Redwoods

From Clear Lake I jogged over to the coast to enjoy a little bit of Highway 1.  It looked like a short detour on the map, but the route to get there was something special. 

I had stumbled upon one of the great motorcycle rides in the country.  As this website describes it, "If you love BIG Redwood trees, beautiful green forests, creeks, ferns and rays of sunshine streaking through the trees and illuminating the forest floor, this is the ride for you."

The route takes you through the mysteriously named Jackson Demonstration State Forest, which is a "working forest" sold to California from a logging company in 1947.  As far as I can tell, it's working quite well.  

Here's the route:  

That jaunt through the Jackson Demonstration State Forest is out of this world.  It's nothing but switchbacks and crazy s-turns for 22 miles.  Every inch of the road seemed to require braking, throttle, downshifts, upshifts, accelerating, engine braking, and every kind of turn known to a rider.  The road was flawless.  

The redwoods were enormous, the smells were beautiful and fresh, and the best parts were the corridors of forest with sunshine fighting through the canopy.  My pictures don't do it justice.  

I went long stretches without seeing another vehicle. 

It was a physical, taxing, and rewarding ride -- much like the rest of this journey.  

Finally, a shout-out to Fort Bragg.  I went from hot and sunny to cold and foggy in a heartbeat, and I still loved that quaint little seaside town.  The ocean landscape was as intimidating and beautiful as I had imagined.  

What a gorgeous little corner of the country.