Today I cycled down the coast following highway 1. I started at sea level, ended at sea level, never went above 350 feet, yet still managed to do well over 5,000 feet of climbing. The coast road was rarely flat; instead, it went up and down undulations, and dropped and rose sharply around river and stream outlets. At least the wind, which picked up a lot by the afternoon, was blowing in my favor.

I passed through Fort Bragg in the morning, the largest town on the Mendocino coast, picked up some groceries, and then the rest of the day was cycling down the much more remote section of the highway. It was very tiring, but the coastal views were pretty amazing—a lot of cliffs and little bays.

This evening I am camped in the very tippity top of Sonoma County, which officially puts me in the Bay Area! Still, I’m a long way from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley. I’m camped under a thick stand of bay trees, which are rustling and creaking in the wind. The campsite is nestled in a small stand of redwoods too. Tomorrow I should get to Marin, and then I’ll definitely feel like I’m in the Bay Area.