Day 75: Vineyards and Vistas. Willits to Healdsburg

On this day we were given our first sights and tastes of California vineyards, and they did not disappoint. Rolling between field after field was unlike any set of fields we had seen prior, and it was peaceful and picturesque to a T. What followed was an unforgettable water balloon fight, meal, and team-wide conversation looking back on our ride as a whole.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 71.7

Elevation: +2396’/-3608’

General Direction: Use CA-20 to navigate to the southbound U.S. 101 on-ramp at mile 3.1, stay on for ten miles and exit onto Uva Drive, after 8.2 miles turn right onto north State Street and use this road and the Great Redwoods Trail Bike Path to cross through central Ukiah, turn left onto Talmage then right onto Ruddick Cunningham Road, at mile 28.4 turn right onto Old River Road, stay on until meeting with U.S. 101 at mile 41.1, enter the highway shoulder and stay on for 8.4 miles, take exit 525 toward Geysers Road, turn right onto Geysers Road at mile 49.7, then right on River Road at 52.9, right on Crooker Road at 53.8, and left on Asti Road at 54.7, stay on past Cloverdale for 13.8 miles until reaching outer Healdsburg, transfer to Healdsburg Ave. and turn left onto Terrace Boulevard at mile 70.8, follow to the end of this road to reach the stayover entrance.

Points of Interest: River Road, Russian River, California vineyards and fruit groves

Bike America Team at Pick’s Drive-In in Cloverdale.

Tales of the Trail

On this the third to last day of the summer, we would end up visiting our final McDonald’s rest stop, and in true poetic fashion, the first of these was on the third day of the ride. Just one of many of those interesting little ways in which this ride has progressed. Anyway, the day began with a Murphy’s Law level of stressful highway cycling on U.S. 101. Not only was the left lane completely closed off for construction, there was no shoulder on the right meaning we had to block the entirety of traffic for approximately six miles. Luckily, it was mainly downhill and there were a few places to pull off and let the dozens of cars and trucks that had accumulated pass us, but it was still one of the single most stressful ride segments we’ve ever done. The rest of the ride was quite mellow in comparison, and was mostly spent alongside 101 on some very eye-catching and quiet vineyard roads. Towns passed us by on occasion, and for lunch we stopped at Pick’s Drive-In in the town of Cloverdale. Some more bumpy roads following the Russian River brought us into the town of Healdsburg to end a successful ride day and our last one over 70 miles.

Jean’s expression says it all. Note the long line of cars passing us back.

Sam R and Emily rolling by a vineyard, a common site during the latter portion of this route.

Jaylen, Nina, and Patrick on the second stretch on the 101.

Tonight, we are staying at the Good Shepard Lutheran Church. Upon arrival we had a very fun and massive water balloon fight, a continuation of the smaller one that morning. We then took showers at a local health club (and possibly a dip in their hot tub) and upon returning to the church began preparing dinner. We were given the means to make an absolute feast from Costco by our hosts at the church, and in addition we were visited by Pastor Rob McNeill who talked with us and gave us a few bottles of wine he helped create from his time as a winemaker. There was tri-tip, salmon, pesto pasta, salads, and much more, and it was all incredibly delicious. Huge shoutout to Hanna, JY, and Edward who prepared everything. After dinner, we had another discussion as a team facilitated by Jaylen reflecting back on how far we had come, what this has meant to us and those we ride for in regard to our mission as a whole, and what this will mean for our lives going forward. Tomorrow will bring us within very close proximity of San Francisco, and the final two rides will be just a little longer than today’s ride combined.