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Starting to feel sad our time on our bikes is nearing an end. After cycling Mac Kerricher to Van Damme, we only have 4 days left of our bike tour, and that’s a hard pill to swallow when you truly grow to love every moment of something in your life!
Cycling Mac Kerricher to Van Damme is the 20th of nearly 30 daily diaries of our cycle trip from Seattle to San Francisco.
If you’d like to read from the beginning, check out, getting to Seattle. Each post in this cycle series will contain our daily journal entries that we kept via Track My Tour, photos captured throughout the day, and the exact route, duration, and elevation gains for the given ride.
Read Our Complete Guide to Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway Here
Let’s dive into Biking the Pacific Coast Highway, Day 19, Mac Kerricher to Van Damme.
Cycling Mac Kerricher to Van Damme
It’s so interesting how many state parks we stayed at during our cycle trip down the west coast. I’m sure there are other ways to camp, and even free camp all the way down, however, the hiker-biker campsites offer a great time to chat with other cyclists!
Today, we were again cycling from one state park to the next. However, as with our theme the entire ride, we wanted to really take our time and take in the places we were cycling through. We spent a relaxed morning in Fort Bragg, before hopping on our bikes for an easy 2-hour ride south!
The cycle trip really taught us a lot about owning our decisions and going with what we believe even if it’s not the same as others. Often times, the first question people ask, even at camp, is how many days you’ve been on the road. We found ourselves time and time again saying we were taking it slow and steady, soaking in every viewpoint we could!
Surprisingly, cyclists often complete this journey in just two weeks, and we were nearing our three-week mark and only 4 days out of San Fransisco, and honestly, we were starting to feel sad our time on the bikes was nearing an end.
Biking Mac Kerricher to Van Damme Day 19 Quick Facts
- Miles // 17.59 miles
- Saddle Time // 1 hrs 43 min
- Elevation // 1,520 feet
- Accommodation // hiker-biker in Van Damme State Park
- Water // fill up in Fort Bragg – short day today
- Food // enjoy eating in Fort Bragg before hitting the road, easy, short ride today
Pacific Coast Bike Tour Blog Day 19
Tuesday 25 Aug 2015 19:10
Day 19: This morning we woke to no alarm and ate pancakes for breakfast.
We slowly packed up camp and ventured into Fort Bragg again. This is a really quaint little town that had great things to offer. Like a brewery, a morning’s coffee, and the wonderful Italian sandwich shop. We roamed around until it was getting too late for us to not be on our bikes riding south.
Only having 17.5 miles before entering the Van Damme State Park, we wanted to take a bit of a rest day because of all the hills and elevation we have been doing.
We arrived at camp at around 4:30, went to the beach, made dinner, and went back to the beach for sunset. It wasn’t much of a sunset because of the angle of the cove we were in and also how much overcast there was, but it was still enjoyable! We had a relaxing and fun day!
The overall distance today was 17.5 miles with 1,520 feet elevation gain. The total distance of the trip is 887.33 miles.
Cycler’s Tips for Cycling Mac Kerricher to Van Damme | PCH Day 19
- Just like yesterday, take the morning to enjoy Fort Bragg! Just be careful with leaving your bike fully loaded as you explore!
- If you didn’t make it to the glass beach yesterday in Fort Bragg, be sure to get there today! It’s well worth a quick stop!
- This day isn’t necessary for someone who’s on a time crunch. If you have to keep cycling on, you could continue a bit further south, but be warned that the next day’s ride comes with over 4,000 feet of elevation!
More on Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway
Gear Checklist for Cycle Packing Multiday Trips
Our complete list of all the bike gear we took on our trip from Seattle to San Fransisco. Ideas of where to get your bike gear so you don’t spend an arm and a leg, and a printable checklist for ensuring you pack all the gear you need!
Cycle Rules in Oregon | A Bicyclist’s Manual
Did you know, in Oregon, as a cyclist you’re technically considered a car and must oblige by vehicle road rules? Use that knowledge as confidence to take over the lane when there’s not a safe shoulder and really own the road!
Total Pacific Coast Bike Tour Blog | 25 Journal Entries and All The Extra Info!
This post contains our gear list, all our daily journal entries, FAQs on cycling the PCH, and downloads to make your PCH cycle trip easier!
Next Daily Journal Entry on our Pacific Coast Highway Bike Tour
Cycling Van Damme to Gualala was like riding a roller coaster! Learn about day 20 here!
Day 18 Pacific Coast Highway Bike Tour Blog
Cycling Standish Hickey to Mac Kerricher — conquering Leggett Hill!
Camping for Free on your Bike Tour
Interested in learning more about camping for free on your bike tour? We’re sharing ways to find free camping, what you need to know about free camping, and even our favorite places!
Have questions about day 19, cycling Mac Kerricher to Van Damme? Need a bit more information about the trip as a whole? Or just want to share your experiences? We’d love to hear from you.. shoot us an email.
