Rick's chain broke along Guerneville's main street.

Famous for gay resorts and bars, but Gureneville did not have a bike shop.  "Honey, we got chains, but not that type." 

A gay pastor, from Metropolitan Community Church, offered Rick a ride into San Francisco where bike shops could certainly be found.

I continued, peddling, through the towns of Sebastopol and Petaluma.

San Francisco's north bay area isn't that easy to navigate, unless one has a good map.  I used a great "bike touring the wine country" map, but had to look at it quite often to see which way to go 

There is a maze of steep hills, dead end streets, or busy illegal freeways.  If one knows where to go, there are quiet roads and wonderful bike paths; though some only go a few miles.

My 2003 West Coast
Bike Tour

Joe Rodota Trail near Stebastopol.

Trail near Marin City.

Short, but nice bike paths in the north San Francisco Bay area.  If only the paths could go all the way.

As I kept getting out the map, a driver stopped to offer advise.  He explained that I might be able to make Samuel Taylor Park just before sunset, if I hurried, but there was still a big hill to go.

Rolling into Petaluma a bit tired, I found an affordable motel.  It was a comfortable night, but I kept thinking about that driver; wondering if he was worried about me.

Next day, about 30 miles down the road, he showed up again.  "You made it." he said.  I got my chance to tell him that I had stayed in a motel.  He remarked about the waist of money, but said that his wife had been a bit concerned when he told her about my journey.  Yes, it all worked out fine. 

I met him a third time, on down the road, and wondered if God kept bringing us together.  He said he was a salesman, in that territory, and traveled up and down those roads a lot.

More on Guerneville.