Bike Touring Day 3: Monterey to Plaskett Creek

When planning the trip, we knew that Day 3 was going to have a lot of climbing.  The 65 miles for the day would cover much of the Big Sur coastline.  Besides hills, we were looking forward to impressive views of the coast.  Big Sur delivered both.

We had more of a climb heading out of the campground, but soon enjoyed a fun down hill stretch toward Carmel.  I'm not sure I have ever seen a sign for a wild boar crossing before.  We were starting to wonder if we'd been transported to Arkansas over night.

Curves ahead: FOR THE NEXT 74 MILES! 

Once again the weather was mild with cloudy skies.  While climbing, you work up a sweat.  While coasting, you get the chills.  After riding the hills for 30 miles, we took a lunch break at one of the small service areas along highway 1.  The prices were as steep as the hills and the line for the men's room was 6 to 8 people long!  On the other hand, the sun came out!  It gave us an opportunity to dry out a few things.

 

One of the fun parts of the trip was meeting people along the way who are interested in where you are coming from and where you are headed.  Thankfully most of the drivers are courteous about sharing the road with cyclists.  There is not a bike lane or much of a shoulder on the coastal highway through the Big Sur area, so you have to take up part of the right hand lane.  About 6 drivers honked at us that day, but a vast majority of cars were patient and waited for good places to pass when necessary. 

The views were beautiful and helped motivate us when the climbs presented a challenge.  At about 6pm we pedaled into the Plaskett Creek Campground - our stay for the night.  Upon arrival, we found out that the water was not potable.  We had some water, but not enough.  We needed to make an important decision.  Should we boil water in order to have what we needed or go to the next town and buy more?  Gorda, the next town, was several miles away (up hill).

Dal decided to talk to the campground host.  I wasn't sure what his plan was, but I knew that he was less than happy about the situation.  He came back to report that the host was willing to drive to Gorda to pick up several gallons of water for us (for a fee of course), but at least we wouldn't have to make the trip ourselves.

One of the interesting things about bike touring is meeting other cyclists.  The hiker/biker campsites are a good place to meet them, and Plaskett Creek was no exception.  Two riders that we met were Grant and Larry.  They were from San Diego, and riding several days from Big Sur to Santa Barbara.  They were both seasoned riders, so it was fun to hear about their experiences, especially Grant's stories about riding from Alaska to Seattle. 

After a dinner of pasta, sauce, carrots, and bread we enjoyed some water and went to bed.  Oh, by the way, did I mention that due to a water shortage, the bathrooms were out of service?  Well, they were.  That meant we got to use a couple of fancy (NOT) port-o-potties.

Bike Touring Day 2: Pescadero to Monterey

 

Day 2 began with a nice breakfast of bacon, eggs, pancakes, and some fruit.  After breakfast, our adventure was set to begin.  I was a bit anxious to see how things were going to go with my rear tire and tube.  Our strategy was to put a tube patch on the inside of the tire and place four layers of ducktape between the patch and the tube liner.  After putting the tube inside I carefully inflated the tire enough to carry its load without causing the hole to open too much.  We were hoping the tire would hold up until we got to a bike shop in Santa Cruz - about 20 miles away.  Rob's dad, Tom, was willing to be "on call" in case the tire wouldn't last.  If we got into trouble we would give him a call and he would take me to the bike shop with his truck.  

The miles gradually ticked by as we headed toward Santa Cruz.  I could feel the swollen part of the tire each time it took its turn on the road.  I was praying we'd make it so that Tom wouldn't have to bail us out.  As we made our way into Santa Cruz we were relieved to see the bike shop only a few blocks into town.

By the looks of the tire, we didn't arrive any too soon.  After examining it more closely, I discovered the patch had warn through, as well as two layers of the ducktape.  I bought a set of new tires and went to the work of changing them.  (Since it was getting close to lunch time, the guys got some food while I switched out the tires).

 

In case you are wondering, the old tire was meant to be smooth between the treaded part - it hadn't worn down quite as much as it appears :)  The new set was looking good and ready to roll!

After lunch we navigated our way out of Santa Cruz and rode between various fields of strawberrys and produce.  It is hard to beat the smell of strawberry fields.  One road was quite rough, however, and caused Dal's headset to get loose.  Thankfully he had a long enough wrench to get to the screw that needed tightening.  Unfortunately, he had to empty nearly every bag in his possession before finding it!  One thing that made the stop even more interesting was that we were down-wind from a goat farm.  Let's just say the goats didn't smell like a strawberry field.

As we got rolling again, I could tell that it was going to be a long day.  Our day was long to begin with - 75 miles - but our stops to work on our bikes added time as well.  Another challenge was that the back of my ankle was getting very sore.  My hunch is that I had placed the seat a little too high at the beginning of the trip.  I felt a little better after lowering the seat, but I could tell that the muscles/ligaments were going to take some time, probably days, until getting back to normal.

Our late afternoon included riding on back roads, a little bit of PCH, and bike paths leading into Monterey.  Since the whole day was overcast, it was difficult to know how much sunlight we could count on before arriving at our destination.  It felt like we were going to cut it close.

As dusk approached we finally made our way into Monterey.  Seeing our bikes loaded with gear, a local asked if we were going to Veterans Memorial Park.  "Yes!" was our immediate reply.  "You're getting close," he said, "but you might want to get some dinner before going up the hill to the campground."

The boys were all over that idea!  There was a McDonald's nearby so we decided to make the stop.  We were all exhausted and scarfed down value meals and enjoyed a rest.  It was somewhat dark by the time we got back on our bikes.  We turned our lights on and checked the map to see where we were headed.  The local gentleman mentioned a hill - and he wasn't kidding.

We were doing a steady climb for about a half a mile and then saw what looked like the entrance to the campground.  That's where the hill got even more steep!  (We later found out it was a 13% grade).  As we travelled another half mile up the steep winding road into the campground I was thinking, "Please Lord, let there be room in the hike and bike.  After this hill, I don't think I can go much further."

Thankfully, the hike and bike area was pretty large and there was enough room for our weary bodies to lay down.  We put up our tents and managed to muster enough strength to take a shower.  The showers were hot and free :)  But small and not very clean :(    Regardless, it was nice to get cleaned up before crawling into the sleeping bag.

Bike Touring Day 1: San Francisco to Pescadero

With the trip from San Francisco "in the books," it's time to give a report of the adventure.  There is much that can be said about the trip, so I hope that I am able to communicate all the important and interesting details.  Feel free to post/email a question if you have specific questions, okay?

(I am not planning to talk a lot about all the gear that we took for the trip unless it pertains to specific details.  Again, if you have questions, please ask and I'll be happy to elaborate).

Our trip began at the Golden Gate Bridge.  As you might expect, there was plenty of fog - marine layer - to send us on our way.  The bridge is used for a lot of tourists who are walking/cycling, and native Bay Area residents who like exercising in the salt air (though I cannot imagine why they would put up with the crowds).

Although the skies were gray, our spirits were feeling good and ready to roll.  Our route kept us out of the city streets and close to the coast, which was nice.  We soon realized, however, that the first half of our journey (to Los Angeles) was going to be a lot of up and down - with very few flat sections.

We stopped in Daly City for some lunch.  As would become our custom, we stopped at a grocery store to pick up a few things for lunch and snacks later.

Hills Everywhere

As we rolled into half moon bay, Dal's legs started to cramp up.  We stopped for a while to get him some water and give him time to relax.  After a while we continued riding, but he struggled with it for the rest of the day.  Sometimes when the weather is cooler it is tempting to drink less water. 


Our plans were to ride about 60 miles until we arrived at a KOA campground a couple of miles past the Pigeon Point Lighthouse.  Rob's parents were planning to stay the night there and wanted to make dinner for us upon our arrival.  The campground was the nicest one we would stay in by far!  But more about that later.

We were approximately 3 to 4 miles away from our destination when I heard/felt my rear tire suddenly go flat.  It went flat so quickly that I knew it must have been something substantial.  I couldn't figure out what caused the flat, but it became apparent that the tire (not just the tube) had a hole the width of a pencil eraser.

Could I get a new tube to stay inflated with a compromised tire?  I had a tire liner inside the tire, but I still added a couple of folded dollar bills between the tire and tube to try to reinforce the tire and hopefully avoid having the tube punctured again.

Thankfully we made it to the campground without another flat.  (Now to figure out where to get a new tube).

Rob's parents spoiled us for the night by feeding us chicken, potatoes, carrots, fruit, and sourdough bread.  We even got to have some ice cream for dessert!  (Thanks Tom and Judy!) We enjoyed it, because we knew the days to come would not include such nice accomodations.  The clean bathrooms and free hot showers were awesome.

The Day Before the Big Day(s) - aka San Francisco to Los Angeles

It has been a busy summer - to say the least - but the time for bike touring is upon us!  Our family has been busy with softball, baseball, swimming lessons, birthday parties, camping trips, and training for a bike tour.  Well... the time has arrived.  Tomorrow morning we pick it up at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and make our way to Los Angeles.

The bikes are ready and our things are nearly packed. Our maps and plans are in place, so hopefully things go nearly as planned.  Adventures (mishaps) add to the excitement, but hopefully most things will go according to plan!

My son and I will be heading to San Francisco in the morning from my wife's parents who live in Ripon, California.  Rob and two of the boys are driving up from Pescadero, Ca (where they are camping tonight).  Finally, Dal is flying in to San Francisco today and somehow getting to the bridge on his own.  Do taxi's have bike racks?  I'll have to ask him about that.

I do not feel too nervous about the trip - should I?  If anything, I am mainly concerned about safety on the roads and having enough water along the way.

Anyway, I'll post information about the trip when we get home in about a week.  Here's to hoping it is awesome!

Bike Touring: Anticipation is half the fun!

Now that we have plans to bicycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles in August, I have been thinking about various aspects of the trip.  I feel like the planning process is as much fun as the trip itself!  There are many things to do to prepare, of course, but right now I have been thinking most about the route we will take.

Adventure Cycling maps are the obvious place to start.  They provide bike friendly routes, information about what services are available along the way, and the maps are water proof.  The maps provide elevation information as well.

In order to get an even fuller picture of the route, I have put the routes into the Map My Ride website.  I really like being able to see everything and anything that will be on or near the route we will take.  It also can help with checking various milages, elevation changes, and more.

We plan to cover around 60-70 miles per day, so finding places to camp within that milage is the next step.  See what I mean?  Planning is at least half the fun! 

San Francisco to Los Angeles on a Bicycle

Well, it might be official.  "Might?" I hear you ask.  Yes, it might be official.  I just found out through a third party that I might be cycling from San Francisco to Los Angeles this summer!

Allow me to explain...

Last summer myself and five others (3 adults, and 3 twelve-year-olds) biked from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles.  We made it a four day, three night, bike touring adventure.  (See past posts for details :)  So over the past month or so, we have been brain-storming another summer trip.

We talked of several ideas.  Perhaps going on the RAGBRAI  trip in Iowa.  Or perhaps something more west coast.  After a while we started to settle on the idea that we'd rather tour on our own somewhere here on the west coast.  The boys wanted to take on something bigger than our 250+ miles last summer.  And believe me, they have stepped it up a notch since then.  Their mental and physical toughness has improved dramatically.

Perhaps San Francisco to Los Angeles would be the next logical step.  We have discussed it, but haven't gotten out the maps to really plan it, nor have we set any dates.  So, it has remained something of an uncertainty.

That may have all changed this very day.  I was at work, saying hello to a fellow teacher, when she asked me a question that I hadn't expected.

"Are you getting excited for your bike trip this summer?" she asked.  "I hear you are pedaling from San Fancisco to Los Angeles!"

"Ya, I guess I am," I replied - somewhat in shock.  How did she know?  Until that moment, it hadn't seemed like a reality.

When does something become officially true?  When it is published?  When it is shown on television?  When it becomes public knowledge? 

I don't know how it happened, but apparently word has gotten out.  Now that someone has heard about it, I guess we have to do it!  I guess it must be true!  The trip is official!

So there you have it: San Francisco to LA.  You heard it here second.  I better take a look at the map and get in shape!

Accidents Happen, but so does Stupidity

Accidents are bound to happen.  Most of the time they are just plain accidents.  No one's fault, and hopefully no harm done.  Sometimes, however, it can be chalked up to stupidity.  Today's incident might fall somewhere in between - I'll let you be the judge.

My son was going to a birthday party today.  The location was about 8 miles away, so it made for a nice bike ride for the two of us.  I rode with him there, rode back home, and then rode back to pick him up so that we could ride back home together.  We were able to take the San Gabriel River Bike Path for about half of the trip, which is always nice.

The only slight "hang-up" is that there are two detours to maneuver while workers finish constructing a new tunnel and resurfacing a section of the path.  Some cyclists try to make their own detours to avoid extra time and inconvenience.  I myself have found the detours to be annoying, but am looking forward to a wider, much safer, tunnel; and a smoother surface in the future.

As I was riding back home I saw a pack of cyclists riding below the bike path, in the concrete river bed, next to where the water flows.  I immediately understood their strategy.  Instead of taking the recommended detour (on surface streets) around the tunnel construction, they took one of the ramps down to the river bed (that service vehicles use) to go around the construction.  They would likely find another place to ride or walk their bikes up to the path later and continue on the bike path.

Their plan went awry, however, when I saw two of the bicycles slip from underneath their riders.  There was a wet spot on the concrete where mud and moss had formed a very slick area that caused their tires to slip, throwing the cyclists to the hard concrete.  I quickly stopped and walked down the concrete slope to where the riders had gone down.  As I helped them to safety I was amazed at how slick the patch was (a strip about 15 feet wide).  It was every bit as slick as sheer ice.

One of the riders in the pack was disgusted that there was not some sort of warning for that area.  I could understand his reaction, but could not agree with him.  He was trying to put the blame on someone else when it belonged squarely on their own shoulders.  His group had chosen to ride in an unsafe place.  A detour was provided - as inconvenient as it may have been - but his group thought they knew better.  I felt sympathy for their bumps and bruises, but they had to face the fact that they were the ones to blame. 

Thankfully they were able to keep riding.  The two cyclists that fell were hoping to get home before their bumps/bruises caused too much stiffness or pain.  I have no doubt they'll be feeling it in the morning.  I am not sure that their accident was caused by stupidity.  Naivety was likely the cause.  But the fact that it could have been avoided by taking the recommended detour makes stupidity a valid explanation.  It was a good reminder for me.  I need to quit trying to find my own detours around the construction and trust those who provide the real one.  Yes, mine might work from time to time, but I need to be a good example to my son so that I don't show him how to learn the hard way.  Let's save the bumps and bruises for an honest accident - not stupidity.