US 101 Eureka to Arcata

Rte 101, the freeway Bob Dylan "revisited," stretches from the Mexican to the Canadian border, passing through Humboldt County as a kind of afterthought. We don't have enough people to justify a Freeway; this one serves as a necessary transit point between the cities of the Pacific coast. In Los Angeles where it's known as The Hollywood Freeway, it widens to a twelve lane monster. I can't imagine anyone trying to ride that on a bike (but of course, in LA bikes will have wandered out into gridlocked Freeway traffic along with horses, camels, dogs, parrots and feuding spouses. I actually saw a dog on this Freeway near San Diego a few months months ago. As for feuding spouses...what are Freeways for?


In Humboldt County 101 narrows to a mere four lanes. We may have qualified for a Freeway but it didn't include many cloverleafs. Commuters, hay trucks and--gulp-- cyclists and pedestrians (!) are on their own when crossing Rte 101. Many drivers have never been here and seem intent on rushing though. Some seem surprised to see cyclists on the Freeway's shoulders but that's where we'll ride until we get a proper bike path between Arcata and Eureka. After a rash of nasty accidents between the two towns the State reduced the speed limit to 50 from the usual 65. So for five miles the traffic is only going three times faster than I can peddle on a commuting bike.


I rode 101 today, with a cold wind at my back during the return from Eureka. A "multi use" sign reminds drivers that cyclists have a right to use "their" Freeway, cold comfort indeed.







To the right of the Freeway, spring is happening early.