Nov. 1 – Day 1 Part II:
Weight:
Trailer: 50 lbs.
Two Rear Bags: 24 lbs. (combined)
Two Front Bags: 17 lbs. (combined)
Extra Bag: 7 lbs.
Camera: 4.5 lbs.
Bike w/gear: 50 lbs.
Total: 153 lbs.
Leaving San Francisco, it didn’t take long to meet fellow travelers. On the way up Skyline Blvd., I met cyclers from Jasper, Ontario, Canada on their way to Mexico. I was carrying twice as much gear as they were, and they passed me by quite handily going up the hill, slowing down enough to chat for a bit.
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Skyline Blvd. turns into a freeway, and you’re allowed to ride it on a bicycle until the next off-ramp at Hillcrest Blvd. I wound my way down city streets, sleeping the night in an overpriced hotel in Burlingame.
My first night of sleep and lying in bed, I still feel the shaking of the front handlebars from the instability of the weighted trailer which plagued me the entire ride. I hope this doesn’t last all night long. What worried me more was that every two hours I’d wake to a dream about work. During the first night of my "extended" vacation, this didn’t escape my irony meter.
Nov. 2 – Heading for San Jose:
El Camino Real Blvd. starts in Colma City and goes all the way into San Jose, being born out of Mission St. from San Francisco. I don’t know About El Camino Real prior to where I was, but after Burlingame, the street becomes a descent road for riding, with plenty of space for bike and cars. Burlingame should widen their stretch of that road!!!Finding a motel with plenty of first floor room is a priority when on a bicycle pulling a trailer. When you’re exhausted, pulling your gear up stairs in many trips doesn’t sound like fun. The only place in downtown San Jose with many first floor rooms is the Ramada Inn, and it’s close to the convention center. Hot water took some managing; it was either cold or scouring hot, but eventually okay. There are plenty of cheaper motels prior to downtown San Jose. At least I didn’t dream about work!
Nov. 6 – Heading for San Cruz:
Waiting to get supplies in Saratoga prior to the big climb was a mistake; there’s not much in Saratoga other than wineries. Fortunately I had Peanut Butter with me, which Jerry suggested and I highly recommend. My first major peak, 2,615 ft., should be my tallest on this California trip, and I made it quite easily. Exhausted, but not dead, at a consistent 3mph while pulling a ton. I was hoping to get pictures, but trees obscured the views and I was too tired to go hiking for the perfect picture.
Nov. 7 – Heading for Monterey:
The best part of the Monterey leg was this neat bicycle path extending from Marina City all the way into Monterey. For commuting/tourism, It’s even better than Marin County’s bicycle path. The best hotel I’ve found so far is definitely the Monterey Bay Lodge. Of course I’m comparing it to some pretty bad places, none-the-less, it’s a very nice place.The cough I picked up in San Jose has grown into a major head cold, I’ll stay in Monterey another day and have my bicycle tuned up for the trip south.
Nov 9 – Heading for Big Sur
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| From California |
The worst lodging I’ve had was the Big Sur River Inn. There’s another motel just up the road worth getting reservations for, and several resorts. The River Inn is an embarrassment to California, and with such a high profile location, you’d think that imminent domain would come into play, and I’m no fan of imminent domain. In stark contrast, the River Inn seems to put all of their effort into the restaurant, which is above par and leaves you bewildered as to the mind of the owner. My ignorant explanation would be that any work done on the lodging would require them to come up to state/county code. My advice: stay at another motel or resort, but eat at the Big Sur River Inn.
Nov. 10 – Heading for San Simeon
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| From California |
Total Miles: 283 miles from S.F.
Once again, the weather was beautiful. Sunny & warm with coastal views to take my mind off the long trek and heavy load, this leg of the journey was expected to be the most arduous, but was the most pleasant. This was the first day that I didn’t get a late start so starting out at 9:20, I decided to double my distance before the sunset at 5:00pm. Every day so far I cycled around 30 miles, today will be 60 miles to San Simeon.
I met a couple cycling from British Columbia on their way to Mexico. I would’ve stopped to have lunch with them if I wasn’t just getting over a head cold, and also trying to double my miles. On many occasions during this stretch of highway, I’d wished that my camera wasn’t buried beneath other bags. At my next lodging, I’ll put my camera back on the handlebars. A little more instability will have to be put up with in order to take pictures at opportune moments. Should’ve gotten that smaller camera.
This was supposed to be the narrowest, windiest part of the Highway 1 route, but I felt quite safe most of the way down. Compared to riding in San Francisco, I’d say that it’s very safe. The drivers were all courteous and respectful, driving slowly especially prior to evening. Many waving and taking pictures of fools on bicycles towing heavy loads. I imagine the drivers are fewer and older in November than in the summer months.
The signs indicating miles for San Simeon are kinda off, no big deal, except when your exhausted, on a bicycle, an hour after the sunset, and San Simeon didn’t really exist, it seemed to be an imaginary point. I cycled to Cambria, which is 6 miles past the non-existent San Simeon (only an extra half-hour on a heavy-laden bicycle). The double pair of padded bicycle shorts didn’t help enough today. Without my gear, I’d usually ride some miles standing up to work other muscles and give my groin a rest, but with this heavy load and trailer, the moment I stand up, the bicycle starts to wobble. So, today I rode the entire 75 miles sitting down and I doubt that I’ll ride tomorrow. My motel is across the street from the beach, so it’ll be a relaxing stay.
Nov. 12 Arrived in San Luis Obispo
Total Miles: 328 miles from S.F.Cycling to SLO was easy, only one hill at 450 ft. and a few lesser hills. Lots of sun, few trees, and the wind was against me most of the way, but still easy. Motels are on Monterey Blvd. with a supermarket, Rite-Aid, and GNC inside Rite-Aid on Johnson St. two blocks south of Monterey Blvd.
Santa Maria : Arrived Nov. 13
Total Miles: 367 miles from S.F.
Solvang : Arrived Nov. 14
Total Miles: 414 miles from S.F.
Santa Barbara : Arrived Nov. 15
Total Miles: 458 miles from S.F.
Port Hueneme : Arrived Nov. 16
Total Miles: 495 miles from S.F.
Leo Carillo State Beach : Arrived Nov. 17; Left Nov. 20
Total Miles: 521 miles from S.F.
Thousand Oaks : Arrived Nov. 20
Total Miles: 554 miles from S.F.
posted by Rick Anderson @ 12:43 PM
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