The Final Push

We got our first glimpse into Mexico around 5:30 pm. It was hard to
contain the excitement of being so close. It was also hard to believe
that 2 days ago we were in San Luis Obispo.

The bike signs lead the way!

We passed Tequilla Way In our last few miles.

The boarder was closed to bikes and we didn't find a Welcome to Mexico
sign, so we settled for the Private Property No Tresspassing!

Having attained our goal we headed to Maria Maria's to celebrate with
a large meal. We were not dissatisfied.

We are calling the beard contest a tie. Scott has a darker beard and
is sporting an awesome neck beard, but mine is less unruley. We polled
2 random strangers. Scott won over the waiter, but the a lady sitting
across from us picked my beard.

I was exhausted. Scott drove home and I dissasembled my bike for air
transit Monday morning!

We were both ready to be home!

SAN - Rental Car

San Diego Airport is around mi 110. We rented a car for Scott so he
could get home and my cousin Dave was waiting for us.

Rental procured we headed down Harbor Ave to finish the last 20 miles.

In Chula Vista we found Moss St. That makes 3 mosses this trip. Moss
Landing, Moss Point, and Moss St.

Nuclear Boobs

We rode past the nuclear boobs North of San Diego. I got a good photo
with Scott and the boobs.

We met some more friends. Some bikers riding from San Fran to San
Diego which seems to be popular. They were taking 9 days. We took 7
including a rest day.

Our new companions didn't like to stop at lights.

Water over San Diego is beautiful!

Day 21: Long Beach to Mexico, 132 mi

Long Beach is about 130 miles from the border by bike. Long enough
not to take lightly, but short enough for us to believe we can do it
in a day. I must be crazy.

We stripped down our bikes to be as light as possible and left the
house before dawn.

Fueled up and good to go at Starbux. I'm no longer carrying Quaker
Chewy Granola. I've eaten 50+ bars in the first 2 weeks and ODed. I
think Scott is sick of snickers.

I told Scott my biggest worry was we would go out too fast, as Scott
without the BOB is very fast now. Scott promissed we would keep a 15
mph pace...

When we hit the OC, we stumbled upon a Sunday morning group riding the
PCH and thought to grab a draft. This wasn't your Sunday fat man ride.
We were pushing 26 mph on the flats for a good 10 miles. Huntington
beach was upon us before we knew it. So much for 15 mph.

The Final Countdown!

Making our final gambit to the border. Left our bags in Long Beach. No
Turning back!

Day 20: Santa Barbara to Long Beach, 125 mi

In long beach. We are making a run for the border tomorrow.

Today was a long day. Tomorrow will be as well.

Thanks to my college room mate Neal and his mother for hosting us
tonight.

Wish us luck!

Day 19: SLO to Santa Barbara, 116 mi

Lunch in Lompoc. There isn't much in Lompoc, but they do have food and
water. We didn't stay too long, but the heat was blistering. We had 20
miles of no shade out of Lompoc. I was wishing the rain had stayed as
this is one of the most mentally challanging sections of road.

My watch read 33 C about 92 F, and the hills were relentless.

We met a guy Dan who was doing the same trip. His team disbanded in SF
and he was the last one. He was heading for Long Beach. I think the
heat broke him though. He was planning on calling a friend to get a
ride the last 100 miles. I hope he finished the trip.

We passed by a tunnel right before being dumped on 101.

Night Sky in SB.

One of my sisters friends, Giana, is hosting us in SB. They were at
the avocado festival which they enjoyed. Mostly eating! Thanks again
for allowing us to crash on your couch!

Tomorrow we head to Long Beach!

It doesn't rain in California

It rained on us this morning. Of course we ditched our rain gear in
Santa Cruz. I can't complain because it was nothing like Washington or
Oregon rain.

Fort joined us this morning to ride to Pismo. He had an awesome idea
to pick up cinimon rolls. I had a fruit wheel. It was so delicious.
I'll post the name of the bakery later, if Fort doesn't. I wish I had
gotten photos of the pasteries.

We said goodbye to Fort at the messa and headed south to Vandenburg
AFB. No rockets launching today.

Farmers @ SLO

I finished up some repairs in my jacket while Matt tried to study. He
had a remote control helicopter which was much more entertaining than
the air flow problems due on Friday.

I headed to Farmers and at cold stone there was a furry who was
swinging his rave nunchucks and not hitting anyone which impressed me.

There was free bike valet parking and I took advantage of it. Scott's
good friend Pat joined us. The savory aromas from each street vender
made choices difficult, but I eventually chose ribs!

There were live bands playing and dancers in the street on Higuera
street.

Another great SLO farmers market!

I hung out with Matt, my sister's fiance, who hosted me for the night.  He is finishing up a mechanical engineering masters at Cal Poly.  We ate at Firestone Grill and the Tri Tip is still as awesome as I remember it.  We punished the meal.

Thursday is an official rest "zero miles" day.  This means kick back, no time in the saddle, stay out of the sun, hydrate, and catch a flick downtown. 

Scott took a spill in San Francisco as he was too excited when we were approaching the city, so we needed to get him a new helmet in SLO.  We stopped at my favorite bike shop, Foothill Cyclery.  Scott had a sweet present waiting from a special someone which fully covered his new helmet and hopefully will protect his noggin for the rest of the trip and then some.

Josh runs the store and amazingly he still has the original receipt for my road bike so I'll get the frame fully warrantied!  It was great to see the new store location in the shopping center on Foothill and Broad.  I also picked up some No 5 Chain-L "High Mileage Formula".  All of the other chain lube I've tried doesn't seem to even last a day of our rides before the chain starts to squeak.  This stuff is high quality and I've only seen it in San Luis Obispo @ Foothill Cyclery.

I'm lining up places to stay so we can ditch more of our camping gear as we finish up the last few days.  I'm no longer dehydrated and plan to keep it that way.  I enjoy Type 1 fun.  Santa Barbara tomorrow!

Day 17: Big Sur to San Luis Obispo 108 mi

I finally got my appetite back in Pfeiffer State Park.  It was warm even when we pulled in around dusk.  Dinner was mac'n'cheese and Texas Toast and it was delicious.  We didn't require sleeping bags and the mosquitos left us alone for the most part.

I was hoping to take a cold shower, but showers there are only hot and scalding!  The water still felt nice after a long day of riding.

We left in the morning after replacing the BOB trailer tire.  Over 4000 ft of climbing for the day and most of the climbing happens in the first 45 miles before lunch. We stopped for lunch at Ragged Point and it wasn't as amazing as I was hoping, but I was hungry.  We did meet some cyclists getting their gear SAGed on a ride down the coast.  It sounded pretty good.  It had cooled down to the mid to high eighties, and I drank 8 water bottles.

Elevation Profile from Map My Ride

I stayed in Ragged Point for a good hour and fifteen minutes to make sure I had a solid lunch and rehydrate.  Scott who doesn't seem to need to eat or drink had a bowl of chilly and headed off to SLO to draft some of our SAGed friends and make it in time for Pats Birthday.  He was in SLO by 5:30.  I didn't leave until after 2:30 and arrived in SLO at 6:15 and was happy to be there before 7.

Fort and Erica and Scott were waiting for me at the Frog and Peach in down town SLO and had a curry and beer waiting for me!  It was good to see Fort again, he understood how I was feeling.