Sunny Sunday

San Simeon- Arroyo Grande,CA
55.6 miles
Lovely sunny Sunday to start- along the coast and then up into the foothills into San Luis Obispo.

WHEW!

Big Sur-San Simeon, CA. 66.5 miles
Saturday 10/20. 4660 ft climb
Remarkably challenging day of non stop ups and downs, cliff hugging, cutting through the cold wet fog for first 50 miles then flats along the beach for the last 15 miles with a highlight being a stop along the beach to see the hilarious and huge elephant seals- hundreds of them relaxing on the beach and playing in the water. Made it with 5 minutes to spare for dinner
*Above the fog- ready to descend into it
*Mike the enthusiastic welcoming committee of 1 superwoman at the end of the day!
*Guide Cy rapping our cue sheet notes in Big Sur Lodge

WORDS CAN'T DESCRIBE...

...Monterey Sunset Drive,17 mile Pebble Beach Drive, Carmel, Rte 1 Big Sur
Friday 10/19 Monterey-Big Sur 43.4 miles

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER

And artichoke fields and Brussels sprout fields as far as you can see. Now I know where those big beautiful tasteless strawberries that I buy in November in Chicago come from.
Santa Cruz-Monterrey 46 miles
THE easiest and most leisurely day of the trip- still blessed with fantastic weather. Went through miles of farm land and then on to a long winding bike path to and through Monterrey
*strawberry fields
* the largest tarp in the world?
*delicious deep fried artichoke hearts at a road side stand
*harbor seals and pelicans in Monterrey

BACK in the SADDLE

San Francisco- Santa Cruz 57 miles
I couldn't muster up enough excitement to do an 85 mile day AND ride out of SF in morning traffic so several of us bumped up to Moss Beach for a warm, beautiful day of tailwind fueled biking. Hugging the coast and headlands all day with long ups and long downs and hundreds of acres of what appears to be artichokes, kale and Brussel sprouts
*great James Turrell art installation at the DeYoung Museum
*Pigeon Point Lighthouse
*pumpkin fields

FRIENDS VISIT

A rest day with special friends, delicious food and a little "cultcha". Schon and Ed came in from Sonoma on this beautiful day for some fun! Lunch outside at the Ferry Building and then a visit to the DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park. Thank you dear friends!
And Coop, friend and sag from ST- great to see you.