Day 24--JESS TAKES A FALL

September 28, 2000
Standish Hickey State Recreation Area, CA

Over breakfast, we had a good talk with Kevin. His last name is Moriarty, and last year he cycle-toured Ireland. He and Jim got out of camp just ahead of us. We stopped in a little cafe in Leggett for breakfast. We were going to get a photo of us cycling through the drive-thru redwood, but when we found there was an admission charge, we decided not.

Susan and Kevin at breakfast deep in the dark redwoods

Left: The reason it was so dark at breakfast and right, the drive through redwood tree which cars/cyclists had to pay to drive through. We decided not to be tourists here.

We had a couple of waysides this morning, the neatest being the Darlingtonia Wayside which was a bit off the road and was a boggy area filled with carnivorous pitcher plants. 

Darlingtonia Wayside sign and its pitcher plants

Leggett Hill was NOTHING! So much for anticipation. It was not as high as we thought because we started at about 800 feet. Not very steep, either. We had climbed many other tougher hills. Leggett Hill was just a twisty long climb with one hairpin and many s-curves. Another example of our elevation map views being misleading.

A laughing Jessica starting up Leggett Hill. The last she would be on her bike for several days.

THE ACCIDENT

I was just starting the descent when ahead of me I heard Jessica yell. My heart went into my throat. Jess barrels down these downhills and I imagined her misjudging an S-curve and falling off the mountain. I increased my speed, and when I rounded a turn, I was actually relieved to see Jess lying in the road.

CALDOT was doing roadwork, and about a third of the way down the other side, and had removed a strip all the way across the road, but had put out no cones or warning. Jess took a spill on this fresh gravel that she couldn't see with the sun/shade patterns and her dark glasses. She has road rash on her left leg and hip and a chunk out of her elbow. She did not hit her head, but is very shaky and shocked. I administered what first-aid we had (antiseptic swabs, band-aids, and aspirin) and then stuck out my thumb and we caught a ride to Ft Bragg with Judy and Hannah, a very interesting mother/daughter in an RV. They had been on the road from Boston for almost four months. Had sold their house and stored some things, bought the RV, and were exploring North America in search of a new place to put down roots.They are going to try to meet us at Jess' place for a night on the town.

Right now I am in the Fort Bragg hospital waiting room while Jess gets her elbow attended to. It is 3 p.m. & Jess is finished —wounds cleaned and elbow stitched, so now we will find a place to eat. There was actually a pocket in her elbow full of gravel and she reported that the cleaning process was not fun. Both of us are ravenous as we've had nothing since breakfast at 8:30.

Another cycling tourist's photo of starting up Leggett Hill, this taken in 2008, eight years later. Apparently there was more construction going on but at least CALDOT marked it with small signs this time. P.S.:  Photos always flatten hills.

We were going to take the Skunk Train from here across the coastal mountains to my sister Sarah's house in Willits, CA,  but our reservations are for tomorrow and they are booked today. So, Sarah is coming over after work to pick us up about 9 p.m. We are disappointed that we will miss riding the Skunk.

The Skunk Train

Well, it's now 6 and we are sitting in the North Coast Brewing Co. having wandered Ft Bragg for 3 hrs. We did drop off film to be developed, so you should be getting more pics soon. Jess is stiffening up and feeling the full effects of her accident, so it is best that we have a day and a half of rest ahead of us.

Miles: 14

Route: Leggett to Ft. Bragg; 14 miles pedaled up (and part way down) Leggett Hill on Rt 1 and in and around Ft Bragg. Rode to FB in an RV on Rt 1.

Weather: Sunny and warm