Day 16. Hat Creek to Child's Meadow. 50 miles, 4770' climbing.

Tough day ahead and no internet tonight.  Report to follow tomorrow.  Here is what we're up to today.

Guess what?  I have WiFi via my Verizon phone!  

This was THE most beautiful day I've had on a bike tour.  You can tell by the number of photos we took.

The descent down from the Lassen Peak summit was stunning.  Spectacular views around every corner.  Yes, the climb was tough but it didn't maim us.  The numbers turned out to be 51.7 miles, 4878' climbing.

This is a leftover photo from last night's dinner at Hat Creek.  We had a great time!

Steve and Patti, like me, are native Iowans.  They recently retired from Carroll, where they had a photo studio, to Glenwood Springs, CO.  They are strong riders, having done several RAGBRAIs and benefitting from now living at a higher elevation.  Patti is a highly certified and experienced Yoga instructor and has led sessions on our layover days.  As you might expect, they are getting some fantastic photos.

Our entry into Lassen National Park was a highlight of the day.  We left the logging trucks behind and entered a peaceful, beautiful park full of mountains, lakes and volcanic activity.

 This 300-ton "Hot Rock" was blown out of the Lassen Peak volcano in 1913 and then carried here by an avalanche.

We snapped several pics at the summit, in part because it was a long climb to reach it. We were beyond ready for the 17-mile down that followed.

 Since Roz and Larry had a bad day the day before, they celebrated reaching the summit by standing their bike on its rear wheel.  Go, Gibels!

 Our first stop on the descent was the Sulphur Works -- a boiling puddle of sulphuric mud and water (and probably a basketful of other chemicals) that reeked of sulphur.

Lassen Peak from a distance.  Note the snow patch that forms a "J".

Lassen Peak close up.

On the trip downhill, Kris snapped several pics of the vistas.

As we neared our destination, the terrain changed.  The following are our shots of Childs Meadow Resort. "Resort" being used in a broader interpretation of the word.

 Falling down barn across the road.

This is where we ate.  Very tasty.  In addition to being the cafe, it is also the internet hotspot/office/general store/X-C ski rental center/wine store.

On a sad note, one of our riders, Brenda Cole, has picked up a horrible cold and sore throat so bad she can barely speak.  She missed riding today and will likely miss a couple more days.  We are all wishing her a speedy recovery!

Time for bed and serenade by howling coyotes.