Pebble Beach Classic Rally – August 2014 – Day 6

We have experienced a huge range of temperatures today. This morning started cool and foggy, requiring a jumper and jacket. By mid morning it was warm and shirtsleeves were the way to travel . After lunch it must have been in the high 90s– really hot– as we headed for the coast. When we reached the coast it was back into jumpers and jackets. Strange.

Last night at dinner we heard about a coffee shop in Eureka with a motorcycling theme, so we decided to check it out on our way out of town. Good decision. It is called “Lightning”. I had easily the best coffee (in a mug) i have had in America. Lightning features a collection of interesting motorbikes and memorabilia and the owner is a delightful guy.

It also features on a wall a mural of Roly Free setting a speed record at Bonneville lying prone on his Vincent Black Lightning wearing only a crash helmet and bathers! What a man!. Please support it next time you are in Eureka.

After leaving Eureka we did a bit of freeway motoring to Ferndale, which has a lovely Victorian main street. The many and varied shops feature some really high quality craft and art and some great antiques and quirky stuff. As luck would have it there was a liquor store open, so we were able to stock up for our lunchtime BBQ among the redwoods.

The road to the Avenue of the Giants went through a valley chock full of cows. The road, unusually, was quite rough. Then we hit the Avenue of the Giants and drove for 10 miles through giant redwoods. Fantastic. We stopped at a picnic area and really did have a BBQ under the Redwoods. The red was a local petit shiraz and very palatable indeed.

The afternoon started very hot as we wound our way through more forest to the coast. Once we hit the coast the road became much easier as it ran along the cliffs above the coast. I have to say that it puts the Great Ocean Road to shame. And Reg says that it is like this nearly all the way to San Francisco.

Our afternoon finished with a run down the Coast through Fort Bragg , Mendocino and Little River
( without the Band)

Tonight we are staying at the Heritage House Resort, which is excellent so far, apart from the fact that our room has only a double bed and a couch.
Tomorrow we are going to visit what we are told is the best car collection in the World.
Stay tuned!

- Fitz