Chapter 34

Chapter 34

 

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2008

 

Big Sur to San Simeon 67 miles

 

Woke at 3am. It’s pouring out of the heavens. That’s the first actual rain I have seen since I began this trip. Maybe it will clear! Go back to sleep..! 

Awaken again at 6am - still heaping it down (It never rains in Southern California, it pours man it pours). Should I stay in the tent for the day or what. Then Tom Keenan's words ring in my ears 'John, you have to learn to ride the bike in the rain too'. So, eventually, up I get. Get dressed. As I said before, its very slow getting dressed in a two-man tent. I get the wet tent folded up and packed away on the bike. Everything is wet now. But I’m feeling good. Glad I didn’t decide to wait out the rain. Instead, I take myself down to the restaurant in the resort area for a huge breakfast. I pig out on bacon and eggs, burger, bagels, cheese and 2 big pancakes with shed loads of maple syrup.

Stuffed to the gunwales I head up the first 3-mile climb starting just outside the camp ground. This is the big climbing day - 4 major climbs interspersed with 30 miles of roller coaster. I mentally break up the day’s journey and it seems easier as I go. Legs are good today and the climbs are rolling under me. I’m back on the coast now and the scenery and the sea are spectacular. Thought I might not see the Pacific for a while but this is beautiful . Craggy headlands and high cliffs.

 

 

At 25 miles I stop to get a picture and I meet Ed and his wife Marge. Ed is a retired New York cop. Marge is originally from Broadstone and Ed is completely taken with my trip and is so full of praise for me. He can’t believe I’m cycling as far as I am and keeps asking me about it. We have a good chat have a photo and take our leave. 

 

 

 

 

Weather is hot now and Im nearly out of water. I knew it would be some distance to the next ‘civilisation’ so I’ve no doubt I’ll come across a stream or some such before long. Soo I can see in the distance a building or a roadhouse.

At the top of the climb there is a restaurant and I stop there for water and here is Ed waiting for me outside, on the side of the road. He insists on buying me lunch and tells me Marge has gone in and booked a table for us. He has been out on the road waiting for me to come up. I stop with them and we have lunch together and have a great chat. He tells me they want to relocate out to southern California from New York. Ed is in the electronic surveillance business - a big New Yorker. Nice people. I promise to buy them lunch when they come to Ireland. He vows to hold me to that.

Two more savage climbs to come and the back is broken on this sucker. Bring it on. I’m feeling good.

Up the climbs I get a gale of a tailwind that means an extra gear and I fly. The switchback descents are fantastic. I hog the middle of the road and keep the traffic off my back. Hitting 38mph. Awesome!! Over the last summit and a 15 mile fast flat spin all the way to San Simeon. Into a well-deserved motel and a bath!! Soak the bones for an hour and bring in all my washing as well. No Persil or Daz on this trip. Living like a pig!!! Who cares....