The longest day. By 1 mile, sure – but the longest ride yet on the current trip. I also went through mile 1,700 of the trip as a whole about 5 miles before the end of the ride today. Good going, if I must say.
I was up pretty early again – about 5:45, and did my thing. Shower, pack, tidy, load, check maps and destinations and approximate timings, and get rolling for the day. Today was about the ride, not too many stops planned along the way. I rode Highway 10 from near cousin Jonny’s in Beverley H to the pier at Santa Monica, but then turned hard right, and carried on up the coast.
I rode the Pacific coast from Seattle to SanFran 4 years ago with Ben, so now I was starting the ride to complete the US Pacific coast (mostly). The ride from LA to SanFran is about 400 miles ish (if you take the most direct route), and when I complete this tomorrow, I will have ridden almost all of the US Pacific coastline. And yeah, the pedants will get all excited and rail on about Alaska, and the fact the neither LA nor Seattle are the extreme coastal points on the contiguous 48, but they can go and fuck themselves. I think I am well within my rights to place a big check mark next to the US Pacific Coast Highway on my bucket list.
The quickest route between these two major Cali-cities is Highway 5. It looks to run inland, about 100 miles from the coast, and joins the dots effectively – but probably quite boringly. Highway 101 follows the coast more closely, but not completely. There are some non-highway coastal roads, and the options to bob between 101 and the coast are quite good.
The coast rode is quite pretty. I rode through some very familiarly named areas – Malibu, Ventura, Mussel Shoals (not THAT one) – until I reach Santa Barbara about 2 hours and 90 miles after take-off. It is very well manicured, with a lovely promenade, and some nice restaurants looking over the seafront. I chose one of said eateries, and enjoyed a really good Huevos rancheros. For those unfamiliar, it is a Mexican breakfast combo, eggs, sausage, sour cream, guacamole, salsa and carbs – mine were tortillas today. It was lovely.
Having completed my repast, I trundled out again, and soon turned back onto 101, and then very quickly abandoned it to take route 154 over a pass to run by Lake Cachuma, which was serene and pretty. The whole area around the lake is held by the Chumash tribe, a native American people that will likely have my father agog with permutational tribal possibilities.
I rejoined 101 20 or 30 miles later, and then basically followed it for about 200 miles. Some parts pretty, some agricultural and functional. All parts were sunny, but approaching my 101 departure point just south of Salinas, it got pretty windy. I hove westwards at said departure form the 101, heading down towards Monterey, mon repose for the evening.
While riding the 101 somewhere before my turn off, I saw a sign for a place called Bradley. I simply HAD to detour to take a look. A one-horse town, for sure. Population 150. Still – the photo opportunity…..
The last 20 miles or so of the day took me back towards the coast from the 101. Rounding a large hill, the temperature suddenly dropped, and the sky became overcast. It was 17C when I reached my hotel for the evening – after days of sweltering through the south west, it was a pleasant change, but somewhat of a shock to my system.
Talking of pleasant changes, my spot for the night is well appointed and even may border on the luxurious compared to my usual motels. The reception staff certainly maintained an air of high class and snootiness, which is mildly deserved here. Still, just a fancy motel – but it does have a pool. However, it is not warm enough to go for a paddle, so am bashing out these words, then gonna shower and make myself presentable, after which I will go and get some dinner.
In a while, Alligators