Category Archives: Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012)

Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 16: Sacramento / The American River Trail

Sunday April 22, 2012
31 miles (50 km) – Total so far: 390 miles (628 km)

Today is TARTAR – the Tour of the American River for Trikes and Recumbents. This ride is organized by our friend Wayne Leggett. Wayne owns and operates the 3-2-Go trike shop in Ventura. We first met Wayne a couple of years ago when we rode with him, his wife and a group of recumbent riders from the Ventura area on a weekend getaway to Ojai. We really enjoyed that first ride with Wayne and his crew, so when we learned he organized this ride in Sacramento, we just had to join in!

Continue reading Day 16: Sacramento / The American River Trail →

Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 15: San Francisco

Saturday April 21, 2012
18 miles (29 km) – Total so far: 359 miles (578 km)

After yesterday’s hectic running about, Nancy and I decided to take it easy this morning. With a new wheel gleaming on the back of my trike, we headed out to Sausalito to do a short ride around the Richardson Bay. We found a place to park in Sausalito, and then joined the hoards of cyclists riding the bike trail around the Bay to Tiburon.

Continue reading Day 15: San Francisco →

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…

Continue reading Day 13: Big Sur to Carmel →

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.

Continue reading Day 12: Kirk Creek to Big Sur →

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”.

Continue reading Day 11: Cambria to Kirk Creek →

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.

Continue reading Day 10: More Cambria →

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……

Continue reading Day 9: Cambria →

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.

Continue reading Day 6: Solvang to Santa Maria →