Chapter 37

Chapter 37

 

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2008

 

Refugio State Beach to Mc Grath beach 54 miles

 

I woke up this morning to a beautiful tequila sunrise and the sounds of the sea, gazing out over the beautiful Pacific. My God. How did I get to be this lucky? Get the little gas stove going and get the water on for early morning coffee. The nature of camping is, if you don’t get your food for the night and morning the evening before. Then you have little or nothing for breakfast. Jim surfaces for the day, in time for the coffee and he has some of his wife’s cookies leftover. That’s breakfast sorted. Reminded me of when I was 16 and camping in Donard Park with my mates and on Sunday we would pool all the food we had and share it. Some amazing concoctions, not suitable for sharing here.

We must leave here now and head on. 

Heading for Mc Grath State Beach. Jim is heading to San Diego in aid of a foundation for his brother who was injured badly in a fall at work and is now paralyzed. When he was in rehab visiting with his brother, he saw there, a lot of kids who had hurt themselves (mainly head injuries) falling off bikes and scooters and roller skates. Now with the assistance of the police, they go to outings where kids are biking or skating and provide them with tuition and gave free helmets. It’s a great cause. He is doing this trip, Canada to San Diego, and calls at all the hospitals on the way down to tell them about his foundation. As his literature says, 'I am my brother’s keeper' A great man! 

We cycle our own path down because he has hospitals to visit. But we agree to meet later in McGrath Beach. It’s great to have company on the road and we cycle together to the next town where he peels off. I stop later on the road for a coffee and a cake and enjoy it in the sunshine. Sitting there, Jim comes around the corner and he stops too. He tells me he has met another cyclist, a Swiss guy who is coming to the same park as us tonight and he invited him to camp with us. Cycling on I meet him on the road too. We stop for an ice cream and head on at our own pace.

As I am going through a town I hear my name being shouted out and there at the bus stop, in civvies, are some of my Cross Canada friends. They are having a day off and are getting the bus to town for some shopping. No time for me to go shopping but it’s great to see them.

A few miles up the road I come across a library and as I am behind with my blog and emails and stuff I go in to get the internet, to post yesterday’s blog. While I’m there who comes in, only some other members of the Cross Canada group with the same idea. We bring each other up to date on our news and as I am leaving I meet Jim also having an ice cream. What a social day this is turning out to be. Always room for another ice cream. 

Sitting there a weird group of guys on bikes show up. Pulling all sorts of gear on bobs on the back of their bikes. Turns out they are a band, cycling the pacific coast stopping at various towns, playing in pubs to get money together to cycle the pacific coast. This is a crazy country. They are playing in Ventura tonight and invite us along.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we meet up again with Hans from Switzerland, we agree to cycle together for the rest of the way.  We three 3 amigos zip into Ventura together. Jim has to go to a hospital to check in with them and I lose Hans going through Ventura. I make it to Mc Grath on my own and find only a solitary bike (no owner) in the camp site. The owner of the bike shows up soon after having been out in the sea for a swim. Next Hans arrives saying he took a wrong turn in Ventura. Next, two young guys from Canada ride in, Jim arrives, and we have a bit of crack around the table for the evening. Everyone has a beer with them (only one) and it’s very sociable. Soon it’s dark and it’s off to bed at 8pm. Better get used to it guys John is off to bed every night at 8 when I get home. It’s ingrained...

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the night I’m awakened by a clatter of bins outside and animal noises. We are visited by a gang of racoons. They are devils, about the size of a cat but with front paws that are like fingers. They can open zips and bags and they are very curious. They upturn the bin and move the stuff around. Up on the tables and will open bags to get whatever is in them out. But apart from that they are pretty harmless. Tomorrow is an easy ride down to Malibu... and the GIRLS!! Bring it on....

 

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