Tag Archives: fine-dining

Day 23 & 24: Mendocino to Carmel to Palo Alto and Then Back to Carmel

Sunday April 29, 2012

Today is a turning point of sorts. Today, we pack up the car and we head south from Mendocino. For this first time on this trip, we are turning back the way we came. Away from the new and unknown and toward home. Away from the spirit of adventure and romance, and back toward reality.

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Day 19: St. Helena to Healdsburg

Wednesday April 25, 2012
This trip is clearly not the pound shedding experience I had envisioned while I was planning. Our breakfast at Shady Oaks is again a delight of waffles and berries.

Saying farewell to the Napa Valley, we load up the car and head for Sonoma. The landscape in Sonoma has a slightly different feel. Hills are a little less steep, the towns feel a little more residential. It’s still wine country, yet the vineyards here seem larger, more commercial.

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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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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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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.

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Day 1: Newport Beach to Long Beach

Saturday April 7, 2012

31 miles (50 km) – Total so far: 31 miles (50 km)

I’m officially on the way!

I rode from home to the Bonita Creek Park. Nancy met me there, along with Glenn, Kevin, Derek and Jim from the Trike Squadron. We all yakked for a while  and enjoyed the coffee, brownies and muffins Nancy brought along. Nancy also gave me a bright green Helium Star balloon that I attached to my flag pole.

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