Monthly Archives: April 2012

Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 13: Big Sur to Carmel

Thursday April 19, 2012

27 miles (43 km) – Total so far: 341 miles (549 km)

The day began early in Big Sur. The large crowd in the Hiker/Biker site are all up, and chatting, cooking breakfast and preparing for their day’s ride. I pack up early as well, but elect to take advantage of the camp lodge restaurant for breakfast. I sit in warm comfort, drinking hot tea and wolfing down blueberry pancakes and bacon. Out the window, I watch as, one by one, my fellow bike campers roll out the park exit and turn to the north or the south to continue their journeys. My breakfast finally complete, I pull out a few minutes before 9:00 AM, ready to begin the 13th day of my adventure.

Ahhhhh. The 13th day – I should have recognized this for the omen it was of the day to come…

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 12: Kirk Creek to Big Sur

Wednesday April 18, 2012

28 miles (45 km) – Total so far: 314 miles (505 km)

I awoke at Kirk Creek early. My schedule has shifted to coincide with the sun since I started this ride. I wake when it rises, and I go to sleep when it sets. It feels very natural to me, and I sleep really well.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 11: Cambria to Kirk Creek

Tuesday April 17, 2012

42 miles (68 km) – Total so far: 286 miles (460 km)

So the day has finally come. Once again I need to leave behind my beautiful wife.   No more fabulous hotels and wonderful meals.   No more laughing and sharing our lives together.

Once again it’s time for me to ride off on my own.   I admit that this morning I was having many second thoughts. “I could just stay with her, right?”.  “No need to do this crazy solo ride”.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 10: More Cambria

Monday April 16, 2012

Nancy and I spent another day together in Cambria.   I have really fallen in love with this place. The laid back atmosphere and natural beauty have made a distinct impression in me.  I’m going to be sorry to leave it behind.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 9: Cambria

Sunday April 15, 2012

We woke early in Paso Robles, eager and ready to do a nice 30 mile ride around the area. Our plan was to ride 4-5 miles into downtown, eat a nice breakfast, then climb some hills, visit some wineries, and return to the hotel.

We dressed in many layers – it was quite cold – lower 40’s early in the AM.   We packed up all our luggage and checked out from the lovely hotel.   We loaded up the bikes and off we go……

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Days 7 & 8: Santa Maria to Paso Robles

Friday April 13, 2012

Well, I’d love to report the harrowing experiences I had with the rain and the hail and the nasty weather that the Central Coast has  experienced the last few days.   Unfortunately, I can only report that I spent the time safe and warm and happy and holed up in lovely hotels eating great meals and drinking fine wine.

On last report, I had made my way from Solvang to Santa Maria, and I had checked into the Historic Santa Maria Inn.  Built in 1917, the Santa Maria Inn is located in the city of Santa Maria, a town of about 100,000 halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Additionally there are several ghosts that haunt the hotel.

Continue reading Days 7 & 8: Santa Maria to Paso Robles →

Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 6: Solvang to Santa Maria

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.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 5: Lake Cachuma to Solvang

Wednesday April 11, 2012

13 miles (21 km) – Total so far: 204 miles (328 km)

What a difference a good nights sleep makes! It rained really hard last night, but I slept like a baby. Once I was sure everything inside the tent would stay dry, I actually found the sound of the rain falling on the tent very comforting. I slept till after 7:30 – very late for me.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 4: Carpenteria to Lake Cachuma

Gallery

Tuesday April 10, 2012

45 miles (72 km) – Total so far: 191 miles (307 km)

I slept really well in Carpenteria.  The hiker/biker campsites back right up against the railroad tracks, and I was afraid the trains would wake me.   Apparently the trains run silent at night, because I heard nothing until chirping birds woke me at 7:00.  I planned today to be a relatively short day – only about 32 miles.   My destination – Lake Cachuma in the Los Padres National Forest.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 3: Malibu to Carpenteria

Monday April 9, 2012

50 miles (80 km) – Total so far: 146 miles (235 km)

I woke early and ready to get on the road for day 3 of the trike adventure.

The PCH was very quiet early on Monday morning.   I was concerned there might be rush hour traffic, but those concerns were clearly unfounded.   Almost no traffic in either directions and I rode past the gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean near Point Magu.

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The Naval Air Base in Ventura

Continue reading Day 3: Malibu to Carpenteria →