Day 8 Eureka!

Today could have been frustrating but we made our lemons into lemonade. The bike shop didn't open until 10 am so we picked up a McDonald's breakfast to eat while we visited with interesting people at the laundromat. The bike shop finally opened at 11 but they had no parts and no one with any expertise, so we loaded the bike and drove to Crescent City, California just 6 miles away.

California has treated us so well, starting with a bike shop owner/cyclist who diagnosed the problem, disassembled the pedals, cranks, and front drive, then cleaned, re-greased, lube,  re-torqued, and put on new brake pads. From his own experience, he knew that the rain would drive the grit from the road into the mechanisms. The better  part of 2 hours of work for a grand total of $20.00! I almost hugged him. Bryan would get his ride in today after all.

While our new friend worked his magic, we took a tour into the Jedediah Smith Redwood State park on the advice of a forestry officer at the tourism centre.  As we slowly wended our way among these giants on an old stagecoach route, we were overwhelmed by their beauty and majesty.
The pristine air and cushioned paths removed any residual frustration we may have felt this morning. We were glad that we had made the decision to enjoy being tourists together today.

We returned to Crescent City early in the afternoon, with time to make another recommended stop at the harbor of Anchor Way. Sea lions basked in the 20 degree sunshine right on the wharf, slipping back into the water at times. Why not have fish and chips at the restaurant a few steps away from them and watch their activities while we eat? We felt a bit like the sea lions afterwards, satisfied and sleepy.

Continuing with plan to make this a rest day, but to still add some distance, we carried on down the highway. Road construction, moss on the road and narrow margins made us glad that we did. Bryan thought that this was the most dangerous piece of road on the trip so far even though there were many more old growth redwoods to admire. However, by 3:30, he was ready to test the bike and his legs from just outside of Orick to Eureka, a total of around 80 kilometres.

Ahead of him in Eureka, I enjoyed walking the waterfront, checking out antique shops and galleries and seeing the Victorian architecture of the old town.

By 5:45, I was parked by the Target store just off the 101, hoping that Bryan would see our SUV. Of course I had to see what was inside the store too, and get a black, Starbucks grande to have ready for Bryan when he rolled in at 6:30. Good timing again! Once we booked into the Super 8, we walked over to a Mexican restaurant that made a huge burrito for Bryan.

All in all, a great welcome into California. Why let setbacks hold you back?