Chapter 36

Chapter 36

 

 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2008

 

Pismo Beach to Refugio Beach 77 miles

 

If you ever wake up and think 'this day is going to be a crap day' and decide to fold your tent on the day and go back to bed!!... don’t! ’Cause one thing I discovered today was that no matter how you feel on any given day, as sure as eggs is eggs by lunch time things will have usually changed for the better. That was how today was for me.

I woke this morning - I had a sore bum, my legs ached, I didn’t sleep too well, and I was feeling 'this is not what I want to do today'. I got no breakfast ‘cause it didn’t start till 8 and I wasn’t waiting around. I headed out and soon, after a few miles, I had no legs. I was up and down in the saddle trying to find a good place to sit. It just wasn’t working. A guy pulled out in front of me on a bike pulling a bob, we say good morning and in the chat I tell him I think I’ll only make Lompoc 28miles down cause I’m tired. He says the same and goes off. He goes off ahead of me cause I’m really slow today. Then I’m passed by another guy pulling a bob, who I had been with a few days previous and he goes on ahead of me. The last day we were on the road I was leaving him for dead. A measure of my malaise! I stop 10 miles down the road for a coffee and bun and am writing the day off. 

On the first major climb of the day I am joined by a nice guy who slows for a chat and I tell him to go ahead as I’m not on form today. He says “you know, that rarely does a day finish the way it starts and by lunchtime you might feel differently”. After a while he leaves me, and I stop for a 5-minute break. Then the energy comes from somewhere and I’m sailing along. A few miles down the road just before the next climb of the day I come across him again and the first guy on the bob, stopped for a puncture. I stop to assist. The first guy says he is trying to make Santa Barbara. A good bit down, like another 70miles from where we are now. I refer him to the major climb after Lompoc and he tells me it’s 14 miles long. I say yes that's a major climb and I’m not doing it. But he says 'well if it 14 miles long it can’t be very steep!! Good point. I head up that climb and sail into Lompoc energized. Stop for the proverbial 6ins Subway and I’m ready for this 14-mile sucker. I break my own rule by taking out the I-Pod and putting on Van the Man, Astral weeks. Talk about the angels? It’s totally inspirational and I’m flying up the climb. Its 85 degrees out in the full hot sun and I’m loving it. Got the factor 30 on and I’m covered. Then comes REM - more inspiration, then Meat Loaf. I’m bombing along and I’m eating this sucker.. Feeling really strong now. Make 2 stops for a weener and a gatorade and off again. Finally, with a whoop and a holler, I’m at the top of the very last hill on the Pacific Coast. What a feeling. I’ve gotten here and done all the hills and now it’s plain sailing all the way to San Diego. I am so happy with myself. I stop to take my picture.

” Grandad’s a Genius” rings in my ears (again).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The downhill was the best yet - 2.5 miles of 7% grade. I’m in the big ring and I’m flying - hit 40 mph shirt akimbo and it’s a whizzer. Camp ground awaits a mile of so up the road. When I get there the State Trooper tells me the camp is closed for the winter. But Refugio Beach is only 10miles further on. I’m ok! My ass is grass but the legs are like Fred Astaire. If somebody would massage my bum I could go for ever. The 10 miles is a flat fast run and Refugio soon appears. There I’m right on the beach and I go in for my first swim in the pacific. Really nice! I meet Jim the guy I met this morning who said he was going to stop in Lompoc. He said I inspired him to do the last big climb because he was thinking of giving up for the day and he is pleased he got here too. We share a bowl of mushroom soup and he brings some choc cookies his wife made for him and we have a nice evening over a beautiful sunset by the beach. Idyllic! Best day yet by far on the bike. I learned a lot about myself today. Stuff I won’t forget. Into Santa Barbara tomorrow. To where the beautiful people go. 100 miles from LA. I sleep a great sleep to the sound of a thundering sea less than 50 yards from my tent. Where would you get it.....

 

 

 

Comment

Eileen said: Go on you boy ye, you are flying Fred! Life will be pretty boring for you after this and for us too. The hard climbs are over but keep focused on those busy roads. Very well done. Love x

Seamus said; 'my ass is grass but my legs are Fred Astaire' is this John Boil???

Daughter Pauline said: Go Dad go. You’re doing brilliantly. Might even be a novel out of this blog.... Keep on going can't believe you’re on the home stretch. 

John P said: Hi John, really enjoying the blog, sounds like you're having a great time. 14-mile climb! – that’s almost the length of the Wicklow Gap - I can't imagine climbing for that long - especially fully loaded. Take it handy and enjoy the last couple of days. 

 

and “John Boil” replied:

Eileen, That’s a focus cause it’s into the big metropolis now here, no prisoners are taken. It’s all about time and money here now. Time is money get outta my way!!

 Hi Seamus, The boil never materialized. Good self-care and talking to it and not

through it. 

Hello Pauline, I love impressing you! You can be my publicity agent. 

Hi JP. Good to hear from you. Hope you are still doing your stuff on your bike. Any day you’re on a bike is a good day