SAN FRANCISCO TO LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA LOG

DAY 34 SAN FRANCISCO TO Half Moon Bay SP 40.54KM JUNE 2/01 SATURDAY

Sorry we missed Stinsons Beach other bikers suggested we not take that route. We thought we would just start this portion as we are sitting in the motel getting ready to head out of San Francisco to Half Moon Bay. Got e-mail from friends in L.A. saying hot tub and pool are ready and waiting.

Arrived after a short ride, only difficult part was the devils slide area (about 4 miles) out of Daly City. It had no shoulders and was very busy with spurts of traffic linked to the stop light in town. The housing style has changed to "little boxes on the hillside ... made of ticky tacky". Many with gorgeous views.

The hills are not getting any easier - "she'll be coming round the moutain" is getting worn out.(Sue has re-written many verses but it doesn't get her up the hill any faster). I think I have been on the road too long, an oriental lady though I should be able to ride the transit for free. (crowsfeet are growing - I think I have lost weight}

We have just found out that there is an AIDS fund raising Bike ride from San Fran to LA, starting tomorrow. We should have 2000 bikers(unloaded van assisted) speed past us at some point this week. The wind has been forever constant along the coast, I don't think a ocean side home is that appealing. I think some distance inland with a view is much more preferable.

DAY 35 Half Moon Bay to New Brighton SP 97.98 KM JUNE 3/01 SUNDAY

Cool overnight.. up to a bright sunny morning with no wind. There was a full moon last night. Started off and met riders doing a Centurian Ride (100 miles) from Palo Alto California. We played leap frog as they had longer stops, but are faster than us as they are unloaded.

The "Aides Ride" started this morning from San Francisco and met up with us at Davenport. They had a line of pot-a-potties a mile long. 2800 riders would be a huge undertaking to organize...especially the facilities! They stayed in Santa Cruz and we went on the our campsite, so not too much to see yet. The ride today was smooth, great shoulder past miles and miles of vegetable farms.

I tested Ken's "Pedal Pusher" skills on a up hill section I hit a pot hole and unloaded both my back panniers unexpectedly!! Ken had to be quick thinking to avoid wiping out! Suddenly the load was much lighter!

Santa Cruz is very nice with a bike/walk path all along the ocean edge. The surfers are as thick as the seals on the rocks! The towns before San Francisco north were all small (150-250 people), Suddenly we are into the thousands and up, but still lots of farms right up to the sea shore. Certain veggies/fruits are very expensive ie bananas 69/lb, avocados $1.79 each. Ken went in swimming tonight although I don't think it was that warm. We went to the Ranger Campfire... memories of summer camp. Skits, etc. Fun.

DAY 36 New Brighton SP to Monteray 81.80 KM JUNE 4/01 MONDAY

Up and out of camp early oping to get a head start on the 2800 other riders, but no such luck. We met up with them as soon as we hit the bike route. Turned out not to be too bad as they kept our pace a little faster, and we were able to talk with them a bit. They were of varied ages and fitness levels. Some were pushing up minor hills, so the rest of their week may be eventful. We did the tortise and the hare routine with them until noon when they headed inland to avoid Big Sur and we continued on the coastal route. The rest stops for them were cayotic!

Artichokes are the crop of the month here. Lettuce and peas also. Still easy riding off of the main hiway along the farms. Was to be a short ride of 65K today, but by the time we rode back into Monteray for the afternoon and supper we were up to 81K. The hills up to the campground were the steepest of the day. My legs are showing signs of being tired and tomorrow is a really hilly one. Might need another day off soon. Ken is getting tired of the camping thing! I still prefer it to stuffy hot motels. Compromise is the name of the game.

We had a good supper at a restaurant "Tillie Gorts", suggested by the visitors info as the best veggie restaurant. Yum! Was a treat to have more than one choise, although Ken still had a veggie burger!

We do not have the site to ourselves tonight, but still not crowded. Often seeing non hikerbikers in these sites. This camp is on the peak of the hills so probably not a favorite one. Also the cost is $5/person, so a little more than the state parks. We should have the road to ourselves tomorrow, although it is shoulderless for a lot of the way.

DAY 37 Monteray to Kirk Creek SP 97.02 KM JUNE 5/01 TUESDAY

Up and out early before 8am. This could be because the military played "revelry?" at 4am when the sun rose and then proceded to do I don't want to know what with all the 1..2..UH..UH that went on for about an hour. Needless to say we were camped at Vetrans Memorial Community campground. The military base was right next door!! Mutiney abounds. Decisions to be made... keep going.. stay in a motel for a couple of days.. decided to head off and think on it.

The first hill out of camp was very steep and wasn't a good way to start this day with a 100 yd walk up hill! Got my energy and set off. The eucolyptas trees are very aromatic especially when it is hot out. We have been going by them ever since hitting California. They are huge shade trees, but very messy...seem to loose their leaves constantly. Met a fellow from CA who was riding what he called a "city bike" It had 5 cogs on the front gears (one was a huge dummy one, he had modified this bike) and seven on the rear. What GRANNY Gears he had (28 speed) I want one!!

Hills and more hills today. Ocean drop offs, but pretty good shoulder. +30C Traffic ok out of towns. The only vehicles that consistantly do not move over the center line are the UPS or Fedex drivers. They must go to CREEP DRIVING SCHOOL!

Stopped at McKay Canyon to have a late lunch and walk to the waterfall that goes into the ocean. Met a fellow at what should have been the grocery stop (it is really a restaurant that sells Kraft dinner for $2.50 US each, $.75 per orange. So I took four oranges and we ate our emergency supper of ...you guess it Kraft dinner! Anyways this fellow, Trevor, is a professional Surfer who happens to hold the Guiness book record for the longest handstand on a skateboard. He is 37 going on 17! Enjoying life!! We continued to camp and what a nice spot it is. The beach access is a little steep for old ladies, but I did make it and we watched sea otters having supper until the surf came in. Ocean view from the tent was splendid! Tired and smelly, No showers!

DAY 38 Kirk Creek to San Simeon 69.17 KM JUNE 6/01 WEDNESDAY

My legs are still tired this morning. We have 20 miles of major hills then into rolling terrain. Could stay a rest day here it is so nice... but we would need to starve, live on love, or GO ON! Everything is moist in the morning! Ken has one clean underwear... Ivan he is trying your suggestion inside/outside/frontside/backside... we are beyond that... laundry must be done!! Ken is fading away. We are both so tired we are giddy this morning!

Fairly major hills this am. only 23KM done by 11 am (2+hrs) minimal shoulder and that there is was overgrown with a huge thistle plant. Lucky little traffic. Stopped at Ragged Pt and excellent choice for lunch. Gas is $3.09/gal just prior here. I got an abolony shell firefly broach I hope I can get home in one piece.

We went on to Hearst Castle... now owned by the state parks system. We joined all the other tourists in a tour. It was very interesting and the grounds are gorgeous flower gardens in a desert area. The roses were very aromatic and the fruit trees laden with fruit are for decoration and their aroma, not for eating. The castle was built between 1920-1947 and he died before completing it. It is full of antiques and historic artifacts mostly from Italy and Spain. They are used in the building not on display. Hard to describe, but he used 300 year old church choir pews as wall board with the chair intact in these rooms that are huge. It was very modern for it's day... showers, bathrooms for each bedroom (38) and most had fireplaces. It is well worth going to see. Kind of too bad knowone lives here to enjoy the fabulous view, 2 huge swimming pools and the grounds. The family still own most of the farm lands and run a huge cattle ranch. On the shores below are large elephant seals. The are mating and having their young. The male protects his harum of ladies, by fighting with any male who comes on his turf (area of the beach) It is interesting, but a little gross to see them fighting.

The groceries are a difficulty once again tonite as most of the small grocery stores here are really just liquor stores with one or 2 canned foods, no fruit and then junk foods for snacks. Makes making a meal a little difficult! Back to larger cities tomorrow. Camp is very nice with the crickets serinading us. We have 9 more days to head south then must start back for home... I cann't believe it!

DAY 39 San Simeon to Oceano SP (Pismo Beach) 89.73 KM JUNE 7/01 THURSDAY

Set out to beat the heat, but saw a laundry so stopped to get a little sweeter smelling! Ken got a hair cut, but as it was graduation day no cut for me... where is Diana when I need her expertise!! Cambria was hot +30 when we finally set off at noon. The smell of Eucolyptus is overwelming. We were able to check our email along the way and will hopefully take a day off tomorrow to get in touch with all and laz at the beach!

We travelled thru veggie growing Los Osos Valley. The veggies should get more reasonable! I saw a sign wanting home care workers in the laundry, not knowing if that means a educated care aide, but the pay is $7.44/hour US. Think I'll stay at home!

After the heat of the valley we headed back along the beach. Thank goodness for the cooling breeze! It is much more populated down here and much more affluence seen in the housing. I still don't understand how the common person can survive.

Met a nice couple touring here from Germany. They are doing it right...2 weeks from San Fran to LA. They go 40K about each day. They suggest the south of France for our next adventure. They don't wear helmets. They feel Americans are way to safety concious and fearful. They ride in the middle of the lane and move over when the car has slowed down (hopefully not on their head!) The camp is very nice and we plan to stay another day here. A young man showed up after dark having gone not much faster than us, but put 2 days times together. He set his tent up by the light of the outhouse as he had just bought it today! Oh to be young! He also is carrying a surf board on his trailer! His room mate is a Canadian from Penticton who's dad owns the Penticton Hockey School. Small world.

DAY 40 REST DAY Oceano SP (Pismo Beach Ken a few KM JUNE 8/01 FRIDAY

No hills for these legs today! In bed until 0830! Sun is up and HOT! Plan to spend the day updating this log and going to the beach. It is a lovely sandy one, but they allow cars on it so is rather a busy place.

Did some beach walking, sunning and then out for a great Mexican meal. Really a nice spot to spend extra time. Ken went off to look for an internet cafe but quess what.... none to be found. I hate to give my opinion of the lack of cyber connections in this part of the world.

More company tonight, a young man recently out of the Air Force who also cycled a long distance. He is riding my TREK, but his tires seem to have more tread?? May be time for new tires.

DAY 41 Oceano SP (Pismo Beach) to Lake Cachuma 125.79 KM JUNE 9/01 SATURDAY

Started off from Pismo Beach with a cool breaze off the shore... not for long. The road was rolling thru Veggie Gardens by the acre. The Crickets are so noisy you can hardly hear yourself singing! We left HWY 1 for 135 which was very pleasant with little traffic thru very dry hills.

Just to keep us in shape we took the Harris Grade cutoff to Lompoc. 8km of UP, UP (600ft in 3miles) to 950 ft. Traffic was light, views of trees. The down was fast. We got our first meal buying food at a local farmers market (tomato 1/2 $, avocato 1/4$) Yum!!

We then headed thru the Santa Ynez Valley to Dr Belke's old hangout, Solvang, a Danish town in the hills. It is much like Kelowna with small wineries and very dry unless irrigated. The town itself is a tourist trap 3xBanff in size. The Danish pastry, frozen yogurt and beer (80 types to choose from) was welcome on this +35C afternoon. I hope Dr Belke gets his postcard as we went it with no street address... Westbank is small!

Continued on another 10 miles to camp. A piece of road I'd rather forget. This may be tainted due to being a long, hot day but the road is shoulderless narrow winding and full of Saturday night travellers going who knows where. Our German travellers are in camp. This is not a campsite I would stay in again. The lake is a water resevoir, so no swimming, wading or any contact with the water is allowed. You can fish and some were catching trout. It is very dry and ~400 sites. There is a camp store, but we came prepared tonite.

DAY 42 Lake Cachuma to Emma Wood SP 82.59 KM JUNE 10/01 SUNDAY

Up and off from camp by 0800 to try to beat the traffic. Not a chance! Where are they all going? The road has construction to make a new lane, which is closed to traffic at this time, so we have lots of room to start off. Stopped at a view point and the "gecos" are scurrying everywhere.

5K rolling then get to business of the up hill of San Marcos Pass...8K up of an annoying grade, then 7 miles down (4=7%, 4=6%) Not much of a shoulder, but traffic spaced out. Into Santa Barbara in good time, but travel thru towns really slows us down looking for the route and streets. One should never leave home without their handle bar map bag!! They drink more beverages in glass bottles here as the shoulders are more litered with glass.

Nice side route off 101 most of the day to SUMMERLAND. Took us long enough to get here... but no Ivan and Karen just great burgers (veggie) and lots of cyclists everywhere.

Arrived at camp and Ken braved the waves to get fully immersed as we will not see the ocean again on this trip. We head inland tomorrow to Saugus and a visit with friends, Dave and Joanne.

DAY 43 Emma Wood SP To Santa Clarita 88.64 KM JUNE 11/01 MONDAY

Unbelievable..... Highway 1 just east of us with constant car noise all night interupted only by the Amtrak going by 100 yards to the west!! Slept anyways. The ocean crashing waves cann't be heard 200 yards away.... Camping in ?civilization! We look out at barren hills, so where is everyone going?

The dew.... This has been a constant since reaching the coast, but worse since warmer weather. Today the outside of the tent glistens with dew drops and the inner shell is damp. Anything cotton is damp.... yek! The sun is up and will dry it easily.

Camp is clean and has old, but interesting bike locks. They are rusty now , but were designed to hold your down bar with a pin to close like a ski rack, and a cable to go thru your tires and you apply your own key lock. Great idea. We are off to the Syrja's.

Headed off on a nice bike path thru Ventura city when Ken had a flat tire and we were able to go into the Vistors Center for a map to Santa Clarita. Ventura is a very Spanish looking town. The ride was very pleasant for 50K along Telegraph Rd and Hwy 126 to Santa Paula and Filmore. We travelled for miles and miles past lemon and orange groves. The smell was terrific! They were out picking the fruit and veggies as we pedalled past. There are very nice looking homes that have been well kept up along the way. It is amazing they can pick in this heat. There are fruit stands along the way. We stopped and spoke with an elderly woman who said with the utility costs they cann't afford to water the fruit, so the oranges are very small, but sweet. We were able to skirt the freeway #5 on Old Road and head with no troubles to Santa Clarita. It is a bigger town than we expected, but very nice. The pool, hot tub, company and beer were very welcome on a hot 30C day. Looking forward to 3 days visiting and NO SADDLE!!