Wednesday, July 29th, 2015
Start/End: Mt. Shasta/Redding, CA
Mileage: 64+
Weather: Very chilly in the morning and very hot as the sun climbed above the mountains
This morning we are just so thankful for the Hope Community Church in Mt. Shasta to allow us to sleep in the gym of their facility. It was a very large space that accommodated our group very well.
When we got rolling this morning, earlier than usual in hopes to avoid the heat, we found ourselves very chilly. The sun had not yet risen over the mountains and the trees so for the first 15-20 miles, we were in the shade, primarily going down hills feeling the brisk air. That brisk air would completely vanish before long, though. We followed along side roads of I-5 as long as we could before those roads became very non-existent and we jumped onto I-5 heading south. It was actually labeled as a bike route, which was very encouraging from a safety standpoint. Along the interstate, there were signs reminding drivers to be aware of cyclists and to share the road, as well as a generous shoulder with rumble strips separating us from traffic
The day was truly a beautiful ride as we were passing through smaller mountains/hills that were beautifully and thickly forested. This part of California was definitely not the heavily populated Cali that we all thought of, but instead had signs warning of wildlife crossings (including for bears!). Fortunately, the only wildlife we saw on the interstate were these gecko/lizard guys that were enjoying the sun-heated pavement.
The day was mostly downhill and quick, but we did have some decent climbing in the region. During some of these climbs we observed the most of what was around us, including Lake Shasta, whose water levels are noticeably very low. Hearing about the drought and actually seeing the honest impact can be very different.
As we neared Redding, we could tell we were approaching a more populated region and the interstate was no longer an option for bicycles, which was fine because there were many bike route designated roads and bike trails. As we neared he stayover, many groups decided to first check out an In-And-Out burger place, which can be found only in California. Afterwards, they rolled to our stayover, which had amazing fixings for sandwhiches, chips, cookies, fruit and carrots prepared for us. It was such a wonderful surprise and we are so thankful for their willingness to make sure we were not up hungry.
Once the groups arrived, we began shuttling the team to the nearby YMCA, who had arranged for us to use their pool and showers if desired. For a few of us, it had been a few days since a shower, so this was a very appreciated gesture. We all began to realize how dirty we all were…. Alas, we were clean and we are so thankful for their generosity.
For dinner, our stayover arranged an amazing carry-in where many members of their congregation brought different types of dishes for us to eat, including pastas, breads, salad, fruit and a wonderful spread of desserts. We were so thankful for the time we got to spend interacting with members of this community who had a strong interest and passion for our organization. We got to hear about their lives, and for some, their connection to cancer, and in return, we answered their questions about the organization. We had a great time sharing some of our personal reasons for doing the ride and how for many of us, these reasons have evolved to include a much larger group of people. Oh. And I can’t forget to mention that we had white paper placemats with crayons, which brought out the artistic side of all of us.
It was an amazing time with this community and are so excited that this is our second year visiting the First United Methodist Church here. We are so thankful for their support and generosity of our group and the organization as a whole.
Tomorrow again we are hoping to leave early in order to get some miles under our belt before it heats up to the triple digits, but we will take it easy, stay hydrated and for now, head to bed so that we can be rested and ready!
It has started to hit many of us how little time we have left together….
-LAH
