Thursday April 12, 2012

40 miles (64 km) – Total so far: 244 miles (393 km)

I awoke fully rested and really recharged. My tent was dry.   All the batteries were charged, and the weather looked like it might be OK. The sun was breaking through some grey clouds.   I rolled out of the clean hotel sheets, packed up the bike, and went in search of breakfast.

Solvang is swimming in breakfast restaurants. Those Danish folks must love breakfast, because there are three breakfast restaurants on every block in this town.   I picked one at random – The Belgian Waffle House – and ordered up – what else?   Belgian Waffle with eggs and bacon.   Gobbled it down and was preparing to ride out-of-town when I spotted across the street the Solvang Restaurant – Home of Arne’s Famous Aebleskiver.

Huh? Aebleskiver?  I’ve never heard of it – but there was a big line of people waiting to get one, so I figured it had to be good. I bought one and ate it up. I still don’t really know what they are – seems to be warm donuts swimming in hot raspberry jam and covered with powdered sugar.  Delicious!  Just the thing to provide a little energy for a nice bike ride.

After breakfast, I headed out to ride. Just outside of Solvang are a group of miniature horse farms. I’ve seen them before on several trips up here and I’ve always been interested in them. They are really tiny,usually less than 34-38 inches tall, about the size of a very small pony. They have various colors and coat patterns. Miniature horses are friendly and interact well with people. When I stopped, a whole group of them came trotting over to see what I was. They are often kept as family pets. They are also trained as service animals, akin to assistance dogs for people with disabilities

 

I rolled through Solvang and Los Olivos. I was feeling really good. The traffic was light, the roads were pleasant and the weather was holding. Exiting Los Olivos I entered the south end of Foxen Canyon Road.

I know this road. Nancy and I drive on this road every time we come here. One of our favorite wineries, Foxen, is located just a few miles down the road. We’ve often mentioned to each other that it looked like it might be a fun road to ride on.  Boy, were we right! Within minutes, I was in heaven. This road is amazing! Gorgeous rolling hills, fabulous sweeping vistas of hills, meadows, vineyards and pasture land. Almost no traffic. There is a vineyard tasting room every few miles if you get thirsty.  And it not just a mile or two of this paradise – no, this road goes on for thirty miles or more.

It was all I could do not to shout with happiness as I attacked this road. Hell, I actually did shout with happiness a few times. This road was an absolute blast.

I kept thinking that I would come to an end, that the scenery would change, or the traffic would pick up, or there would be a really steep hill, or something to make this ride less perfect. But nothing like that happened. The ride just got better and better. I was on a serious cycling high!

Of course, I had to stop and say hello to our friends at the Foxen Winery. There were so nice, although they clearly didn’t understand why I was babbling on about their perfect road. They did let me refill my water bottle there.

I know it’s not actually possible, but I felt like the entire ride was downhill! Every time I turned around, there was another fabulous view. It got prettier and prettier and the day wore on.

Just at the end of Foxen Canyon is a little town called Garey.   Garey has a grocery store that makes sandwiches. I got there just in time for lunch. I sat outside, talked on the phone with Nancy, ate my lunch, and thought about how lucky I was to  ride that stretch of road. I want to turn around and ride back to Solvang just so I can ride it again.  Heck, I want to move here so I can ride it every day!   Seriously, this may have been the very best bike ride I have ever had.

Just after lunch, the weather took a turn for the worse. It starts to rain pretty heavily. I pop on the rain jacket, and pull the rain covers over my bags and continue on. The forecast is for rain,  then rain, and a little more rain. I don’t think camping on the beach in Guadalupe is going to be much fun. Time for another hotel stay. As I enter Santa Maria, the Historic Santa Maria Inn seems to be calling me. I ride in, get a room, and call an end to this amazing day!

Can I go again?