I'm exhausted, so this entry won't last long. Yesterday night, we rode to Harris Beach. Shortly after closing my last journal entry, Lee from Vancouver caught up with me and we rode together the rest of the way into camp, stopping at Arch Rock. We were first to arrive at camp and we pitched our tents before biking into town to pick up our groceries. Matt and Alan arrived and set up camp and then Lee and I went into Brookings and bought beer, wine, s'mores ingredients, chips and salsa, and some hotdogs. When we got back into camp, everyone else (Richard, Chris, Kristen, Katie, Shannon and Colled) had arrived and Kristen broke the news to us that her and Katie decided to rent a car to drive down to San Francisco. From there, they planned to ride down the rest of the way to San Diego. We figured we would be in San Diego around the same dates and would be able to hang out when they got there.
Chris, Richard, Katie and Kristen will all be taking an off day tomorrow, so this is really the last night with the entire group at its peak. We celebrated eachother's company over plenty of beer and wine, singing songs alongside Alan and his mandolin. A perfect but bittersweet ending to this wonderful group of travelers.
This morning, I woke up early and packed quick. I was out of the campground having already said good-bye to the off-dayers by 9:15 and I was on the road. The bike shop in Brookings wasn't open yet, so I took my chances with not buying a new spare tube nor patch kit until I Crescent City. Crossing the border felt good. They were checking to make sure that nobody was bringing in out-of-state fruit over the border.
I was the front-runner pulling into the city and had coffee and a breakfast bagel at this great little cafe. Called some family and relaxed for about an hour. When I was about to leave the cafe, Alan, Matt and Lee came into view from down the road. We went grocery shopping and ate more lunch on the beach. Matt, Alan and Lee went on as Christian led the way to the bike shop, where I realized that I had lost my debit card. I paid with what little cash I had for the tubes, and Christian covered the rest. I found a branch of my bank a few blocks away where I cancelled my card, ordered a new one, and was able to withdraw some cash.
Christian has become an amazing friend. He told me not to be afraid to ask him for more money if I needed it. I invited him later to hike a section of the Colorado Trail with my friend Dan and I in August, and it just might happen.
Anyways, I'm tired. More tomorrow. Goodnight.
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