Day 16 - Lompoc, CA - Tom

This morning after breakfast we immediately run into a organized group of bikers. We find out through conversations with them that they are doing a 7 day ride from Pacific Beach to Solvang. They had ridden the Big Sur stretch the day before yesterday in the rain and were not able to see much. What a tragedy. I will never forget riding along the Big Sur to San Simeon stretch when all of a sudden by a shear cliff a flock of 20-30 pelicans rises elegantly above the edge of the cliff no more than a few feet from us.
Anyway, today's ride was fast at times and nerve wracking due in part to the strong winds; but also due to reaching urban centers where there wasn't a good alternative bike route (at least not one we were aware of).
One short ride tomorrow and we reach our goal, Santa Barbara.

Day 16 pete - a breezy day

Clear and sunny when we depart San Simeon. A quick breakfast in Cambria and south we head. The tailwinds are light but we expect them to build in the afternoon. Before long we're rolling into Morrow bay and soon Pismo beach for mexican food. 55 miles down and 45 to go for the day. The winds have picked up and we roll at 20 plus except for the times the road turns west and then it is difficult to keep he bike upright. We get pushed and then we get buffeted alternately the next few hours. We ride past Vandenberg air force base and then to Lompocs motel 6.

Day 16/100 miles/1208 total

Day 15 - San Simeon, CA - Tom,

Rain while we're eating breakfast dampened our spirits; but all cleared up by the time we left. The most beautiful stretch of coast so far.

Day 15 pete - Big Sur to San Simeon

We start the day expecting sun and find rain. We start to roll and the rain stops and before we finish the climb out of Big Sur I've removed both vest and tights. The rest of the day is bright and sunny. Up and down the road goes. The views are amazing all day. We stop along the way to marvel at a beach coverd with resting elephant seals. Finally we roll into San Simeon and grab a large Mexican food dinner. As we head to the campground a rain squal hits and we opt for a 39 dollar motel.

Day 14/70 miles/1108 total

Day 14 pete - short, wet, and windy

A rotisserie chicken. 2 pounds of grapes and two pounds of strawberries along with a half gallon of ice cream and many of Bobs cookies had filled us up so this morning we finish the salads we intended to eat last night. A quick stop at Safeway for coffee and a sandwich and we rode off into a strong headwind and rain. Our planned destination is big sur - 26 miles south. A rest day.

Only two noticeable climbs and some rollers. It was the wind that made the trip memorable. 25 mph head winds which reflected off the cliff sides had us guessing which way to lean.

We stop at he first restaurant for a coffee warm-up. Yikes 7.50 for two cups - gotcha. We stop at a campground - 88 for an unheated tent and two cots - ouch. We put on our sad wet faces and get a 150 motel room for 115. Had to do it - the map shows almost nothing for the next 74 miles. Bread, herring and cookies for lunch and prob. dinner.

Day 14/26 miles/1037total

Day 14 - Big Sur - Tom

The wind and hills held us to around 3-4 mph much of the way here from Carmel. 25 miles of cold, wet, and miserable was enough of that. Bob's care package cookies, a tin of herring, hunk of cheese, and bread made our lunch. We're checked into the hotel by 1PM.

Fwd: Day 13 Carmel - Tom - A Day of Hospitality

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Day 13 Carmel - Tom - A Day of Hospitality
From: tom harrylock <tom@hvengineering.biz>
To:
CC:

Up and going by 8 AM. Reuben takes us for a ride thru thru the local waterfront suburbs going South towards our days destination around Monterey Bay and into Carmel where we have been told we have a package waiting for us at the post office. Once again we find ourselves short of 30 miles by noon. About 4 miles North of the town of Marina we are routed off the HWY and onto a paved bike path, A few miles later we meet up with our next, unexpected, and very hospitable tour guide, Larry. With Larry's proding we decide on taking the longer, scenic route to Carmel via the bike trail and the famously expensive and beautiful, 17 mile drive thru Pebbles Beach. Larry patiently stays with us to his turn at Pacific Grove (about 15 miles all together). Along the route we see a couple of paragliders practicing in the bluffs above the Bay and next to the bike path, we see the wharf district,And of course the Bay with all kinds of blooming plants.
We arrive in Carmel and pick up our care package a few minutes before closing, 5PM. Cookies aRe in the care package