Century ride to Los Angeles

Determined to make it to Los Angeles in time for Samir to prep for his interview, we raced all yesterday from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica. Charan had taken our touring bags ahead, and other than occasional stops to rest and sit on the sand, we flew down the coastline. We averaged 15 mph over 110 miles. I am surprised the number is so low, as every time I glanced at my computer, my speed hovered around 20 mph. For the last 25 miles through Malibu, Samir and I gunned it. He drafted behind me as we whizzed along the famous shoreline at speeds of around 30 mph. I hit 42 on a downhill.

Malibu is a funny place. There are more Range Rovers than houses.



Camilo and Lukas were pretty exhausted by mile fifty. After all, we did ride a long long way loaded the day before. Over the trip, all humor has devolved into sarcasm. Consequently, it is hard to take Lukas and Camilo's complaints seriously. We pushed onward, temporarily frustrated at having spent so long a time with our small group of guys. Of course, I wouldn't have had it any other way.






I decided to end my trip in LA, despite the merciless teasing of Lukas and Camilo (they will ride the 120 miles to San Diego, which apparently separates me from my dignity and manliness, but I know better, as I am sure they do too). Doing so saves my dad six hours driving and saves me $250 in plane tickets to a wedding in Chicago and visiting my brother in Manhattan. So I guess that is it! I have come full circle, back to the same apartment where I had tea over a month ago.

I rode 1,723 miles down the coast. I made new friends for life and forged a strong connection with my new roommate. I gained 10 pounds. I saw spectacular coastline, wildlife, and towns both small and large. What a journey. Thank you for following.

So, anyone up for a bike ride?

Wrapping up

I have five days left on the bike. Tomorrow we are riding 100 miles to reach Los Angeles, where we plan to stay with Charan, Samir's uncle. Camilo wants to spend two days in LA before pushing onwards to San Diego. Then it is a fifty mile ride to Huntington and a long haul to San Diego the following day.

Today we did a century ride while loaded. We said bye to Kyle early this morning. He has been on our radar since upper Oregon. Here he is:



We were about fifteen miles into the ride when Lukas broke a rear spoke. I tightened some of the other spokes with my sole wrench to keep the wheel truer and we removed the panniers from Lukas' bike. Lukas had an "easy" day, while Camilo and I hauled extra baggage. Check out my trailer!


With all that weight, my tire pressure was around 25 psi when we arrived at UCSB. It is usually at around 80 psi.

The ride today was long and hot. We had little water as we rode uphill through the desert-like land ten miles from the coast. With full sun and black asphalt, I felt like I was biking in Anthem again in Henderson.

Charan treated us to massive burritos on the UCSB campus near all of the frat and sorority houses. The burritos were twice the size of chipotle's, and I ate mine like I hadn't seen food in days. Thank you!!! Charan also took all of our gear ahead for us, so our century ride tomorrow will be relatively easy.

We are staying tonight with Phil Conrad and his husband Bob. Dr. Conrad was Camilo's freshman year computer science teacher at UD, and he was kind enough to let us crash at his apartment for the night. An avid musician, he and Camilo played guitar together. Classical guitar is one of the most beautiful sounding forms of music. I love it.

Five more days. That's it. Part of me wants to stop in LA. I miss family and I can't wait to get home. I am going to finish the trip to San Diego though. I am so close, and I don't want to ditch Camilo and Lukas at the very end. I will be home or with Calvin in Manhattan until September 7 when I move to Seattle. Lots of cookie baking in my future!

It is weird to be finishing, having been on the road for 30 days, longer if I count my train ride. So many sights, people, jokes, and stories... It really has been a grand adventure. I have learned a lot about everyone in our group, and about myself.

Love and best wishes.

Pismo beach

Today we rode through San Luis Obispo and arrived at Pismo beach. The ride was without spectacular scenery, but the land was flat. We rode nearly 50% faster than normal. It wasn't till we pitched our tents that Lukas realized that his brakes had been rubbing since Santa Cruz. He had been so slow, and now it makes so much sense. Biking Big Sur with your brakes on is not for everyone.

I hit 40 mph again today. I also saw a coyote. At Albertsons, I bought peanut butter, jelly, cheese, nectarines, bananas, trail mix, oatmeal, and 36 poptarts. Carboloading much?




One of Camilo's stretch breaks on the sidewalk. This usually happens on the side of the freeway. Lol.

We are riding 86 miles tomorrow. I better rest up. In LA we can play some volleyball. Tomorrow we will meet Samir's uncle and an old professor of Camilo's.

Joseph the seal

I just swam in the ocean and went running on the beach. The ocean dip made me the cleanest I've been in four days. Before the icy swim, I felt like a frog with a slimy coat of sunscreen, sweat and dirt keeping me moist like a mucous film. On the run, I taught Samir to pop kelp air chambers. So much fun!





Big Sur coast. Tensions within the group were high, but we are all big boys and got over each other.

Someone told us that Big Sur was the face of the earth as God intended it to look. I'm not sure if he was saying that God goofed on the rest of the world. In reality, the coast was somewhat underwhelming after all the anticipation. It looked like most of the coast we have seen so far. Still, it was beautiful.


Our campground last night was at Kirk Creek. We were right on the water, so the camping was worth the 75 miles through mountainous terrain. Sometime during the night, raccoons unzipped Lukas' strung up food bag and ate all of his trail mix.

When we left camp, we had to stop as I fixed my dérailleur. It wasn't shifting out of the lowest gear, and I had to practically reinstall it. I love chances to do repairs on the bike, it lets you enjoy a different side of the bike trip.


Elephant seals! This loner is named Joseph. We saw him at Piedras Blancas and ate lunch there to keep him company. Lukas then proceeded to walk toward Joe, to see how close he could get before Joe woke up. Despite our warnings, Lukas touched Joe the seal! Lukas turned and ran like mad, while Joe barely looked over his shoulder before falling back into a torpor.


The males come onto the beach this time of year to molt. Even though breeding season is long over, several fights broke out as we watched them lounge. Adult males can be 5000 pounds! Yum!

Once we reached Hearst Castle, a strong tailwind blew us to our campsite at San Simeon. Here we have hung out with Kyle, a young speech pathologist biker we met in Oregon. He is pretty cool, and it is the best to reconnect with friends we have made on the road.

Big Sur: that's an elephant seal bro

Monterey's coastline seems calm, I think the kelp forest offshore dissipates the smaller ripples on the surface of the water, and the water rises and falls slowly under the fog.


When the fog clears, the day becomes very warm and enjoyable.


Sporting my new DOT vest. It's previous owner was about five times my size.


The Carmel mission was constructed in1770 by the Spanish. It is still an operating church, but you must pay $6.50 to enter. I peered over the wall instead. A lot of attractions on this part of the coast cos money. Luckily, enjoying the Big Sur scenery is free and great on a bike.


Lukas in Big Sur.


Camilo posing with the Bixby Bridge. The coastline is spectacular, and getting to see it so well is a real privilege.

To be continued...

Strawberries everywhere!

We started today by watching the surfers in Santa Cruz.





Then the ride became a series of smells as we passed through miles of farmland. Sweet and tempting, the scent of ripe strawberries had me salivating as I biked. Hundreds of migrant workers stooped low over the bushes to harvest the plump fruits.
As we rode through one field, two large German shepherds ran after Camilo and attacked his BOB trailer. I am not a big fan of aggressive dogs, and I am glad that they gave up after grabbing a reflective vest. There is a reason I carry a big knife--guard dogs on the loose.

The strawberries reminded me of fun times with my family in Oxnard and of homemade jam.






Barking loudly, hundred of sea lions basked in the sun. We stopped for a snack and a look at these funny creatures.





There was also a flotilla of sea otters. They are adorable.







I have always liked Monterey, mostly for the aquarium. Every time I think about the aquarium, I want to become a marine biologist.







One of the highlights of my day was a phone call from Whitney Adsit, an old friend from school. We hadn't talked recently, and I was so happy to hear from her.

Words to go with the Santa Cruz post

We began our ride yesterday by riding amazing single track right next to the beach. I was in my element, bobbing in and out of the dirt trails with a big smile on my face. I would ride single track all day long; as for these guys, I think they were hurting with their rigid forks and drop handlebars.

The rest of the day was flat and sunny, and the scenery was pretty great too. We saw occasional surfers in the waves below, and I had the Beach Boys playing on my internal jukebox.

We arrived in Santa Cruz early. There we were hosted by Lukas' family friends Mike and Deborah. They own a bike shop in Fresno. I really love their Brompton bikes, which quickly collapsed into a small cube of wheels and metal posts.

We finished yesterday by riding the wooden roller coaster on the board walk. It was awesome! A big thank you to Mike and Deborah for feeding us and putting us up in a hotel.