May 9th--Elk Prairie to Eureka

Some highlights:

Get up to check if there were elk in the meadow
Make mate and pero from water boiled with Martin's "Zip" stove
Natalie discovers i'm from Brookville, like her ex, and i discover she's from Dayton.
We talk about Cycles Gansaari (was this maybe the previous night?)
Natalie and i head to Orick for b-fast while Martin goes exploring bike trails in the redwoods
More elk sightings en route to Orick
"Elk Conditions tune to AM 1650"
I remember it's called Angelica
Palm Cafe, as if there are palms anywhere nearby
Biscuits and gravy and eggs and hash browns
Waiting for three more hours for Martin.
Planned food for trip to Redding
We leave around 1:15pm--i go south, Natalie heads back to camp
Humboldt Lagoons
Lots of trucks
Climb up to Patricks Point
Hike to Ceremonial Rock
Ride around park
Nice ride down Patricks Point Dr., not a whole lot of traffic
Feeling kind of low energy, so eat a lara bar
Stop in Trinidad and have some interestingly-seasoned fries and a coffee
Sign indicates that Scenic Dr. is closed in two miles.
Scenic Dr. is a lot like Ocean Drive yesterday--similar grades, with some gravel and dirt, but mostly paved, some very narrow sections
Scenic Dr. blocked off with concrete barriers at Luffenholtz Creek, with rough gravel crossing creek.
More concrete barriers on other side of crossing. Had to walk this section
Lots of cars parked around here, on both sides, with people visiting Luffenholtz Beach and Tepona Point.
Took pictures from Tepona Point
Scenic Dr. soon reunited with Hwy 101
Got off at next exit to Clam Beach
Clam Beach Dr. reminded me of frontage roads in Santa Barabara County
Hammond trail started at end of Clam Beach Dr.
Trail was paved at first, but then sections of gravel and decomposed granite, then pavement again.
Yellow lupine
McKinleyville, where horses have the right of way
Got back on 101 at Airport Rd., again going one exit to Murray
From end of Murray back on Hammond trail, now all paved
Trail followed old Fischer Ave. on bridge over Mad River.
Zig-zagging, taking right angles on rural roads into Arcata.
Passed quickly through Arcata
Zipped past roadie on 7th St. climb up to Bayside
Nice ride on Old Arcata Rd. through foothills above Humboldt Bay
Followed Old Aracata until it became Myrtle, then took a detour up to Freshwater to scope out the park
Nice ride from Freshwater Corners along Freshwater Slough
Big climb up to Myrtletown on other side of Ryan Slough
Slow decent into Eureka
Still no cell phone reception
Co-op disappeared and covered in Tyvek
Natural foods store on other side of town, right next to Sprint store
Call nextel tech support to no avail
Call Adrienne from payphone, but it won't take incoming calls
Check into Red Lion
Go a block over for Indian food, order a bunch for me and Adrienne and Adrienne's lunch tomorrow
Go back to hotel to shower while waiting
Get food and scarf up a bunch of it
Charge electronics
Write