A Race Against Winter

Bodega Bay, CA

(you rush to the UCDavis Marine Lab for the last twenty minutes they are open to the public. you end up staying for over an hour, getting a behind the scenes tour and an abalone shell)

Day: 5 Dec 2008
Weather: blasting 10 knot wind from the southeast (aka in your face) 60 degrees
Health: excited about a shower
Food: french bread, cheese, avocado, and tomato sandwiches
Next Landmark: San Francisco, 66 miles
Distance Traveled: 530 miles

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Point Reyes/ Olema, CA 6 Dec 2008

You reach Pt Reyes Station after over 40 long and greuling miles (you had to stop in the middle and fix Jenn's brakes). Your hostel is 5 miles uphill and is it beginning to get dark. You can:

1. Go to the hostel anyways.
2. Find a pricey inn.
3. Go 2 miles south to olema and stay in the campground.

Which do you choose? 3

You chose to stay in olema at the campground. A local invites you to a holiday community gathering in a barn. You attend, but are too late for the food and hot apple cider. You stay to hear a story told about the Peacemaker of the Mohawk nation from the Great Lakes region.

Playing Munchkin in the Land of Tall Trees

Hendy Woods State Park, CA

(pass through wine country, fog, and land of many hills to reach the "Gentle Giants" of Northern California)

Day: 29 Nov 2008
Weather: 65 and sunny
Health: found that the legs, not the lungs are the limiting factor in CA
Food: Local hard apple cider and raspberry jam, mmm
Next Landmark: The Pacific Ocean, 25 miles
Distance Traveled: 425 miles

Cold Dinner means Sad Bellies

Lake Solano, CA 24 Nov 2008

Oh No! Your MSR fuel bottle exploded from a leak! You eat cold ravioli for dinner and must go without hot cocoa for the night. Spend an extra day in Yolo county hunting down a camping store and refueling.

The Grand Canyon National Park

Flagstaff, AZ

You spent 4 days backpacking the Grand Canyon National Park. Catch a train from Flagstaff, AZ to Davis, CA to begin Stage 2: The California Coast.

End Stage 1: The High Mountains of AZ

Flagstaff, Arizona - 16 November 2008

Congratulations! You have completed Stage 1 of the Great Western United States Cycling Adventure Tour Trail! You rest in Flagstaff for a few days, restock supplies, and visit the Grand Canyon!

Press ENTER to continue onto Stage 2: The California Coast

Camping out, attempt 2

("Disperse" camp at closed for winter camp ground, talk to local cyclists, witness awesome sunset from lake shore)

Lakeview Camp Ground, AZ

Date: 14 Nov 2008
Weather: 70 and sunny! slight breezes
Health: Tired and smelly
Food: Hummus and OJ
Next Landmark: 16 miles (Flagstaff)
Miles Traveled: aprox. 250 miles

Nature always wins

Camp Mormon Lake, AZ - 13 Nov 2008

Lo gets stung by a bee in the forehead while whizzing down a hill, you can:

1. Stop at fire station at bottom of hill to smoosh bee, gathering stares from local fireman.
2. Get ice, advice, and lunch at the local tavern, you're the biggest thing that's happpend since the hotshots left to fight CA fires.
3. Hope she isnt allergic to bees.

What is your choice? 4 (all of the above) _