More giant trees.

My day begins with riding the vacant South Fork Road back to civilization. It’s just as empty and fun as it was yesterday. The turns provide a nice early morning dose of adrenaline.

[early morning on South Fork Road]

I jump back on the Pacific Coast Highway and continue south. The curvy road dives into the woods, then back to the coast on a very enjoyable rhythm. The passing lanes every ten miles keeps the pace enthralling.

[riding the Pacific Coast Highway]

[riding the Pacific Coast Highway]

[riding the Pacific Coast Highway]

Just when I think that I had seen the extent of the redwoods, I come across a sign for the Avenue of the Giants. The road weaves through densely packed groves of enormous redwood trees. The trees are just as big as yesterday, but the road is paved and perfectly curvy. I have realized that roads which parallel rivers or climb mountains have a tendency to make a lot of turns, but I took for granted roads needing to navigate 2000 year old trees. The curvature and camber of the turns cannot be premeditated. They respond to the location of the trunks of the giants and vary from wide sweeping glances at high speed to slow winding loops around the circumference of the monster trees. Judging by the lack of bark on the side facing the road, more than a few of the trees have been struck by passing vehicles.

[weaving through the redwoods]

[fallen redwood trees]

[same fallen tree in the above shot]

[riding in the redwoods]

I’m tempted off the road to ride through one of the trees. It’s pretty amazing just how big they really are.

[riding through a redwood]

I eventually pop out of the Avenue of the Giants near the small town in Garberville. I decide to check-in to a roadside motel and see what the podunk town has to offer.

I meet an interesting group of characters in the local bar who introduce themselves as “outlaws.” It turns out that I’m in the heart of Humboldt County, the marijuana capital of the country. They are all known as “trimmers” and are happy to discuss the ins and outs of their trade with me. I question the impacts of legalization on their business, which sparks a very heated debate. It’s a fascinating crew to hang out with for an evening. I learned a lot.