists, so no wonder they are all rather rotund. Then the most memorable road of the trip, hugging the cliff 500 ft above above the surf for 20 miles with views of the coast north and south, sea stacks, beaches and seals. In some places there is a new barrier, others just a few blades of grass to stop a cyclist falling down the cliff! Exhilarating!
Camp is on the dunes at Bodega Bay after 64 wonderful miles.
Tour miles to date: 1,606
Location:Fort Bragg to Bodega Bat
