The Day After

So here are a few stats and thoughts from the trip:

1553.94-- Total Miles Ridden
24------- Days on the bike
3-------- Days off
11.17---- Avg speed (including roaming around towns and goofing off)
5.28----- Avg hours a day spent in the saddle
94.05---- Longest day in miles
31.71---- Shortest day in miles
14------- Days with rain
8-------- Total number of flats (all on first set of tires)
1-------- Blown out tire
2-------- Sets of tires
3-------- Tubes
1.5------ Bottles of lube

So this trip was over all a good experience in that I pretty much did want I wanted to do. I got to see a ton of stuff I've never seen, I tested myself in the rain and on some of the hills. I was glad I had Mike and other people to talk to at night to keep me sane. Another dream can be checked off the list.

What would I change? Maybe the time of year I went, by a month. There was a good amount of traffic but there would have been more if it were warmer. I would want to camp more and do less miles per day on this route if camping to set up and take down camp. This would be less costly and more into the area and its surroundings.

The scariest part? I don't get scared on the roads riding with cars usually. There were a couple of places just south of Cresent City, CA (not far into CA) where the road was 4 lanes going up into the Redwoods with no shoulder. Then I got high enough to hit the fog and it was a weekend. Lots of RVs going up and down that mtn.

The most fun part? HM, that's a hard one. Seeing the seals, whales, deer, dolphins and other assorted small wildlife definitely rates at the top of the list. Seeing the ocean nearly everyday and how it changes as you come down the coast too. Riding wise though I really liked the roads in Marin county and south of San Fransisco. The roads are curvy, up and down and not too many cars so I can use the whole road. Fun riding.

So now what? I reckon you'll have to watch the regular blog and see. I've got lots more dreams to mark off that list! I'll be making a movie of this trip like the one Jimmy did of the cross country trip. If you want a copy just shoot me an email at mtnbikertaz@yahoo.com with your street address. It'll be done after Christmas sometime.

Day 28

Below Monterey

Santa Barbara


Venice Beach paddle surfing

Santa Barbara to Venice Beach. Today ended up being an 89 miler. The weather was good, the wind was good and I was having a good time just looking around. The first 50 miles were pretty flat and I had a good wind off my right shoulder most of the time. It got a little hilly in Malibu but I was having a good time gaulking at the cars and motorcycles, houses, people, and beaches. I saw some beaches where newbies were learning to surf. The waves were only a foot or two and rolling in just as nice as could be! Anyone could learn here! Don't know about that cold water though!

My plan was to stay in Malibu but as I rolled though I noticed there were all these places with valet parking. Too rich for my blood so I cruised on to Santa Monica. That's where I got off the road and onto the bike path. Bikers, skaters, homeless people, street vendors, and so much more to see! Before I knew it I was in Venice Beach. I stayed there beacuse I wanted to see the Arbor Snowboard shop. That's the kind of snowboard I have, and Venice is where they started. They were closed for the day. Good day.

Day 27

Today put me in Santa Barbara. A large but nice town what I've seen so far. Tons of head wind this morning coming through a canyon and back out towards the water. I was fearing that the wind would persist out by the water but it was not so bad. My old friend "Rain" came back to visit as well once out by the water. Not enough to soak me though. Just got me damp and by the time I got to SB I was pretty much just back to being sweaty. Good for the fire fighters south of here too. I saw some spots of where stuff had been burned but I don't think it was real recent. Didn't have that smell.

So it looks like I'll be done in about two more days. I'm quiting in Seal Beach, which is just south of LA. It's kind of the south end of LA. That's where my Dad lives. I don't see much sense in going down further right now. It'll save me some money and give me an excuse to come back out here to finish that last 150 miles when there are safer breathing conditions. So I think I'll be done on Monday, hang with my Dad and his wife Judy for a few days and be back to work in Carbondale on the 5th, which was the original plan. Think Craig, my boss will be glad to see me?

Day 26

Cambria to Lompoc, CA. How about a 94 mile day? Didn't mean to to that but it felt good and the wind was right so I just kept pedaling! I've had some gray mornings and at noon it clears out. Cambria was the next stop after Big Sur (I think). Big Sur had some big climbs but it was pretty quiet back there. After Cambria was much the same but closer to the water. Today I pretty much goofed off all morning thinking I was going to stop in Pismo beach. I got there at lunch time and decided to keep going. Not to hot, not too cold and wind at my back after lunch. Of course, there was a brutal hill over a mtn at mile 90 but I think my but was more tired of being on the bike than my legs were! A fun downhill down into Lompoc.

I'm having fun but looking forward to being done. I've been gone long enough and spent enough for this year!

Day 24

So now I am in Big Sur pedaling down from Monetrey. I got my cool weather stuff sent off this morning without a hitch and got on my way after saying good bye to Sue and Paul's cats. They have internet but no cell service here in Big Sur. Beautiful day. Sunny and hot! The water I've been passing has been a pretty blue/green color along the shores. Pretty much open road and good riding. I only did 32 miles today. The route map said it was very hilly but I didn't think it was too bad. But I'm calling this short day my day off. More hilly stuff tomorrow. I think I'm going to be able to finish by the 31st. That's a week from today, right? I'm going out right now to explore the state park here. I'll let you know how that went next time I find a computer! Be well!

Day 23

Otters in Moss Landing Harbor.

Pigeon Point Light House. Below San Fransisco.


Sunset in San Fransisco.

I hope you know what this is!

Santa Cruz to Monterey today. Very warm and sunny today. I could get used to this! Went past a lot of produce farms today. Very flat for miles coming into Seaside and Monterey. Lots of wind from the east until about the time I hit the bay area, then it started coming in off the ocean.

The fires are not affecting any of the roads I need to use yet. Malibu will be the closest to my route. They say it has burned clean down to the ocean there and should be out by the time I get there next week. The weather is supposed to change tomorrow and help the firefighters get everything put out and blow the smoke back inland.
I'm at the home of Paul and Sue Lottridge tonight. They are a couple I know from Harrisonburg. They moved out here about 14mos ago. Bike junkies as well. Thank you to them for opening their home up to me!
Paul with his favorite bike "the Redline Six Niner".


My box from home has just arrived with my warm weather gear in it and I'll be glad to get rid of these cold weather shoes. They are getting pretty ripe smelling from all the days of rain and then my feet have been sweating in them for the past four days. I'm still gonna tell you about shoes another day!

Tomorrow I head out to Big Sur. I've always heard about it, and now I get to see it.

Day 22

Happy Birthday Mike! Thanks for all the encouragement through all those rainy days!

So today I'm in Santa Cruz. The past three days have been absolutely awesome. Sunny and warmer and DRY!!! So so good for south of here I hear. Fires may become my next obstacle. I'm checking into road closures tonight. Hopefully the weather will break and all will be passable by the time I get down there sometime next week.

So the past couple of days I've had that sun and I've put it to good use making my way down through San Fransisco and over the Golden Gate Bridge. That was awesome! The roads in Marin Co (famous for mtn biking) before the bridge were awesome too. Curves that were so much fun on the bike. Made me miss my motorcycle though. I will come back for sure just to do that road. The views of the coast were very cool too.

Today from SF to Santa Cruz seemed flatter for the most part with a few big climbs. There was a side wind early but it switched later to no wind or a bit of a tail wind. There was one section of road that took me back to being a kid and when I fell in love with bikes. Brand new pavement, a heavy tail wind and nearly flat. Yikes! Cruising along at 26 mph effortlessly! The coolest part is that when the wind blows hard enough behind you there is NO wind in your ears. You hear nothing except the sound of your bicycle working. In fact I noticed a couple little sounds on mine that I have not been able to hear due to the rain and headwinds over the past couple of weeks. Nothing big, just some fine tuning!

I'm happy to be finding my way through these big cities okay. Big cities always stress me a little. The maps are doing their job pretty well.

Okay everyone...huff and puff and blow that fire out for me!