Kneeland Towers 200K

[Humboldt Randonneurs]

Humboldt Randonneurs has a successful first running of its newest route: Kneeland Towers. Eight riders started in cool conditions with the sunrise breaking from the east and fog in the west.

The route headed out from Arcata to the pastures and around Humboldt Bay, across through the victorian pioneer downtown Eureka, past the bay along Hik'shari path, up Elk River and up to Kneeland Towers as the sun broke for splendid panoramic views of the mountains and bay from 2200'. 

Then down into majestic Butler Valley and up Maple Creek, where riders were passed by perhaps one or two cars and treated to stunning vibrant greenery of  fresh new big leaf maple leaves glowing with the sunlight passing through. Riders crossed the Mad River and passed through the quaint old town of Blue Lake where a blue grass string band was planing at a community plant exchange at the emporium, then stopped at the market for lunch before heading up through Feildbrook and Dows Prarie past McKinleyville on the way up to Trinidad, Patricks Point and on to the turn-around at Humboldt Lagoon.

Riders were then treated to spectacular views of the rugged Pacific Coast along the equally rugged (unpaved) Scenic Drive, past Clam Beach, across the trestles over the Mad River, back through the pastureland, returning to the Arcata community center to a welcoming finish with some of our favorite volunteers: Nic Abler and Haley Schandelmier. Thanks also to Mike O'Donnell who, despite a herniated disk, came out to help rider check-in at the start!

A few picture from the brevet can be seen here: 2026 Kneeland Towers

And Humboldt Randonneurs upcoming calendar can be found here: https://humboldtrandonneurs.com/calendar/

Eric Larsen, RBA
Humboldt Randonneurs