13 October 1997 (very nice; sunny but cool! mileage = 59; Stanislaw
National Forest) -- X - The traffic on the highway was really busy and a
couple of times, a car came into the park or nearby. This, of course,
worried me and I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking, when the highway traffic
dies down, I'll be able to sleep. It got light before that happened! Oh
well. I rested and napped even if I didn't sleep real well. It was quite
chilly as I packed up. I started riding right away. The scenery quickly
changed to rangeland with barbed wire on both sides of the road. I hate
that. The highway was very wide, though. I wasn't riding very well. I
stopped at a closed country restaurant and made some oatmeal. I felt
better, but I was still riding poorly. I got to Chinese Camp and the
climbing really got going. When I got to the Big Oak Climb, I chose the
short 2-mile route instead of the 4.5. It was like doing pull ups with a
backpack on. Once I got to the top of that, surprise! More climbing. I
stopped at a BP and bought some snacks, including a Ben & Jerry's for
lunch. I was really riding like shit in the afternoon, but I was OK to keep
going. I stopped at a huge vista that looked down on everything. It was
called "Rim of the Earth" or something. I talked to a tourer coming the
other way. He had just done the park and he gave me his still valid
receipt. I put some air in my back tire. I stopped at a national forest
campground (primitive, but H2O). It was $10 and a ranger driving thru said
I could camp anywhere in the national forest for free. Cool. So I got some
HO and did a bunch more climbing. I found a perfect spot, just off the
road. It's blocked so cars can't get back here. I made Knorr packet #1 and
had a good dinner. I was, of course, worried about bears, so I did it all
quickly, then put all my food, trash and the pot I cooked with (semi-clean,
low H2O) into the black bag. I already had strung a line before dinner. I
also laid out my stuff and am ready to sleep. I just hope I can stop
worrying about the damn bears. I've done all I can. This place had lots of
gnats when I got here (which are a treat after mosis) but when I stopped
pouring with sweat, they stopped bothering me. If the bears weren't a
problem for me, this place would be as perfect as it gets -- except one
thing. No April. Bedtime and it's just getting dark.
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