Monday 12 November 2007

Leaving the hostel after a very pleasant and comfortable night we rode through the busy Santa Cruz streets to where we thought Amsterdam Bicycles were located, only to find that we were on the right street, but that the street actually stopped after a while and then continued on somewhere down the highway. Today was bike shop day, and the chance to get the rear hub in Pip's original rim fixed, but the bike shop we wanted to visit was closed in response to yesterdays Veteran's Day (Armistice Day) public holiday. Alex and Jamie were heading for various stores and then to the New Brighton Beach State Park Campground, so with half a day gone through looking for the bike shop, we headed that way too.

Arriving on the way to the campsite in a small, very busy, but very pleasant looking spot called Capitola which sits along the shoreline nestled in a small inlet. With a very Mediterranean look and feel, the place was extremely busy with tourists and blow through's like us, the shops selling all sorts of nick knacks, jewellery and other tourist items and the streets lined with palm trees.

We stopped for a look at the beach and then a nice mango ice cream before climbing up the hill and working our way onto the State Park Campground which, for once had a nice hiker/biker spot right near the beach and close to the toilets and showers (25c for 2 min's), all for the princely sum of $5 each.

Setting up camp we spent the afternoon relaxing, checking the trikes and enjoying the sun before Alex and Jamie turned up. A real easy day with not much in the way of travel and a return back to the bike shop tomorrow.

Today's Stats

From: Santa Cruz

To: New Brighton Beach State Beach Campground

Ride Time:
1 hrs 46 min's

Distance:
21  km's

Av Speed:
11.8 km/h

Max Speed:
34.5 km/h

Max Altitude:
67 m

Av Climb: 3 %

Max Climb: 10 %

Weather: 8-20deg C. Sunny.

Camp Location:

N: 36°58'46.8"

W: 121°56'01.7"

Tuesday 13 November 2007

After a peaceful night in the campground overlooking the sea we awoke after a sleep in and rode the 9 kilometres back to the bike shop. The trip back was surprisingly easy with minimal weight on the trikes and no bob trailer to help slow us down.

With no replacement cassette hub body in stock it was a case of replacing it, so Joanne and I sat out the back of the bike shop and stripped the wheel down before Tom, the shop owner, re-laced another hub into the wheel and trued it. $45 later we were on our way back to the campground where we spent a lazy afternoon and evening with the other bikers before the sun setting along the beach provided us with a beautiful end to the day.

Wednesday 14 November 2007

Up bright and early we left the others sorting themselves out and preparing for their day on the road. Working our way through town following the map and the GPS we were riding parallel to the freeway before turning off into vegetable growing country.

Most of our trip today was through thousands of acres of artichokes, brussel sprouts and strawberries, the latter providing us with sweet mouth watering air to breathe as we rode along. The warm day was also adding to the enjoyment of the ride and no doubt to the amount of strawberry aroma we could smell.

Coming to a turn on the bike route we caught a glimpse of Ian, Ryan and Erica ahead of us, but we were unable to catch them as we rode and the headwind stopped any sound of the air horn reaching them. Still passing strawberries and the mostly hispanic workers picking them, we climbed and descended a few hills as the road wound its way through the countryside, farming as far as the eye could see and right down to the ocean.

Arriving at a bike path we stopped for lunch sitting in the sun and with our tent and other items spread out like a yard sale spent an enjoyable 40 minutes resting and eating, and being tempted to buy some tacos from the vendor in the car park nearby. So with lunch over we commenced riding the bike path that took us through the small town of Marina, paralleling the freeway and keeping us out of the ever growing amount of traffic, until the path just ran out, placing us back in the traffic and through the shops.

Some exploring and wrong turns later we eventually picked up the bike path again as it approached Monterey and followed a disused railway line, the ocean along on our right making for a nice view. Stopping to water a tree brought a surprise as upon approaching it and not expecting a reception, I was surprised when a man popped out from under the tree to defend his home. The disused railway line and ocean over the fence and the large pine tree with low branches providing the perfect home. Apologising for intruding and explaining I only came over to relieve myself bringing the response "go head, there's plenty of bushes".

A number of kilometres later we rode into Monterey, the busy tourist seaside town buzzing with people both on the road and the bike path. Arriving in the tourist precinct near the historic buildings, we managed to locate the tourist information centre and directions to the campground, which unfortunately for us was on top of the hill that Monterey is built on.

Struggling our way up the hill and through the towns street for over 2 kilometres, we eventually arrived at what we thought was the campground, but it was just the entrance to the park. Up and up we went, climbing more and more, all the time wondering why the residents of the town had put the campground on the top of the hill - perhaps they felt we had not had enough exercise today. Eventually arriving at the campground we found ourselves a spot under the trees and found out that the showers were free, hot and the water plentiful.

Shortly after we had set up one of our neighbours turned up with his hot chicken and a box of beer. the man claimed to be a caddy for the tournament at the nearby Pebble Beach golf course and that he liked staying at the park because it was cheaper than a motel, his savings allowing him to buy more beer. The evening was then spent chatting with the caddy and the other cyclists Bill, Ben, Alex and Jamie.

Today's Stats

From: New Brighton Beach State Beach Campground

To: Veterans Memorial Park Monterey

Ride Time:
5 hrs 4 min's

Distance:
70.91  km's

Av Speed:
13.9 km/h

Max Speed:
50.3 km/h

Max Altitude:
153 m

Av Climb: 3 %

Max Climb: 14 %

Weather: 10-30deg C. Sunny.

Camp Location:

N: 36°35'58.7"

W: 121°54'46.1"

Thursday 15 November 2007

Our campground last night had a pretty good racoon population and we were wondering if they would get into our food when we went to bed, but our golf caddy had a cunning plan, albeit illegal. He figured that if he threw his chicken bones and left over's out on the ground that the raccoons would be busy enough with them and leave everything else alone, and to a point he was right, but all night the raccoons were running around the campsite chasing each other and crunching on chicken bones right next to the tents, their antics keeping everyone awake - except me.

Leaving the campground we were still climbing and eventually leveled out under the gum trees about a kilometre later as we looked over the town. The sky was a brilliant blue and covered with trails from the aircraft that we presumed were coming and going from Los Angeles, some 300 miles away, their trails all over the sky and looking like they had been dog fighting.

Descending through the hills and amongst the morning commute we eventually leveled out near sea level, stopping at a supermarket for supplies before climbing again, this time through the Carmel Highlands and the coast towards the campground just before Big Sur, a famously notorious climb along the coast. But before we could get anywhere near the Sur we had to cross the Bixby Bridge and then tackle the long climb up from it.

Reaching the top it was a pleasant downhill for some distance before we eventaully rode past Point Sur, a large rock connected to the mainland by a small sand bar and with a lighthouse on the top, we climbed some more before eventually arriving at the Pfeiffer State Park and yet another cold, damp, cheap hiker/biker campsite where we set up camp near Bill, who had beaten us all to the camp, and where we were joined later on by Alex and Jamie.

Today's Stats

From: Veterans Memorial Park Monterey

To: Pfeiffer State Park

Ride Time:
3 hrs 41 min's

Distance:
51.57  km's

Av Speed:
13.9 km/h

Max Speed:
56 km/h

Max Altitude:
217 m

Av Climb: 4 %

Max Climb: 15 %

Weather: 10-24 deg C. Sunny.

Camp Location:

N: 36°14'57.3"

W: 121°46'59.6"

Friday 16 November 2007

Up early again we set off to conquer Big Sur which started the moment we left the campground, and whilst it was quite a climb, it was not the bike killer we had thought it would be. Arriving at the top we could see the way ahead and the fact that it was totally obscured by fog. It would be a chilly descent and ride for the rest of the day.

Descending down into the fog was in fact cold and when we levelled out we were at sea level again, and apart from the altimiter in the GPS the only reason we knew we were there was because we could hear the surf pounding the shore even though we couldn't see it.

The rest of the day was spent riding along the coast in and out of various levels of fog before eventually arriving at the Plaskett State Park Campground. Bill, Alex, Jamie and a new rider Ruben, came in later and we again enjoyed the cyclists camp together.

Today's Stats

From: Pfeiffer State Park

To: Plaskett State Park

Ride Time:
4 hrs 9 min's

Distance:
54.3  km's

Av Speed:
13.1 km/h

Max Speed:
54.1 km/h

Max Altitude:
277 m

Av Climb: 4 %

Max Climb: 12 %

Weather: 8-15 deg C. Foggy.

Camp Location:

N: 35°55'07.8"

W: 121°28'00.8"

Saturday 17 November 2007

Plaskett Campground will be remembered by all of those who camped there for a number of things, none of them good. Firstly, the $5 per person fee for the priviliage of camping there with toilets with no lights; secondly for the non potable water; and thirdly for the camp host who really didn't know the meaning of "host".

Our "host" had only one priority on his mind - collecting money. He was wandering around like a little Hitler counting people, tents and bikes, shining his torch into tents (ours included), shaking the tent and calling out - even after he had been told that people had paid, and then swearing at those who he was collecting money from just because they didn't have the right change. We were in bed when hecame around so ignored him and his demands figuring that he could catch us in the morning, even though all he had to do was to check the money box and the envelopes to see that we had in fact paid.

Leaving the campground in the morning was a pleasure and our host was still driving around and around looking for anyone that might have snuck in during the night. CLimbing was the order for the day and it began as soon as we left the campground. Working our way up the hill in the fog was not that pleasant, and for once the heat we generated in the climb was welcome.

Climbing for some time we then descended for a while and then the two real climbs for the day began. Working our way to the top we rode up out of the fog like yesterday, the sun so wonderfully warm and nice on our skin as we did so. Looking back we could see where we had come from and the fog that was covering the sea some 200 metres below, the view ahead very similiar and causing us to comment that it was the closest thing we could get to being in a plane without being in one. Ruben caught up to us and we spent a short while chatting before we descended together, speeding down the hill, leaning to balance the trike through the corners, braking late and short and really being rather daring as we enjoyed our downhill run.

Climb one, descend one was over and climb two began in earnest, similiar to the first climb the road was narrow and with little to no shoulder but with minimal traffic we were able to concentrate more on the climb rather than avoiding people travelling too fast on the narrow road.

Summit two was reached and then the last major downhill began, this time the descent took us back down into the cold foggy conditions, the ocean again audible but not visible.

Passing along the rocky oceanside road we crossed some bridges as the roller coaster ride continued along the narrow, shoulderless road.

Eventually levelling out along the coast as the fog cleared we were riding quite well and making good time on the flater road. Working our way towards San Simeon we passed Hearst Castle sitting way up on the hill overlooking the ocean.

Taking over 15 years to build, the castle was built by media magnate Willian R. Hearst. The estate and buildings now owned and operated by the State.

Stopping for lunch at San Simeon Village and the row of motels there allowed us to take a break. Eating lunch also allowed us to hook into the free Wi-fi that was advertised by the various motels to download our emails. Lunch and emails over we rode onto the San Simeon State Park where in contrast to Plaskett Campground, for the princely sum of $2 each we took up residence in the hiker/biker spot where we had nice hot showers, potable water and California Park Staff who were pleasant and friendly. The downside? We were near the highway but that was not that busy, and somewhere there was a dead skunk smell'n to hgh heaven!

Today's Stats

From: Plaskett State Park

To: San Simeon State Park

Ride Time:
3 hrs 58 min's

Distance:
57.35  km's

Av Speed:
14.4 km/h

Max Speed:
51.5 km/h

Max Altitude:
229 m

Av Climb: 4 %

Max Climb: 12 %

Weather: 8-18 deg C. Foggy then Sunny.

Camp Location:

N: 35°35'49.1"

W: 121°07'32.9"

Sunday 18 November 2007

The highway and camp was quiet last night but we awoke to a wet foggy morning again. With a shorter distance to ride this morning we took our time packing the wet tent and other stuff and watching to see if Alex would make it out of camp before his self determined 8.30 am deadline.

With Alex still sorting his stuff out we rode out of camp at 8.17 am, the perplexed look on Alex's face quite funny as you could see the cogs ticking over trying to figure out how we did that. The road was pretty level for a while before it gave us a little hill as we passed Cambria with its tudor style shops and homes before descending into and through canyon country with nothing but grass growing on the hills and a headwind to make the legs workhard. Plenty of the racing set out on their bikes today giving their all in their brightly coloured gear, the smooth whir of their gears the only noise as they sped along the road.

Morro Bay came into view, the large rock that sits in the harbour visible from miles away as we rode towards it, the sun shining on ocean and the surf pounding in making for a beautiful sight and the weather just perfect - apart from the headwind.

Riding into Morro Bay we passed through the nice looking town, the well maintained golf course and the marina before finding the hiker/biker camp site in the State Park.

Today's Stats

From: San Simeon State Park

To: Morro Bay

Ride Time:
2 hrs 57 min's

Distance:
43.35  km's

Av Speed:
14.6 km/h

Max Speed:
50.0 km/h

Max Altitude:
84m

Av Climb: 3 %

Max Climb: 15 %

Weather: 8-24 deg C. Foggy then Sunny.

Camp Location:

N: 35°20'54.0"

W: 120°50'22.3"

Previous Page    Next Page