Day 35: A Quiet Last Day

Ride:  Refugio SP to Oxnard

Miles:  66.4 miles

Total Trip Miles:  1,948 miles

Relaxing with my #1 supporter and (as I've said before) the best mom in the world (sorry everyone else.....)

Today was the last day of riding and it was nice and quiet.  A perfect ending to a great trip.  In fact, I didn't even take any pictures - I just wanted to enjoy the pedaling.  

In the next week or so (once I get all caught up on "normal life" stuff). I'll put together a summary with an emphasis on  resources for anyone considering this ride.  And if you are pondering this ride, stop pondering and start planning - you won't be disappointed :)

Day 34: Dag Gummit, I'm Gonna Miss This

Ride: Grover Beach to Refugio state beach
Distance: 71.2 miles
Total Trip Distance: 1,881 miles

Note: that is not a selfie of me after eating gas station cuisine for a month- (for those who don't know), it's the one and only Hoss Cartwright who frequently used "dag Gummit" to make a point.......like if Hop Sing was late with dinner or someone had trespassed onto Ponderosa Land.....But I digress.

Tonight is my last night camping, and tomorrow will be the last day of pedaling, and I have to admit that I'm going to miss it dag Gummit!

I won't miss this:

That is the yard sale that transpires when you get a flat and (of course) get to fix it. This happened in Guadalupe (next to a lovely lettuce field) , but it's the same mess wherever it happens..... On a positive note, I improved my repair time by 7 minutes (from 31 down to 24), so I may have a second career with NASCAR.

The first 25 miles of riding today were quite forgettable. Although I was once again impressed with how much food is grown in California. Once I turned onto HWY 135, things got more scenic and enjoyable. Not Big Sur scenic, but pleasant riding.

Then I tackled one of the bigger climbs of the tour: Harris Grade Rd. reminded me of some of the climbs at home: steep, twisty, and sustained - I thoroughly enjoyed it!

At the top of climb looking down into Lompoc:

A fun descent into Lompoc:

I topped off my water in Lompoc because I knew I had another good climb to get back to the 101 (my old buddy!). This one was longer, less steep and into an annoying headwind. I didn't enjoy this one as much - It was as if my mojo had developed a slow leak..... Fun at first...... Less fun..... Ok, where the hell is the summit..... I was really stoked to see this sign:

Then it was a quick ride back to the coast where the good old afternoon tailwind pushed me into camp. Mojo restored.

Refugio has the hiker/biker site right off the beach which is AOK with me :)

So I think I'll mosey down to the beach and enjoy my last sunset of the trip. And remind myself how lucky I am to have been able to do all of this :)

Posted with Blogsy

Day 33: This Space For Rent (couldn't think of a title....)

Ride:  San Simeon to Grover Beach

Distance:  69.4 miles

Total Trip Distance:  1,810 miles

Today I rode through Cambria, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo and Pismo beach - all places that I've spent time at before and that bring back good memories.  Was fun seeing them again from a bike - it adds another dimension of appreciation.  And I gotta say, I'm really liking this traveling by bike gig ...... Gonna miss it when it ends.  

Misty climb out of Cambria:

All of us who are fans of aunt Rosie will appreciate this one:

Raccoon update:  I haven't had any more problems, but I have been a DEFCON 5 since Oregon:

Ha!  Try and get that you crafty little bastards!!

Others, it would appear, feel similarly (found inside a food storage locker:

For the record, I'm not on board with the baby seal comment.

Saw more agriculture and started dreaming of spinach......aaahhhhh spinach:

And of course there was more beach :

By the time I got to Pismo beach this stop was mandatory:

The highlight of the day is the place I am camping at:  the Doty Ranch in Grover Beach - what a place! Ocean views and all sorts of nooks and crannies to keep you interested.  It is primarily an airbnb site (2 or 3 very cool, unique rooms) but us Bike tourists are welcome too!  I'm camped on a lawn in a fruit orchard - here are some pics that will do a better job than words:

One of the rooms:

Shower house:

Wine cellar 

Returning to the real world is gonna hurt..... :)