Day 4---great cycling, relaxing afternoon

Had a hard time getting up this morning, but was out and on the road before 7:30. Good thing too, since there was little wind, and it promised to heat up fast.  Did almost 50 miles in under 4 hours today!

It was a lovely morning, and riding on the quiet Route 99W was just wonderful.  Hit Orland just before 9, as the Farmers Market was opening up and it was lovely. Scored yummy cherries and apricots, then went to Alta Marie's Bakery and got the most awesome cheese Danish pastry ($1.50!).

Some folks at the Farmers Market said hi, an older (than me) couple and their daughter.  Turns out they had retired to Orland (cheaper by a lot than Chico) and lived on one of the gorgeous tree-lined streets in an old arts and crafts house.  Orland benefits by being close to Chico, but all of the business is out on the freeway.  Quite sadly, this pattern has been repeated all the way up the valley.

Next stop was Lucero Olive Oil, just outside Corning.  A great story...son of olive farmers goes off to Cal Poly SLO to major in engineering.  Comes home to Corning to start up an olive oil biz in 2003, now doing very well, with a really nice modern mill and retail shop. All of the young people working there (mostly Chico students) were super enthusiastic about my trip, and made me promise to send them a link to my blog!  I have two 100ml bottles of Lucero Olive Oil for my trip across the Oregon desert! 

Buzzed through Corning itself, not much to report, some nice old buildings, but mostly empty or in marginal use, but lots of potential.  Just after Corning Mt Shasta comes into view, at the Tehama County line.  It will be my cycling companion for quite a few days, just as Lassen has been the last two days.  The ride to Red Bluff is lovely, mostly through Sacramento River bottom land, with lots of historic farm houses that were obviously built on smaller farms in the old days.

Mt Shasta in the distance

Red Bluff is a lovely little town, the county seat, and has a downtown that is much nicer than I remember, having stopped to take a look around ten years ago or so.  I've enjoyed my stay in the Jetsons style motel here, with a giant king bed!  Even had a nice phone call from my friend Jill tonight.  Maybe she'll join me on the Erie Canal!

Off to Redding tomorrow....