Lost Coast Ride

“It’s the bourbon boys!” she exclaims, entering the Victorian Inn dining room where my brothers and I are quietly sipping coffee as we review the day’s route.

We were given dispensation by the bar last night to finish our whiskey flight upstairs in the guest lounge at our own slow pace. We chatted late into the night, occasionally sharing witty banter with the only other person in the room, a winsome lady catching up on office work. She’s happy to see we survived, I think.

The shop is closed and there’s nobody around. Perhaps their season hasn’t started. So we find our own way back to the Hobbit-sized room carved haphazardly into the base of a redwood, a stop suggested on the official BDR route along the Avenue of the Giants scenic byway.

The gift shop across the highway is open so we saunter over. The lone lady behind the counter seems enthusiastic for company. Jeremy engages while Joel and I quietly back away and feign interest in sundry souvenirs.

The riding from the Inn this morning has been a blast. Idaho doesn’t generally pave its winding country lanes. Or grow so many wildflowers. I’ll let the video I’m recording do most the speaking for that aspect of the trip.

We’ve crossed the Eel River and climbed into mountains east of Highway 101. The terrain is like home but the trees and grassy ridges are a unique delight.

We drop out of the mountains back onto Highway 101 then cut across to Fort Bragg on the coast. It’s the busiest place we’ve been. We don’t mind leaving it behind, turning back north on Highway 1 for the short and remarkably beautiful remaining distance to our next stay.

The motel is just a few hundred feet from the beach. After we’ve dropped luggage to claim our beds (no take-backs), Joel and I go to investigate while Jeremy finishes some calls with home.

Joel puts his new riding/hiking boots to the test. He can practically walk up walls.

We bide our time waiting for Westport’s lone restaurant, The Old Abalone Pub, to open for dinner. I should probably say “savor,” not “bide.” It’s a perfect day in a perfect place.

Winds are coming strong across the water as we enjoy after dinner sand between the toes.

There is no cell coverage here and the WiFi was already iffy. Now the power has gone out.