Day 24 – Dana Point to Carlsbad/San Diego – Success…..

Day 24 – Dana Point to Carlsbad/San Diego – Success…..

…what now?  I’m done with the exception of (perhaps) riding into San Diego and/or going down and touching the Mexican Border. I also need to figure out my return to PDX. The Amtrak ride was part of the journey but my sister has suggested I hitch a ride with my brother-in-law, Tom, who is heading that way early next week. While I'm anxious to get home to see Lori and the kids, I’m ambivalent about what to do next.  At times like this I turn to Stan Ridgway for a little advice and he says: 

Wake up in the morning, pull myself outta bed

Think about the night before and everything I said

I've made lots of promises I know that I can't keep

So I'll do 'em tomorrow

That seems like a pretty good idea to me

Yeah, tomorrow seems like a pretty good idea to me too. 

Yesterday, at Dana Point got off on the wrong foot: No check in till 4pm, grumpy park attendants, postage stamp of hiker/biker campsite right behind the bathrooms, unmarked broken showers, no notification that the showers take use tokens and not quarters (unlike every other park), and the hardest dirt on the west coast.  But after going into town and having a good dinner (Hong Kong pepper steak and shrimp with white rice), having a nice experience with one of the fellow customers in Ralph’s, and an even better one with the checkout clerk my faith in humanity and my mood were restored. 

As I mentioned, I’ve gotten better at feeling comfortable inside the tent and working with the rhythms of the campsite but I became a bit concerned as a group of young men arrived at the campsite to the south of me and the campsite north of me powered up the amp and the choir and started strumming away.  The young men were very observant of the park rules and the band next door ended up being one of the best I’ve heard anywhere and for once I was kind of disappointed for quiet time to arrive.  Remind me to tell you about the revenge of the ants at some point.

The ride:  40 miles from Dana Point to Carlsbad.  Mostly flat and there was a very, very nice surprise when the hills leading inland and to my sister’s house were not as steep and long as I remembered them.  Not much help from the wind but it didn’t hurt too much either.  The ride through Camp Pendleton was almost sterile compared with the portions of the trip prior to that but Oceanside and Carlsbad made up for that as they are nice towns in their own right’s and very pleasant and not so busy when compared to towns in the LA area.

At some point, I will do an assessment and repost but today I’m just catching up on sleep, wash, and visiting with my sister and her family. 

Here is a link to today’s ride:  http://www.movescount.com/moves/move36596593

Photos

Campsite at Dana Point

At least the bathrooms were close

It amazes me how much can be fit into the panniers

The guys in the campsite to the south of me didn't even use a tent.  They slept out in the open on hard ground.  Most did not even use the camping pad.  Ouch!

Self portrait

Todd, look!  Trestles!!

More Trestles!

I haven't taken any shots of the ghosts bikes along the way but today I made an exception.  I counted about five.  Certainly not all.

Rode by the National Mammary National Monument (oh, come on!)

At the campground by Camp Pendleton.  Perhaps an errant missile?

I caught up with these guys in the Malibu area. Jesse on the right is from Boise, Idaho and Sam from Portland, Oregon. The day I caught up with them they went on to Santa Ana (for a total of 90 miles) and I stayed in Santa Monica (I was slacking that day and did only 75 ;-).  This morning I caught up with them again at Camp Pendleton. Sam is a graphic arts student at Portland State and I didn’t catch what Jesse did.  They were both good riders and seemed like good sorts.  Their destination is San Diego.  Perhaps if I make a run down there I will see them. 

Last tunnel!!

On I-5.  The traffic is not as bad as advertised.  See all the lane I have in front of me??  ;-)

A little foggy once I hit Oceanside but it cleared up

When I think of Carlsbad this is the corner I think of 

At this beach 31 years ago, Tony, my brother took me out and tried to teach me how to surf.  That experience convinced me not to try it again for 20 years ;-)

The beach Luca and I surfed a few Christmases ago

The homecoming parade!  My sister, Joanne

The finish line ;-)

Thank you, thank you

I estimated the trip would be 1400 miles.  Total ended up being 1406.

Rear tire.  Nearly bald.  It was brand new for the trip.

Front tire.  Still has tread.

Me on arrival at my sister's house in Carlsbad

Day 23 – Santa Monica/Venice Beach to Laguna Beach – Or Bust. Scratch That. To Dana Point or Bust

Day 23 – Santa Monica/Venice Beach to Laguna Beach – Or Bust.  Scratch That.  To Dana Point or Bust

On this, the penultimate day of the journey, I met with a little frustration but you got to go with the flow out here so I’m working through it.  The first plan was to ride to Laguna Beach and get a hotel (remember, I said I was staying out of the campgrounds a couple blogs ago).  I got there in pretty good time, 1pm.  I spent about an hour trying to get a deal on a hotel room.  In Laguna Beach a deal is relative. If the going rate is $300-$400 bucks, you should be happy you can find a room for $200.  Obviously, I was not.  Plan B; Back to camping.  Dana Point is the closest southern campground.  I shouldn’t have been in any hurry, though.  Seems the folks running the campground are all about rules; check in is at 4pm so I’m blogging my time away.

As for today’s ride:  It was fairly pleasant but hot and the wind was not cooperating like it did yesterday.  27 miles of the ride was through the Los Angeles urban area.  The guide-book says it is as challenging as the hills and, in fact it, has this leg marked as “difficult”.  I consulted the book for the route but ended up going with Google and it did a fair job of getting me through the city.  And, if you like traffic, terminals, refineries, and that creepy feeling you maybe shouldn’t be on this route, you might have enjoyed this portion of the ride.  Starting with the end of Long Beach the ride all the way through Newport Beach (a nice city) was quite pleasant, although it felt like I was riding in the Sahara as that the bike path was literally on the beach for miles and miles.  Past NB and into Laguna Beach it became challenging as the road narrowed and drivers were in a hurry (as I was warned by two lady triathletes).  60+ miles to LB and tack on about nine to Dana Point and we can say we booked 69 miles for the day.  Only 30 or so to Carlsbad and my sister’s house (did hear that, Joanne?  I will be in early tomorrow ;-)

Here are links to today’s rides: 

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move36528228

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move36528229

Photos

On way down to eat and peak at Venice Beach (a peak is all I needed), I saw a couple of parrots in the palm trees.  Trust me, they're up there.

I ordered a slice of pepperoni pizza.  They must have thought I wanted the pepperoni on the side ;-)

Venice Beach

Venice Beach

I took a short walk through this bar.  I went in the one door and out the other.

Nope, not my campfire (had none).  From Lori and the kids in Seaside.

Another nice sunset in Seaside, OR (Lori is keeping me updated on her travels)

Part of the route out of LA.  This part was actually pretty nice.  Lot's of bike path.

More beach!  See? I told you would be back...if there was a bike path and here it is!

The not so creepy sections (I didn't slow down and pull out the iPhone in those parts)

Nice oil storage tanks

Refinery

The "river"

More bike path (I really shouldn't say anything bad about LA.  It was a really good route out)

The Catalina Express

The Queen Mary (I think.  I recall it being in Long Beach.  If you want fact checking you need to subscribe to a blog that has tourists writing it)

Volleyball championship in Long Beach

Day 22 - Carpentaria SP to Santa Monica/Venice Beach - More Ants

Day 22 - Carpentaria SP to Santa Monica/Venice Beach - More Ants
Good ride today.  The wind was in my face to start out but for the last 45 miles it was pushing me hard to the East (mostly the direction I was going).  Today marks another failed attempt of mine; taking it easy.  75 miles total but they were actually pretty easy miles.  Sunny, flat, and a wind at my back for most of the time.  The toughest part of the trip was having to watch out for cars that were parked on the side of the road (for miles and miles) pulling out or opening their doors.  Not too bad, though.

Last night in Carpentaria was nice.  The campground that was very busy during the day quieted down quickly and I was able to get some good sleep.  That and I'm getting better sleeping in a campground.  If you are a light sleeper like me, never try to go to be before quiet time (10pm).

Lori and the kids surprised me by sharing a sunset and the ocean with me.  They were in Seaside, OR and you know where I was.  It was nice to have that connection. Thanks, Lori ;-)

And, if you thought my last ant story about ants was distasteful, close your eyes!!  As I mentioned things worked pretty well on the campground yesterday with the exception of the food storage situation.  Because of the critters (mostly squirrels but you get some raccoons, birds, and rats (!) too) they have you lock your food up in these cabinets that are usually by the picnic tables.  This one was exposed to the sun so it heated the food a bit and when I went to get my food this morning it was covered in ants.  Not wanting to waste food and having a new perspective on proteins (I don't discriminate), I threw out the stuff that might be spoiled and wiped off the rest.  Yes, a few of those little stragglers I told you about where still sneaking around in there but I have to say they went down good with peanut butter ;-)

And, it was nice to hear from Rene D and Nathan R today.  Miss you both.

Here is a link to today's ride:  http://www.movescount.com/moves/move36460822

Photos

Another shot of the oil rigs and Channel Islands by Santa Barbara

I was the lone camper at the Hike and Bike campsite yesterday at Carpentaria State Park.  

Sunset in Carpentaria - 8:07pm

Sunset in Carpentaria, CA - 8:07pm

Sunset Seaside, OR - 8:56pm (more proof that the earth is indeed round and not flat like some days I wish it to be)

Sunset Seaside, OR - 8:56pm

I found this great little Mexican Bakery in Carpentaria called Reynaldo's.  They have your typical Pan Dulces including Conchas.  Mmmm, good!

This was breakfast today.  A breakfast quesadilla with eggs, salsa, spinach, and avocados.  Very good.  

This is Mark.  He is from Lakewood, CO.  I caught up with him early in my ride.  He was riding with two of his buddies who went on to Ventura the evening before.  He is on a supported trip (no bags).  His family is following them in the camper.  Sounded dreamy; no bags ;-)  He is an avid mountain biker and has been to all the hot spots around him; Moab, Fruita, Durango.  I recommended the McKenzie River Trail and Bend in the event he got out to Oregon and give him my contact info in case he wanted to look me up.  I left him at the San Buenavista Mission in Ventura.  

 San Buenavista Mission in Ventura

The pier in Ventura.  Seemed like a nice little town

Grass for polo fields and golf courses.  The bourgeoisie has accomplices!! (yeah, other bourgeoisie)

It started getting hot around 10:30am

Now, we are in the desert

Look! Malibu, Barbie (get it?;-)

Interesting sandstone formations just past Malibu

Self portrait

Just past Malibu where you can see the bay and Santa Monica

Now if they just had more bike paths on the beach I might go there more often!

Santa Monica Pier.  I need to go there and check it out.

Yup, everything seems in order.  Moving on.

Three Days Left

But three days left on my journey. What am I to spend it on? Certainly, a portion must be dedicated to the task of completing the journey: riding, eating, routine maintenance but what else? Thinking, yes but about what?  When I started, I brought more along than I knew. Stowed away securely were life's daily questions, work, and longings.  They delayed the sojourn. After some time I was able to offload them like so much extra unnecessary weight to be placed in a box and sent home via Priority Mail.  Three days out do they come back to me like a parcel with insufficient postage? Return to sender? Did the box get all the way there only to be returned the entire distance back? It hardly seems worth the effort. Or, rather,  do I not accept the delivery and leave the decisions unmade, the work undone, the love unrequited.  Won’t someone else make them, do the work, requite?  Yes, I think they might.  What then shall I do?  Only three days left.