27 May 2015
16 May 2015
1 May 2015
Day 61 to 65: San Francisco, CA to San Francisco, CA
I was in multiple minds on what to do after San Francisco. This was always the realistic destination but I reached here with ample cycling time left, though probably not enough to get all the way to Oregon. Northern California would be possible but also leave me in no-mans land with regards to train connections to Chicago.
So then, off I go to drink wine and pedal a little bit slowly.
So then, off I go to drink wine and pedal a little bit slowly.
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| Back soon, San Francisco. |
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| Samuel P. Taylor State Park |
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| Armstrong Redwoods - worth the uphill torture |
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| Dinner game: elevated |
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| I see you |
26 April 2015
Day 53 to 60: Los Angeles, CA to San Francisco, CA
A new leg of the journey and my sights are set on San Francisco, a likely endpoint for my cycling adventures of this trip. 500 or so miles up Highway 1.
After the train it’s hello-goodbye LA, you don’t much interest me, the attraction of the coast drew me on the quickest route from Union station to Venice Beach. The Highway 1 north of LA isn’t the riding you dream of; the sunshine brings the people and the people bring the sports cars and a roaring highway.
It soon changes and it’s hard to get tired riding when you’re under the full evening sun with the endless blue in your periphery.
Without consulting maps, I tentatively planned on getting to Big Sur on the fourth day out of LA, but this was shot down on sight of a sawtooth elevation profile. Boy am I thankful for though, as Kirk Creek Campground is probably the nicest I’ve been to, on a little disc of land extending out and sloping down into the Pacific.
After San Simeon the coastline gets to the real stuff. To my left the relentless Pacific crashing against the worn out rock, to my right a wall of Redwood covered mountains permanently crested with mist. Yourself on the cliffside, snaking, on repeat, up onto the headlands and down into the coves.
Kirk Creek through Big Sur the coastline is sublime. This really is dream riding. The cool ocean mist supplied on a daily morning basis a welcome refreshment.
The wind presented the first real problem out of Santa Cruz. Sure, it was a nearly constant presence in my face all the way from LA, but manageable, especially after the Trial of New Mexico. I decided on camping up a hill 7 miles inland from Highway 1 on the coast, set amongst a patch of towering Redwood forest.
Bad rain I’ve mostly avoided since Austin(!) decided to all deposit at once overnight and I foolishly pitched my tent in a low lying spot. I awoke around 3am to find myself in a pool, giving me incentive to get away at the first hint of daylight.
Ample time for a cruise into San Francisco.
After the train it’s hello-goodbye LA, you don’t much interest me, the attraction of the coast drew me on the quickest route from Union station to Venice Beach. The Highway 1 north of LA isn’t the riding you dream of; the sunshine brings the people and the people bring the sports cars and a roaring highway.
It soon changes and it’s hard to get tired riding when you’re under the full evening sun with the endless blue in your periphery.
Without consulting maps, I tentatively planned on getting to Big Sur on the fourth day out of LA, but this was shot down on sight of a sawtooth elevation profile. Boy am I thankful for though, as Kirk Creek Campground is probably the nicest I’ve been to, on a little disc of land extending out and sloping down into the Pacific.
After San Simeon the coastline gets to the real stuff. To my left the relentless Pacific crashing against the worn out rock, to my right a wall of Redwood covered mountains permanently crested with mist. Yourself on the cliffside, snaking, on repeat, up onto the headlands and down into the coves.
Kirk Creek through Big Sur the coastline is sublime. This really is dream riding. The cool ocean mist supplied on a daily morning basis a welcome refreshment.
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| There’s nothing like the invigoration of being by the seaside. |
Bad rain I’ve mostly avoided since Austin(!) decided to all deposit at once overnight and I foolishly pitched my tent in a low lying spot. I awoke around 3am to find myself in a pool, giving me incentive to get away at the first hint of daylight.
Ample time for a cruise into San Francisco.
