| leaving Trinidad Monday morning Monday - Jim writes
"In the Tour de France, the most prestigious bicycle race in the world, the winner of each day's race or stage is awarded a yellow jersey which he proudly wears the following day.
Well, Jeanette and I have a similar award. We carry two Therm-a-Rest mattresses (sleeping pads) in a yellow water proof bag. The strongest rider of the previous day's ride or stage has the honor of carrying it on their bike the following day.
We didn‘t start out with an award system. When we left Salem I carried the mattresses as an equalizer. They weigh about four pounds and it helped to equal our riding speed while we were in Canada, Washington and northern Oregon. Jeanette and I ride very close to the same speed, she has always been faster on flat terrain and I have been faster on hills. When we left Salem this time, heading south through the flat Willamette Valley, through Eugene and Cottage Grove and to Elkton, she had me. I relented and let her carry the yellow bag. It felt like an award to acknowledge the stronger rider.
I spent the next day staring at the yellow bag bobbing along on the back of Jeanette's bike. Then we hit the hills of the coastal head land starting in Coos Bay and I was back in my element.
I have proudly carried the yellow bag now, down the southern coast of Oregon and into Northern California. I even lugged it up through the redwoods yesterday where we did 3,600 feet of accumulated climb. But alas, today's ride from Trinidad through Arcata and Eureka to Fortuna was too flat. I couldn't keep up the pace. It was a piddly day, less than 1,000 feet of climb, 940' to be exact. I knew she had me when she began suggesting this afternoon that maybe she, 'should carry the bag.' I replied, 'Oh no, go ahead and ride as fast as you want. I'll just draft you.' Then I watched her image fade into the distance far down 101 ahead of me.
So I've lost the honor dear fellows, tomorrow Jeanette proudly carries the 'Yellow Bag.'
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