Next destination off Hwy 101: camping at Fort Bragg on Hwy 1. I started down Hwy 1 from Garberville…which was a very steep and windy drive for 22 miles. Switchbacks every 30 seconds it seemed. 10 miles in, I smelled something ominous. I pulled over into a tight shoulder meant only for cars to pull over to let faster traffic by. I was on a pretty steep incline with smoking brakes. D'oh. Afraid they'd start a fire as they did in Wyoming [the driver's side was not fixed and that was the one smoking], I reluctantly decided to sleep there the night and turn around first thing in the morning. The woods felt extra creepy...lots of trash remnants, definitely feeling not-alone… I kept imagining meth heads wandering around and stumbling across my very isolated van. I laid down, smelling the melted brakes and listening to my van groan every time I or Millie shifted our weight in the bed. A minivan stuffed with camping gear pulled up [which I found curious since there was barely any room to park and there were many turnarounds on the road....why did they pick THIS one?]. It turned out to be a mom with 2 kids...one who was vomiting from all the switchbacks and hills. He barfed into a wastebasket [standard equipment in a van with kids?]. While he puked, I came out and let the lady know I wasn't a creeper. My van looked extra sketchy given its surroundings. Dark-ish woods as the sun was starting to set, random garbage scattered around [I wasn't the first person to sleep here], and a tight turnout–not exactly an ideal place to enjoy an evening. She seemed to be relieved. I explained my situation and we ended up chatting about starting an organic farm and traveling with no real destination for about a half hour. We exchanged phone numbers and she left me her extra can of mace. I think she would have stayed the night if she had no kids. At 5am...as soon as it was light enough to see, I got up, peed, and thankful the traffic died down to virtually nothing, got on the road. This way, I could coast the turns slowly without using the brakes and without impatient drivers getting on my ass as if I had no clue I was going so slow. I just gotta make it to a town to google how serious my smoking brakes might be...just got to get to Ukiah.
The brakes still smelled bad, but the weren't smoking and didn't seem to act any different. I got to Ukiah, had a breakfast, and started researching what kind of damage I may be looking at. After finding suitable information, I figured I could make it to SF to have them looked at. It was Saturday, so nothing would be open until Monday. I stayed in Ukiah for the day - went to the farmer's market, got breakfast, did the laundry and grabbed some dog treats/toys. We got to the Redwood Forest and found a place to sleep outside the campground [which was full]. Next morning, we went on a hike, my mind still on the brakes and dreading the traffic and hills in SF, I wanted to get closer to our destination.
Tonight's meal with some pita bread, tomato and an avocado.