The Road to the Crik

If you leave from the coast and head East on highway 299, about a 45 minute drive is a small town called Willow Creek (the boys from here pronounce it Willow Crik). To get there on 299 you end up going up and over 2 summits: Lord Ellis then Berry Summit. Usually, in the summer, as soon as you pass Lord Ellis you descend into beautiful sunshine, as the mountains have blocked the coastal fog. Willow Creek is on the banks of the Trinity River and is a favourite in the summer for river floating and rafting. It was the destination for my road ride of the week...

The morning was foggy. In Humboldt the fog is different, like a million tiny little raindrops that cloud your vision, thicken your sweat, and settle into your clothing, your skin, your muscles, and then your bones. Last night I had a dream that my legs had been replaced with logs. The logs were stiff and didn't bend. The ride starts with a climb--up and up a winding road with no end in sight, but hope that around every corner will be the summit. I had to check my legs to make sure the dream hadn't come true...and then check again. At the top of the first summit there is no view point...no feeling of being on top of the world...a quick picture and then I start the first descent, it is cold, fast, and narrow, but it feels so good to let my legs spin. The descent is long, but not long enough, the second summit is more of the same, but the top should have a "top of the world viewpoint." At the bottom the clouds and fog are above me, it is drier here, but as I climb I move through the cloud cover, the clouds cling and my clothing sags with the weight of it. The top of the climb is socked in with fog: fuzzy, cold, and blinding. I start the descent into Willow Creek, glad I am on the last leg. Once the descent is over I head through town and continue on a rolling winding road. The road surfaces are so nice here, fast and smooth. All along the side of the road are waterfalls and brilliant, dense greenery. The entire way the road winds over and beside rivers and canyons. The drivers were much better than I expected, most giving me a wide breadth and slowing as they passed.

I make it safely and comfortably to my dad's cabin in just under 3 hours, a beautiful ride (although a little wet and sloppy) and a solid workout! (For those in Victoria, it would be like 3 Malahats linked together!). I am now looking forward to a road ride today and some killer mountain bike rides at Paradise Royale and in Roseburg, Oregon this weekend with Drew (assuming he makes it through dinners with the parents!).