CYCLING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA-PLUMAS COUNTY TO THE PACIFIC

PLUMAS TO PACIFIC

A story of 3 cyclists crossing California via dirt and backroads simply because it is what they love to do.

I was fortunate enough to be part of the support team for a cycling trip going from Plumas County in eastern California to the west coast near Fort Bragg, almost due west.  I was able to do some photography and be there with my cyclist sweetheart Larry to watch him do an epic ride.

The Plumas to Pacific bike ride included John 59 (a cabinet maker), Larry 61 (drywall/framer) and  Kest 64 (a retired school principal). They went  260 miles in three days from Taylorsville, CA to the Pacific Ocean.  Due west in the middle of a hot July summer through high mountain passes on dirt and paved roads and through valleys where temperatures reached in the triple digits.

Larry's Domane

They took 6 bikes (3 road bikes for the paved areas and 3 mountain bikes for the dirt roads).    I drove sag as did Johns wife, Patty who drove their van so we had 2 vehicles, lots of water, food and ice.

While the men were hitting the pedals in our spare time Patty and I found plenty to do.  She was very good at finding little oasis ahead to park in and spend some nice quality time reading.  I was usually following up the rear playing with my new lens and trying to catch the guys along the scenic route.  

The first day was leaving Taylorsville going through Indian Valley up around Lake Almanor turning on Humbolt Road, a dirt road, that took them over the northern Sierra Nevada Mountain range and down through Jonesville where they switched to road bikes and on to highway 32.  Then long stretches of paved highway downhill that dropped into Chico, CA.

Chico was a good spot for Kest to stop and get his brakes adjusted on his mountain bike and for an ice cream break.  Then it was on to Orland to spend the night and cool off in the hotel pool after biking 111 miles, 23 miles of it dirt and an elevation gain of 5726'.

         

The next morning at sunrise the guys left Orland.  

     

The road twisted through a lot of farming country and low rolling hills.    We followed Newville Rd until we came to road #306 that ran for miles until turning on Alder Springs Rd which started an immediate climb.  About two thirds of the way up the road turned to dirt and a switch to mountain bikes for the next 30 miles.  At one point Alder Springs Road turns into Mendicino Pass Road or HWY 162.

It was a constant climb with very little leveling off running deep into the high mountains until finally hitting the top.

There were Alpine Meadows looking down upon the valley below. What a spectacle to look down and realize leg power had gotten them to this point. A good place to stop and get in some photos for everyone. 

The decent into Covolo was an 18 mile descent.  

John arriving in Covolo

After 30 miles of dusty dirt roads and 65 miles of pavement we came to Covolo.  What a welcome site.

We left Covolo at 6:15 Sunday morning.  It took half a day to reach the Pacific Ocean.  Traveling on pavement, then 10 miles of dirt on the Dios Rios Road then pavement again going through Laytonville and on to meet up with highway 1.

End of the road

The three arrived at the Pacific Ocean at Westport on Sunday afternoon after 260 miles.  60 miles of it on dirt roads with an elevation gain of 20,679'. 

Made it!

A big thanks to John for everything!  He put this ride together and put a lot of planning to painstakingly map the route out to avoid traffic.  He is a common site along the roads in our small Indian Valley area and can be seen hitting the pedals most days. 

What a great time was had.   I am sure that Patty would agree with me that being with our sweethearts during a special time was such enjoyment plus simply being in the outdoors made for a fantastic trip.  

The guys were all so dedicated at pushing their bodies to the limit in order to pursue a dream.  A dream that is something that they simply love doing.

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©2017  Elaine Taddei.  This story and images are copyright and all rights are reserved