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Uphill Into A Headwind

@intoaheadwind.bsky.social

50 followers 1 following 120 posts

No matter which way I go, Conditions change to make it so; I’m going uphill or into a headwind. 🚵🏼‍♂️ #BicycleTouring focused account of @bioalex.bsky.social. #Cycling #Bicycle #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · Jul 31

My 6th long bicycle journey has begun, so I guess I’d better start posting about it and making this account more active!

The current #BicycleTour is basically me taking a break from the grinds of capitalism & being a bicycling nomad until I find a place to stop.

#BikeSky #BicycleTouring

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 1d

And sadly, all good things must come to an end. Goodbye, Avenue of the Giants, perhaps my favorite route to #bicycle in the entire US. Hello again US101 with all of your truck traffic (but hey, quite a lot of wide shoulders!).
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California

Photograph of a wider part of the Eel River giving way to a broad far bank rising to a forest covered mountain under a clear blue sky

Photograph near the end of the Avenue of the Giants with Forest on the left side of the road and the Eel River and more Forest on the right under a blue sky with a bright sun

Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a lime green bicycle helmet, a forest green buff, and a black tank top, looking sad because I’ve come to the end of the Avenue of the Giants.

Photograph of the on ramp to US101 at the end of the Avenue of the Giants with signs saying Freeway Entrance US 101 on both sides of the on ramp

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 1d

Heh. As I was taking my phone off the QuadLock mount to take some pictures of the Avenue of the Giants, I accidentally pressed the photo button & got the first shot, which isn’t bad if you ignore my head intruding. 😅 Anyway, the Avenue is a magical place.
🌲🌲🚵🏼‍♂️🌲🌲
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California

Photograph looking straight up under redwood trees showing them towering up into the forest canopy beyond which is clear blue sky

Photograph of the Avenue of the Giants between towering redwood trees

Photograph of a huge redwood tree trunk in the foreground with towering redwoods in the forest beyond

Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a life green bicycle helmet, a lime green windbreaker, and my backpack. The photo is aimed upwards to show the redwood trees towering over me

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 1d

The Eel River is a constant companion along the Avenue of the Giants. Both times I’ve seen it (now & back in 2021) it has seemed to be running a bit shallow, but I’m sure that’s fine. Totally fine. Right? 😥

Still it is mighty pretty when it shows itself though the trees. 🌲🚵🏼‍♂️👍🏼
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Photograph of The Eel River near the Avenue of the Giants with redwood forests growing along it and reflected in its still waters all under a clear blue sky

Photograph of the Eel River near the Avenue of the Giants showing redwood forests growing along its banks and reflected in its still waters

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Reposted by Uphill Into A Headwind

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 2d

“When streets became calmer & safer, more people felt comfortable trying a bike commute for the first time. Families began pedaling to the park…Local businesses saw new life…And cycling stopped feeling like a niche activity—it became part of everyday Parisian life.”

Via @momentummag.bsky.social

New Study Shows How Paris Pedaled Its Way to a Cycling Revolution

Cycling through central Paris meant weaving between buses and scooters—a bold choice reserved for the fearless few.

momentummag.com

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 4d

As I’m taking an off day to enjoy being in this magnificent forest, I’m not doing much riding today. Did take a quick ride into Meyers Flat to get some lunch, & I saw this patch of #redwood forest that I stopped at. Such big trees. For reference, I’m 170cm tall.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California

Photograph of a fallen redwood stump leaning against a live redwood tree that towers up to the canopy in the middle of a redwood forest

Photograph of me standing arms outstretched in front of a fallen redwood stump leaning between two towering huge live redwood trees in the middle of a redwood forest

Photograph of redwood trees in a redwood forest just towering into the sky

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 4d

…anything close to what it feels like to #bicycle along this road under these towering giants leaning over you like the vaulted ceiling of a cathedral. #Cycling the Avenue of the Giants is THE best way to experience it. 🌲🌲🚵🏼‍♂️🌲🌲 7/7
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California #Redwoods

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 4d

Ended the day at the hiker/biker camp at the Burlington Campground. I don’t need a rest day, but that’s not going to stop me from taking an extra day here camped under these beautiful giants.

I didn’t take many photos along the way because they just don’t capture… 6/7
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Photograph of a campsite with a grey tent, a picnic table, and my bicycle leaning against the table under towering redwood trees as the afternoon sun peeks through the trees

Photograph of a campsite with from left to right a bear box, a grey tent, my bicycle with full panniers, and a picnic table all under towering redwood trees with some sunlight penetrating between them

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 4d

No matter how I tweaked the exposure, I found it difficult to capture how the darkness under the #redwood trees felt. Not oppressive or scary but impressive just how dark it gets despite full daylight. What happens when giants blot out the sun. 5/7
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California #redwoods

Photograph of the Avenue of the Giants curving away under towering redwood trees

Photograph a “cockpit view” from my bicycle of the Avenue of the Giants curving away under towering redwood trees

Selfie of me on my bicycle aimed upward to attempt to show the enormity of the redwood tree I’m next to

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 4d

A break in the #redwoods gives a view of the Eel River and surrounding forests. 4/7
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Photograph of the Eel River winding into the distant forested mountains under a clear blue sky

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 4d

A few kilometers into the Avenue of the Giants there are some produce stands along the road. This one sells blackberry popsicles for $2.50, and it is absolutely worth it to stop for one. 🤤 3/7
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California

Photograph of a produce stand on the Avenue of the Giants called “Flood Plain Produce” which also sells homemade blackberry popsicles.

Photograph of a produce stand sign showing that it is open and advertising produce, flowers, and blackberry popsicles

Photograph of the gardens behind the produce stand with many flowers growing and a squat table of pumpkins and other gourds in the foreground

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 4d

It’s really difficult to capture just how huge these trees are and how it feels to pass beneath them on a bicycle. Very much a mouse trying to not be under foot at a cocktail party. 🌲🌲🚵🏼‍♂️🌲🌲2/7
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California #Redwoods

Photograph of the Avenue of the Giants stretching into the distance under towering redwood trees on both sides.

Selfie of me on my bicycle on the Avenue of the Giants as the road stretches into the distance under towering redwood trees

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 4d

At last! The start of one of my favorite routes in all of the USA. Here’s a thread of pictures from the start up to Burlington Campground. Pictures don’t really do the Avenue of the Giants justice, but they sort of get the idea across. 1/7
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California #Redwoods

Photograph of the exit sign for the Avenue of the Giants on US 101 in California

Selfie of me on my bicycle in front of the exit sign for Avenue of the Giants on US 101 in California

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 4d

Away from the sea and back into the country side as I approach one of my most anticipated segments of this journey. Here’s the Eel River and surrounding forests and mountains from the Sam Helwar vista point on US101.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California

Photograph of the Eel River and surrounding forests and mountains under a clear blue sky from the Sam Helwar vista point on US 101 in California

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 4d

I do so love a good paved #bicycle path. The Humboldt Bay Trail from Arcata to Eureka, #California is fantastic. Nice ride in its own right and an excellent break from the traffic along US101. 😎🚵🏼‍♂️👍🏼
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Photograph of a “cockpit view” of my bicycle looking down a nicely paved bicycle path with a fence along the left and Humboldt Bay on the right under a cloudy sky

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 5d

It’s just north of McKinleyville California on US101.

Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 5d

Just north of McKinleyville California, by a little parking area on an overlook 👍🏼

Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 6d

Sunset from Lhiwetgut Park in McKinleyville #California. I’m here revisiting some #Warmshowers hosts I stayed with on my last big #BicycleJourney in 2021. So good to see them again. Warmshowers is such a wonderful form of #MutualAid. 🥰

Next goal: Avenue of the Giants
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Photograph of the sun setting over the vegetation covered dune on the far side of the Mad River from Lhiwetgut Park in McKinleyville California

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 6d

Hello, #PacificOcean. It’s been a minute. 😊👋🏼

I’d actually seen quite a bit of the ocean before this but didn’t feel like stopping for pictures. But since I’m about to say goodbye to it for awhile again, I thought I’d say hi.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #PCBR

Photograph looking towards the sun over the Pacific Ocean on the northern California coast. There is a lagoon separated from the ocean by a sand bar, under a partly cloudy blue sky

Photograph of the California coast looking north showing dune vegetation leading down to a lagoon separated from the ocean by a sand bar, all under a blue sky with clouds on the horizon

Photograph of the Pacific Ocean looking between two trees from a gravel ledge above a lagoon and sand bar under a partly cloudy blue sky

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 6d

At the hiker/biker camp in Sue-Meg Village, there is a tree stump at site 7. It is covered in mosses, lichens, and fungi (including a bunch of harvested Chicken of the Woods). There was a cool little Skullcap Dapperling growing on it, & the mosses were soft & fluffy.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Photograph of a white Skullcap Dapperling fungus growing in a bed of green moss

Photograph of Green feathery moss growing around a patch of bark with light green lichens growing on it

Photograph of a Large tree stump with a small pine tree growing out of the center and moss, lichens, and fungi

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Reposted by Uphill Into A Headwind

Alex Samaras (he/him) @bioalex.bsky.social · 10d

Look what’s growing near my campsite in Jedidiah Smith State Park! Yummy Chicken of the Woods! Too bad it’s crappy rainy weather and I’m not really set up to cook. #Fungus #Fungi #Foraging

Photograph of orange Chicken of the Woods fungi growing on a moss covered fallen tree trunk

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 11d

BEEG TREE. BEEEEEEEEGGG TREEEEEEE. 🌲😲

I’m back among the redwood trees at Jedidiah Smith State Park, currently hunkered in my tent due to rain. Looks like I might just hunker here a couple of days until it passes.

Got some bones to pick about Big Agnes Copper Spur rain fly design but later.

Photograph of me standing with my arms outstretched up against a huge redwood tree which completely dwarfs me. My outstretched arms reach less than a quarter across its girth

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Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 11d

For real, if I’ve downloaded the map (which sadly is now a paid feature), I can be completely without signal & still plan & map out routes. Saved my butt many times in the mountains.

I just wish its bicycle routing hadn’t degraded so much. 😢 4/4

Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 11d

I don’t know what changed but it was not a good change. Granted, maybe it works best in the EU, but I don’t remember these frustrations on my last US trip in 2022/23.

I still like the app, & it’s my favorite for finding bicycle routes, & the offline mode is outstanding! 3/4

Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 11d

I have the #cycling mode set to road bike, yet it still seems to try to find any way it can to get off main (yet bicycles allowed) roads, sometimes trying to route onto unpaved roads. It didn’t used to do this. In fact, I’d considered its #bicycle routing among the best. 2/4

Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · 11d

I’ve been using #Mapy as my main bicycle routing app since it was first recommended to me by a #Warmshowers host in Prague in 2018. I especially love how its offline mode is truly offline. But lately, its bicycle routing has been doing nonsense like this & it’s annoying. 1/4
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Screenshot of the mapping app Mapy showing it adding a completely unnecessary turn off and return to the main road in its bicycle routing

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