Thousands of screaming fans with banners and posters lined the streets of Encinitas as the cyclists climbed the last rise into the center of town. Jen raised her arms in triumph as if she had just won a stage in the Tour de France......
Well, ok, there were at least two friends with posters, a couple of random girls cheering and mom and dad with cameras....but it felt like the Tour de France. After a long ride it was great to see Jen and Chris so close to the end. They were rejoined by Amy (and her dad) and decided to spend one more night camping even though they were only about 3 miles from home. Next stop, the Mexican border.
Friday, July 27, 2007
The Last Supper
Back when we started the trip, we had visions of posting every day, about various themes and occurences and such. In my head, one of our early posts was going to be titled "The First Supper" and would give an account of our 1/2 off Italian dinner the night before we started 'really' riding.
Well, posts didn't happen like we thought they would, but the trip continued in spite of that (for some of us, anyway- ha ha). Yesterday my dad and I met up with Jen and Chris for one more day of riding and night of camping. It was a great, exhausting ride followed by a hero's welcome from Jen's family, friends, and supporters.
The trip came to a close, in many ways, just as it began. All three of us were there, Chris lost his wallet, and something else happened that seemed significant at the time but I can't remember now. How's that for storytelling.
Congratulations Jen and Chris!!
Well, posts didn't happen like we thought they would, but the trip continued in spite of that (for some of us, anyway- ha ha). Yesterday my dad and I met up with Jen and Chris for one more day of riding and night of camping. It was a great, exhausting ride followed by a hero's welcome from Jen's family, friends, and supporters.
The trip came to a close, in many ways, just as it began. All three of us were there, Chris lost his wallet, and something else happened that seemed significant at the time but I can't remember now. How's that for storytelling.
Congratulations Jen and Chris!!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Scariest Moments
10. First logging truck
9. Vertical climb into the fog
8. Motorhomes
7. Convenience store clerk in Bodega Bay
6. Railroad tracks at an angle to the road
5. GU
4. First cliff without a shoulder or guardrail
3. Seventh Cliff Bar in one day
2. Nearly being blown off the road on the way to Big Sur
1. Being chased by a vicious three-legged dog.
Disclaimer: The scariest moment of all was when Jen announced this trip to her dad (the author of this post). After spending a week riding with her I am feeling much, much better. It is wonderful.
9. Vertical climb into the fog
8. Motorhomes
7. Convenience store clerk in Bodega Bay
6. Railroad tracks at an angle to the road
5. GU
4. First cliff without a shoulder or guardrail
3. Seventh Cliff Bar in one day
2. Nearly being blown off the road on the way to Big Sur
1. Being chased by a vicious three-legged dog.
Disclaimer: The scariest moment of all was when Jen announced this trip to her dad (the author of this post). After spending a week riding with her I am feeling much, much better. It is wonderful.
The final stretch
We had our earliest start ever today - 6:40 am - and reached our destination here in Lompac -with a flat tire - by 3:30. I just read a magazine. It was glorious.
Last night in Moro Bay - 70 miles north of here - we stayed at a "hostel" that was actually the one extra bedroom in an old woman's house. Her old books, maps and clothes filled the room and she told us to take whatever we wanted from the kitchen. She's a retired fourth-grade teacher, and after she checked us in, she left to go play in her band; she's a clarinetist. She told us to leave the front door open when we went out for dinner. It was probably our best non-camping lodging of the trip. And it only cost $35 for the two of us.
We only have five days of riding left! For a while it didn't look like we were going to make it to San Diego and had resolved to stop at Huntington Beach instead. But we now think that if we push really hard, skip the industrial section of LA, and ride on Saturday (the day we both have flights out of San Diego), we'll make it to the border. It's going to be a suspense-filled finish! Stay tuned...
Last night in Moro Bay - 70 miles north of here - we stayed at a "hostel" that was actually the one extra bedroom in an old woman's house. Her old books, maps and clothes filled the room and she told us to take whatever we wanted from the kitchen. She's a retired fourth-grade teacher, and after she checked us in, she left to go play in her band; she's a clarinetist. She told us to leave the front door open when we went out for dinner. It was probably our best non-camping lodging of the trip. And it only cost $35 for the two of us.
We only have five days of riding left! For a while it didn't look like we were going to make it to San Diego and had resolved to stop at Huntington Beach instead. But we now think that if we push really hard, skip the industrial section of LA, and ride on Saturday (the day we both have flights out of San Diego), we'll make it to the border. It's going to be a suspense-filled finish! Stay tuned...
Sunday, July 22, 2007
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