Day 16: Nevada City

Distance traveled: 214.4 km

Cumulative distance: 3,873.6

Maximum speed: 111 kph

Moving average: 65 kph

Temperature range: 6.4 - 24.6

At 2:00 a.m., I was awaken by a loud clap of thunder. I think there was two and they came within fractions of a second after the lightning. My first thought was that I took the trouble to pick a tent spot that could be shelter in the trees from heavy dew. When I was waken, my first thought was that they will find my body fried to a crisp inside my tent because I was under the highest trees in the campground. Pure lightning rods. 

Everything was wet in the morning however, I couldn't allow that to slow me down. I had an Airbnb

booked for Nevada City and the hostess promised she would do my laundry if I arrived by 1:00 pm. The alternative would have been to get on my bike as soon as I checked in and then go hang out in a laundromat for a couple of hours.  That was actually how I envisioned it would be before the trip but I was happy to not have to do that. In exchange, I offered to do some chores for her and she said that since her husband was away tonight I could use the leaf blower and blow out some cobwebs, which seem to be in abundant supply. He must have been away for a few days as she said it was normally his job.

So, getting out of the campground wasn't too tough, though I thought I would be away earlier than I was. I had picked a camp spot that would get some morning sun in anticipation of having dew on the tent and when the sun did peek up, it would have been ample to dry everything if I had been prepared to wait. As such, I just packed up everything that was dry and everything that was wet I strapped to the bike outside of any dry bags since I didn't want to get the dry stuff wet. It worked out but it was 8:45 before I had figured out how I was going to pack everything. Plus, I also wanted to wait until the last possible moment to pack the stove and food since I didn't want to have to deal with the bears having all my food sitting out on the picnic table or, worse, on the bike.

I had a route from Lake Tahoe planned for Nevada City avoiding the interstate. It took me down hwy 89 then to 49 into town. Sometimes the GPS takes me in directions that seem counter-intuitive so I stopped a couple of times to make sure I was going in the correct direction by double checking what Google Maps said but it was all good but it is still a nuisance wondering if I am going in the right direction or not. Only yesterday, the GPS took me down a private lane. However, I suspect that at one time, it had been a public road because I could see how close I was to the public road but it was just through someone's private property.

It turned out to be a great ride. Twisty, very pretty and through a few very interesting towns. One was Sierra City, which is so much of a misnomer because the sign also said Population 250. "Small" city, I guess.

When I arrived at the Airbnb, I was distraught to see it was a fairly steep driveway of coarse gravel. I took a run at it and made it up fine but get to the area where I am supposed to park and it is a slanted driveway right to left. I did manage to park the bike by angling it up the slope somewhat but a bigger issue will be getting out. I plan on going out tomorrow so I will deal with it in some fashion. I would hate to bust my brand new mirror though. 

Once I had all my wet camping gear laid out and had done my "chores", I proceeded to walk to town.

The Airbnb description said "three minutes to town". In a fast car. It was a half hour walk downhill on the way there and actually uphill on the way back. My mother had to walk to school UPHILL and then walk home UPHILL as she never failed to remind me. By the time I had walked to town, walked around a little then walked back, I had logged 7 1/2 km, according to Strava and gained 168 metres of elevation. Not a bad little workout. I actually deserved those two beers I had in town. Along with the loaf of asiago bread I bought at the bar.

Nevada City is actually a very picturesque little town filled with old buildings. Most of the stores on main street are places that sell incense, scented candles, some jewelry, clothing a couple of pubs and restaurants. Not really touristy but there was one or two places that clearly catered to tourists. Most of the buildings I saw dated from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. 

In no particular order....