Getting Closer

Greetings all,

Please forgive my delay in posting.  my intention was to blog every night of the ride, however, that has proven more difficult than I had anticipated.

So much has happened since my last post, lets see if I can update you.

I am currently in Malibu and have ridden 524 miles from the start of the ride. tomorrow, I head into LA with the ultimate destination being Long Beach.  I will continue travel the coast route and will most likely meet up with another cyclist I know who will escort me through Rancho Palos Verdes.  He was gracious enough to meet me today, and treated me to dinner, as part of his unending support of my ride.  I am greatly appreciative off all the support he has given me:  suggestions, tips, informatiion,  Thank you.

I am also very appreciative of everyone who has supported me in this endeavor.  thank you too!

Since my last post, I was heading into San Luis Obispo.  Had a nice break there with my wife, Monique and Son, Neil.  We had a nice dinner at Olive Garden (Carbs!) and latter dessert at IHOP (yummy ice cream!),  the next day, Mothers Day, we had breakfast together at the Apple Farm, and said our goodbye’s until we met again at the finish point at Point Loma.  I was sad to see them go.

I then headed off to Pismo Beach, a rather short 15 mile ride. Leaving here, it was off to Santa Barbara County and Lompoc.  riding through the farm fields, was great mainly due to the incredible smells of the fresh fruits and vegitables that were being grown.

the first town you hit in Santa Barbara County is Guadaloupe.  it was facinating.  it looked and felt like a deserted town.  all the building were boarded up or had bars around it.

heading towards Lompoc, you pass through Vandenburg Air Force Base, it is exciting to just be riding past the space program

Lompoc was depressed as well, not nearly as bad as Guadaloupe, but noticible.  I stayed the night here but there was little to see or do… i did my laundry.

Out of Lompoc it was down to Santa Barbara and Carpinteria.  I miss calculated my ride for the day and instead of 55 miles, it was actually 75 miles.

Santa Barbara has really put alot of effort into its bicycle routes and is very bicycle friendly.

they are getting ready for the Amgen Tour of California bike race and had bicycle banners flying everywhere, made me proud to be a cyclist.

Beyond Santa Barbara, it was onto Carpinteria,

Once in my hotel, I heard tragic news.  an old friend since Jr. High School passed away.  Clark was a friend for over 35 years.  I joined the navy with him, we went to boot camp together, he officiated my wedding as the preacher.  He will surely be missed.  I spent a lot of time thinking about him today and the time we had together.  it was a hard day.

on top of all that, I got my first flat tire of the ride, happened in Oxnard. and tore up my leg a little, when I ran my leg into the front gear.   guess it goes with the day.  the day did get better though…

So that leave us to today.  it was from there to my present location, Malibu.  staying at the Malibu Country Inn, where I have a hot tub in my balcony…ahhhh!  helps to relieve my sore back (which has been the greatest hardship of the ride).

So… tomorrow it is off to LA (where’s my “piece”, to protect me? — inside joke, ask me when you see me).

looking forward to seeing Rancho Palos Verdes.and a few of the sights that you forget when you live in the area.

that’s it for now,

take care everyone

see you soon

Cheers

Russ

 

 

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