Eagle screamed. We jumped aboard for a flight through the Coastal Ranges to the ocean and back. Our 150 mile trip started on US 101 at Ukiah
south to CA 253. The road wound southwest through orchards and vineyards
until it started to curve and climb.
At Boonville we picked up CA 128 northwest toward the ocean.
We cruised through a stand of beautiful coastal redwoods
before turning north on CA 1. Here we traded the sunshine for foggy marine layer.
We wound along the Pacific coast as far as Mendicino
then turned around and went south.
We stayed on 1, riding in and out of fog and sunshine sometimes right along the steep rocky cliffs, sometimes across the windswept headlands.
We enjoyed our coast ride as far as Manchester, where we picked up Mountain View Rd for the ride home.
Inland we wound up, down two mountain ridges, both over 2000' with steep grades of 6-13% that wound around narrow canyons, gullies, and valleys
through pine and mixed wood forests.
We reentered Boonville from the west and stopped at a local cafe for lunch before continuing on 253 up the last last mountain. Here for the first time all day we finally shed our layers. This morning the temperature was in the upper 50's, and stayed chilly through the whole trip. In the marine layer it felt even colder!
Through the last leg of the ride the temperature became warmer and warmer until we finally reached Ukiah where it was actually hot.
This loop was absolutely wonderful. The twisty, rolling roads winding through a variety of scenery with cooler temperatures was just what we needed.
Our part should be here Monday.
Louise and Duane
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