In Search of Bigfoot

Here's a rare photo of the mighty Panasonic road bike. Behind it is a super-sized sasquatch, much larger than the ones you typically see around here in the woods or washing themselves at Stone Lagoon. Most of us are so accustomed to the sasquatches that we wouldn't bother with such statues. To paraphrase Reagan. "You've seen one sasquatch and you've seen them all."

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Ride Date: Thursday, April 5

Route: McKinleyville to Willow Creek and back via Arcata Bottoms, Valley West and Highway 299

Distance: Approx. 88 miles

Elevation gain: Approx. 8,500 ft.

Start time: 7:45 a.m.

End time: 5:30 p.m.

Total trip time: 9 hours, 45 minutes

Easy part: Getting to Willow Creek

Hard part: Getting back from Willow Creek

Biggest worry: Mechanical failure

Mechanical difficulties: Flat tire while climbing out of Willow Creek

Favorite tool: CO2 tire inflator!!!

Best food: A basket of freedom fries drenched in catsup from the Raging Creek Eatery in Willow Creek.

Worst food: None. All fuel was enjoyed.

Liquids consumed: 108 fluid ounces of water (that’s about 4 1/2 extra large water bottles), 16 ounces hot tea, 16 ounces of V-8 Splash, for a total of 140 ounces.

Sweating: Profuse

Low point: Climbing out of Willow Creek through hot canyon knowing that I had many, many miles to go. Became concerned about heat stroke.

High points: Sense of accomplishment when I rolled into Willow Creek. Reaching Lord Ellis Summit on return trip. Pedalling through the fog in the Arcata Bottoms knowing that I had made it to Willow Creek and back and was almost home.

Aches and pains: Everywhere, everything

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I compared my foot to Bigfoot's foot.

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Berry Summit is at 2,803 feet. But I'm in such great shape that it only felt like climbing 2,795 feet.

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Willow Creek reminds me of the town in "Rambo, First Blood."

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I looked at him, he looked at me.

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Hell yeah! Two Bigfoot photos on a single trip. What more could you ask for?