Chapter 39

Chapter 39

 

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2008

 

Santa Monica to Huntington Beach 41 miles

 

Great night’s sleep in Santa Monica last night. Pampered myself. So, ready for the day ahead to Huntington Beach. Another iconic surfing town.

I stopped in a shopping center, that I was actually cycling through, for some food and a bit of window shopping.  There you go Peter. The bandana came to me in a flash of stylish wisdom... I think it could be permanent and fetching around Latton. What do you think?? 

I was glad I made that jump from Leo Carillo to Santa Monica yesterday because the 41 miles today was the least enjoyable cycling it was possible to have. It was both physically and mentally challenging and exhausting. Once I left Santa Monica I had 9 miles on a cycle path that wound its way onto the beach. It was pretty scenic and novel at the start. With road bikers, roller bladers, people walking dogs and kids. But soon it became tedious with a fine film of sand on the concrete path, which threatened to bring me down at every winding turn. The walkers and joggers and roller bladers became a nuisance and sometimes it was just plain dangerous. 

The cycle path went through car parks, around marinas and at one time wended its way through an underground car park, Really!! like the Ilac center and out the other side. Then across a pier and ended at a very busy junction of the Pacific Coast Highway. I guess it was the scenic route I took. Then it was 25 miles of heavy traffic through Los Angeles. Riding on the road without a shoulder. Traffic lights every 100 yards which always seemed to be red against me. Guys out there wanting to kill me and, on top of it all, a headwind. I really had to be on the alert at all times. No day dreaming on the road here. I saw a sign for Long Beach. I had recollections of reading somewhere that that was where John Denvir had cut his early teeth and I so wanted to go there. But the traffic had me distracted and I just wanted to get on past LA. At one stage I had to negotiate around a Highway Patrol car that had pulled in a driver. He had stopped it awkwardly and forced me out onto the outside lane to pass him with a bus passing at the same time. I let him have it as I passed 'You are going to get me killed officer' I shouted at him. I think he was shocked to hear me. But thankfully didn’t react. 

I caught my pannier bag on a high kerb crossing over a bridge and down I went. Luckily I fell into the kerb and not onto the road. Got a bit of road rash. Nothing too serious. Gathered myself and headed on.                                               

The ride finished with a windswept 6-mile open road into Huntington. By the time I got there I was ready for the first kip I came to. I didn’t care what it was like. I am exhausted....

 

Comment

Eileen said: Hi John hope you don't have any more cycle experiences like this. It sounds really exhausting and dangerous. I would imagine the thoroughfare around San Diego will be equally as busy so please be careful on this last leg of your journey. We want you home in one piece. Very well done. Wonderful achievement. Love x

Gavin said: Hey Boyler got your text. You coming home this Monday?

John replied: Gotta fight my way through 2 days of built up cities then its home. Job done!!

 

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