Slowing The Pace...Even More

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

We have taken the day off. We needed to re-supply our groceries and essentials and do that evil thing called laundry...again. So this morning we said goodbye to our Vancouver friends. They moved on and left us in the campground enjoying our second cup of coffee. It was great to spend time 'hanging out' with you guys. Enjoy the last few days of your adventure and take some time...off the bikes...to reflect upon your journey. It seems to Sue and I that you have caught the 'touring bug'. It is a good 'bug'!!! And for sure you have to ride Canada. You would love it.

We are slowing our pace a little bit for the next part of our journey. Now I know people will ask...How the heck can you get any slower? Well we can and we are going to. We are looking forward to meeting up with family in a few days. Mary Lou and Ken are coming over from Las Vegas to spend some time with us. We plan to meet them somewhere just south of Los Angles...somewhere yet to be determined. So we are going to 'burn' a couple of days. That will not be a hardship. We, after all, have lots of time.

Talk about slowing our pace down...we actually went backwards today going north from our campground back into Lompoc. We are now checked into the Travel Lodge. Now how is that for 'slowing the pace'?

Tomorrow we head off on the 'final leg' of our journey. There is a major climb that we understand goes on and on and on. We are ready...I think. I guess if we are not by now we never will be.

"Strawberry Fields Forever"

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

We had a good evening swapping stories with our young Vancouver friends and another cyclist from Montana who had also shared the site. There were two downsides to our evening. It got really cold. I always thought the temperatures were to be warmer as we went south. It is during the day but it sure as heck is not after the sun goes down and the sky is clear. We also had a 'really' and I stress 'really' strange guy on the campsite next to us. He was into the 'God Bless' this and 'God Bless' that! Heck, I was blessed a half dozen times...anyone who knows me understands that that particular ship passed a long time ago!!!

We were first to leave the campground hitting the road by 8:10 with the temperature hovering around 7 degrees. But one thing is for sure, it warms up here in Southern California quickly. By mid afternoon it was 27 degrees.

Once again we rode through one of California's vegetable and strawberry growing areas...particularly strawberries. We rode through hundreds and hundreds of acres. The fields went on forever...we rode for over 25 kilometers through these fields. It is astounding the scale of this considering that these berries are all picked by hand. Hundreds of people were picking. This area was far bigger than the area we rode through a few days ago. Even more interesting is that if they do not irrigate the do not grow.

We were fondly looking at the berries and hoping we would find a place to purchase some when we were flagged down by a guy on a motorcycle standing in front of a stand. He was munching on a large box of berries. He was from Lithuania and was riding a motorcycle from New York to San Francisco. He had been on the road for 5 weeks. He was an interesting character and simply wanted to share his berries with us and converse with someone who he probably considered crazier than himself.

The day had been nice and flat but as most days have been on this adventure that did not last. When a road is called 'Harris Grade Road' you have to know that something is coming that is not good for cyclists. We climbed for 4 kilometers up and over to get us to our destination in Lompoc. We are camping in River Park RV Park in the edge of Lompoc. It was supposed to have a Hiker/Biker Site but it was closed back in June. Funny how their website makes no mention of this...how difficult could that be to change? However, our young friends from Vancouver arrived and shared our site. We beat the system. Hiker/Biker Sites usually cost $5 a person. This site was $15 split four ways.

Trip Distance = 82.10 km. Time on the Bikes = 5 hours 26 minutes. Average Speed = 15.07 km. Wildlife Sightings = Gold Finches, Red Tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures.

One Of The More Unique Gates We've Seen

"Strawberry Fields Forever"

If They Do Not Irrigate They Do Not Grow

In Search of Fire

Monday, November 3, 2014

I like this time change...at least in the morning. We were on the road by 7:35. However, and it is a big however, we did not have our porridge or more importantly our coffee...and me without coffee in the morning is like a bear with a sore paw. I guess an explanation is in order. Last night when I went to prime 'old faithful', our Coleman stove, it made some 'screeching' noises that sounded like steel on steel...and I am sure that is exactly what it was. The 'primer' was 'pooched'. We managed to cook dinner with what little pressure we had but 'old faithful' was of no use to us this morning. So off to San Luis Obispo we went...but that was 20 plus kilometers away...in search of fire...well maybe not fire but a new stove.

The ride to the city was actually quite nice. We went up through the hills through cattle country then followed a valley where intensive vegetable growing took place and then came upon a large wine producing area. In the middle of all of this was this really intensive oil rig area where they were drilling a whole bunch of new wells. Other than one steep climb and a blast downhill, the ride was pretty flat. The caffeine deficiency was not too serious...not as bad as we had feared. We found a coffee shop and began to research where in town we could buy a new stove. We came up with a few choices and surprisingly they were not far off route nor were they difficult to find. We are now the proud owners of a new MSR stove. It is eerily like the one I left at home so that I could bring 'old faithful' instead. We are $150 poorer for it...oh well...that is the life of a tour cyclist!

For a city of just under 50,000 people, San Luis Obispo was a good urban riding experience with its dedicated bike lanes. I am actually grow fond of these lanes to get through urban messes. We then rode the short distance to Pismo Beach to start the urban mess all over again. We again stumbled upon an Information Office that told us how to get to a grocery store and to the State Park.

We are camping at Pismo Beach State Park Oceano Campground. We were about .5 kilometers from the park when we met our young Vancouver friends coming back from the park and heading for a not so nice RV Park. They told us that the Hiker/Biker site had been shut down. So we decided to share a regular site. After arrival another cyclist from Montana appeared and he is also camping with us. It made the cost the same as a Hiker/Biker site would normally be.

Trip Distance = 56.08 km. Time on the Bikes = 3 hours 50 minutes. Average Speed = 14.60 km. Maximum Speed = 53.18 km. Wildlife Sightings = Willets, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Western Grebe, Ground Squirrel, Yellow Rumped Warbler, Meadow Larks, Bluebirds, Kingfishers.

Camping Under The Eucalyptus Trees

A Strange Elevation Summit Marker

Tolosa Vineyards

Homes Above Pismo Beach

What Time Is It Anyway?

Sunday, November 2, 2014

I was up at 6:00 this morning...no wait...Sue asks: "Did you remember to set the clock back last night"? I ask: "Why would I do that"? "Well it is daylight savings time" Sue says. I ask: "How do you know"? Sue says: "Well we talked about it last night over dinner". "Oh" I say. "I guess I missed that part of the conversation".

So we were on the road by 9:20...no I guess it was really 8:20. I am not sure about this time change. We will be able to leave earlier in the morning...Sue will not like that. But we will be in the dark by 5:30...I sure as heck will not like that.

Thirty minutes into our ride we stopped for our second breakfast...this being able to eat as often and as much as you like sure is nice. The rest of the ride can only be described as special. The riding was flat, the sun shone, it was warm (despite the fact that at 6:00 am or was that 5:00 am?...it was 7 degrees outside), it was a short riding day, the wind for the most part was in our backs, and once again we were riding through cattle country. (It is a mystery what these cattle are eating because absolutely nothing is green.)

The last 20 kilometers was along the coast again with the last 15 urban riding. We were treated to a ride through Cayucos, a town that is right out of the wild west movies. From Cayucos to Moro Bay was the longest stretch of sand beach we have encountered in California. I am sure there will be many more kilometers of beaches to come.

We arrived in Morro Bay and for once were able to navigate through an urban area without difficulty. We are camping in Morro Bay State Park Hiker/Biker. The young Vancouver couple that we have stayed with for the last 3 nights have also arrived. He is sporting a brand new tire that he is going to install in the morning. Another young cyclist that we have encountered a few times over the last couple of weeks has also arrived.

Trip Distance = 51.86 km. Time on the Bikes = 3 hours 35 minutes. Average Speed = 14.41 km. Maximum Speed = 44.03 km. Wildlife Sightings = Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Scrub Jay, Coots, Whimbrels, Turkey Vultures, Wild Turkeys, Hummingbird, Ground Squirrel, Owl (flying through the campsite just at dark).

P.S. This getting dark at 5:30 really "sucks"!!!

Strange Touring Cyclists

Grazing Land - What Exactly Do The Cattle Eat? But What Cattle We See Look Like They Are Doing Okay

Main Street Cayucos

Morro Bay Strand Beach

Another Really Wet Night

Saturday, November 1, 2014

All that can be said about last night was that IT WAS WET! The rain started about 3:30 just after we set up the tent. It rained hard all night at times a torrential downpour. We survived it...barely...15 1/2 hours in a tent is a little much...so is 2 meals of bagels and peanut butter in one day. It was raining too hard to cook! But you know it is all part of the adventure.

The rain stopped about 6:30 this morning just in time for us to pack up our 'sopping' tent and hit the road by 8:05. Again we were the first to break camp. It turned out that another young couple from Vancouver had arrived after we were in our tents. They had camped with us the night before...they were not the party group.

Two major climbs met us in the first 25 kilometers and they tested our now strong leg muscles. After 'making haste' of them both...well maybe not haste...we were treated to the most beautiful flat ride of our entire trip...30 kilometers with the wind at our back...the ocean lapping to our right...and cattle grazing to our left...what a dream.

We were also treated to a once in a lifetime 'show' by the Elephant Seals. They were right on the shoulder of the road and seemed to know that we were photographing them...what a treat! We also got distant views of the Hearst Castle, William Randolph Hearst's castle on top of a hill overlooking the countryside below (that I am sure he owned) and the ocean...heck he might have owned a piece of it too!

When we arrived in San Simeon Village we were looking to buy some groceries to continue on to a campground outside of town. We quickly realized that the sunshine we had enjoyed all day was being replaced by one of the ugliest skies we have seen on this journey. We bailed into the Courtesy Inn that we just happened to be standing outside of contemplating what to do. As we were checking in one of the other guys that had camped with us for the last 2 nights and we had cycled with off and on all day arrived to check in as well. Robert is from Eugene Oregon and is an interesting character. We went next door to a pub with Robert for dinner. While waiting for our food to arrive and enjoying a couple of 'refreshments' the young couple from Vancouver limped into the parking lot. He had a major tire issue and it actually blew when he was walking the bike to their room. They also joined us for dinner. What a great fraternity this tour cycling is!

Trip Distance = 56.41 km. Time on the Bikes = 3 hours 56 minutes. Average Speed = 14.32 km. Maximum Speed = 51.00km. Wildlife Sightings = Hummingbird, Great Egrets, Red Tailed Hawk, Hermit Thrush, Pelicans, Elephant Seals.

More California Coast...We Never Get Tired Of These Views

Elephant Seal

Elephant Seal

Hearst Castle From Afar...It is Now A State Historical Site

Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 31, 2014

We were up at 6:00 this morning despite the antics of some of the young cyclists...I know we were all young once...But you know I still hope their heads 'hurt' this morning! Now let me explain. The hiker/biker site was busy but quiet until about 9:00 when 4 of the cyclists came back from town. Then things got noisy. The guy who had been so quiet earlier in the day had a personality change. Yesterday we had a'potty mouthed' driver and last night we had a 'potty mouthed' camper from New Zealand. He went on and on. I am told it finally shut down at about 1:30...I do not know because I had finally gone to sleep. Do you know how tempting it was to make a 'hell of a racket' outside their tents this morning? But again I used my 'brain' and not my 'mouth. We have since been told that after we left this morning the Park Ranger came and threatened to arrest them if they did not clean up their act.

We were the first out of camp this morning hitting the road by 8:15. These days it is not safe to ride much before 8:00. My notes said that we would have 5 major climbs today. The first one was obvious. We left the park entrance and promptly climbed for 4 kilometers. It was far and away the hardest of the day. Where exactly the other 4 climbs were we were unsure as the entire day was made up of a series of climbs followed by blasts down hill. Over all it was a tough day of biking...as tough as anything we have faced on this adventure. ACA pegged the total climbing at somewhere over 2400 feet.

Despite the climbing, the days ride was spectacular. We spent the entire day up above the ocean with opportunities galore to pull off and admire the scenery. The sun even shone for part of our ride and it was not supposed to.

We are camping in Plasket Creek Campground Hiker/Biker a few kilometers north of Gorda. The downside of this campground is that it has no showers. Shortly after arriving 2 of the older cyclists from last night arrived...maybe more have...we do not know. It has started to rain heavily and our only 'refuge' is in our tent. It looks like it could be a long night!

Trip Distance = 55.63 km. Time on the Bikes = 4 hours 31 minutes. Average Speed = 12.21 km. Maximum Speed = 51.82 km. Wildlife Sightings = Deer, Seals, Red Tailed Hawk, Pelicans, Stellar Jays, Turkey Vultures, Monarch Butterflies.

P.S. Happy Halloween everyone!

High Above The Pacific

High Above The Pacific # 2

The Sky That Chased Us All Day

A 'Potty Mouthed' Driver

Thursday, October 30, 2014

After trying to eat everything offered at our motel Continental Breakfast, we hit the streets at 7:45 ready for a hard day of climbing. We met our first hill as we approached Highway 1...a 600 foot climb. It certainly put our legs to the test...especially first thing in the morning. After entering Highway 1 the riding got even more challenging and it had nothing to do with the hills...instead it was the 'insane' traffic. We had a small shoulder but between the bumper to bumper traffic and the numerous traffic lights, our ride was anything but comfortable. Not soon enough we found ourselves outside of Monterey/Carmel and back on the water.

The day was overcast but the climbing kept us warm. We were entertained by the 'ocean vistas' and the 'house vistas'. The area around Carmel Highlands had multi million dollar 'mansions' both on the water and way up on top of the hills. These people must have massive bank accounts or massive mortgages...probably both. They are playing in a different league!

The rest of the ride was through cattle country again. The road was rolling but we had to pound into a full on headwind...'granny' was our friend. I would also like to know who owns El Sur Ranch. We rode along it for more than 8 kilometers and it stretched up into the hills as far as we could see.

And now for an explanation of the title. On one of our 600 foot climbs today a 'Mustang Convertible' went past me and screamed "Get the _____ off the ____ing road". There was no shoulder so granted we were riding on the road. It is a good thing he was not stopped at the vista at the top of the hill because I guarantee I would 'not' have used my 'brain' this time and definitely would have used my 'mouth'. And you know he was probably on vacation in a rented convertible...what a shame...I must have delayed his vacation by at least 15 seconds!!!

We are camping in Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Park Hiker/Biker. We are camping with 12 other tour cyclists...it is getting a little crowded. Three are from Vancouver and two are from Toronto and one is from Colorado. The others we have not talked to as it got dark.

Trip Distance = 50.84 km. Time on the Bikes = 4 hours 8 minutes. Average Speed = 12.27 km. Maximum Speed = 47. 28 km. Wildlife Sightings = Stellar Jay, Scrub Jay, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Grey Squirrel, Ground Squirrel, Great Blue Heron, Seals.

One of The Many Multi-Million Dollar Homes

Bixby Bridge Completed in 1932

Big Sur Coast

Big Sur Coast #2...The Water Colour Now Looks Like The Carribean

Just To Prove That Camping Is Not A Figment Of Our Imagination