Jonesin for a Ride!

Archive for the ‘2016-08-04 Santa Barbara to SD Bicycle Ride’ Category

Had a great time at Tom’s. I was greeted outside and once inside the house, had cold bubbly water for me and showed me my quarters. My own room downstairs complete with private bath. He may not get ride of me…
Jamie cooked up a fabulous salmon dinner with beer, wine, appetizers of various cheeses, crackers, and fruit.

Salmon dinner

Breakfast too!

After dinner we adjourned outside for a cigar and some more wine before it was time to call it a day.
Next morning it was coffee and breakfast 🙂

Thanks again Tom for the hospitality!
By 8:30 it was time for me to get going. Day started out with the marine layer which was nice to keep the temps down. Never having done this part either on a bicycle, I was excited to see what was coming my way.
A downhill run from Tom’s house and I was back riding PCH and along the beach. Traffic was early morning commuters as it was Friday and I was getting closer to Santa Monica, it was getting heavier, but plenty of room to ride on the side. Once in Santa Monica, you turn right onto a big wide bike path, with a separation between pedestrians and bikes.

The fun zone at the Santa Monica Pier

This bike path continued through the towns of Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Marina Del Ray (but a little detour to get around the marina), Playa Del Rey, El Sugundo and LAX, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach!
Once in Redondo Beach, I had to make a desicion – stay on the official route, which cuts inland to get around the refineries and the port of LA and probably a more direct route, or I could go through Palos Verde, which stays along the coast out to the point with beautiful vistas, but is rolling hills and I wasn’t quite sure how to navigate the route across the LA river and the Port of LA.
One look at the hills and it was now 11:30, I opted the official route.
It took me on various busy streets, but with bike lanes, cut through residential neighborhoods, back on busy streets, but kept heading inland and there were a lot of lights to stop at. Finally made my way over the two freeways, rail road tracks that service the port of LA, and the LA river. Then onto the river trail and ride against a headwind back to Long Beach and the beach. By the time I got to Long Beach it was almost 1:30 and I still had about 35 miles yet with hills at the last 17 miles.
I was now on a familiar route and knew my way without the aid of the GPS track I have been following. I kept moving but I realized I still had water and I haven’t been drinking enough. Once through Long Beach and into Orange County, I finally stopped to refill my two water bottles and drink some other fluids, like coconut water and a protein shake.
About 5 minutes later, boom, back on the bike…
I could feel I should have hydrated earlier than this as I could feel the effects, so I slowed the pace a bit but kept moving.
Finally, after mustering the rolling hills from Newport beach all the way to Dana Point and the final climb to my house, I got home at 4:30.
Lessons learned? Keep hydrated, and probably a better goal for multi day travels for me now should be around 60-75 miles.
It will be tough to get motivated to do my last leg to San Diego tomorrow being home now, lol.

BTW, so far one person has admitted to trying Bimbos publicly on this blog, but I heard from text messages that others have too, but don’t want to admit it publicly 🙂

So far, this has been a fun trip.  It has been relatively flat and the wind has been to my back.  Met quite a few people on the road.  One  was an Aussie on a Vstrom just riding around on his way to Argintina.

The enjoyable part of this touring is seeing more of the countryside.  Another thing I notice different from a day ride was I was in no hurry when riding.  Instead of attacking a hill, just take ur time… 
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what can i say, Zuma Beach

a roadside stop in Oxnard by Pt. Magu NAS

the bike path through downtown Ventura

you see these signs designatiing this as the Pacific Coast bike trail

Miss having these stands around…. Stopped for some r&r and fruit

a bike at the fruit stand

a nice shady place with a great breeze to take a break

yum

miss these places near my area

Which means I see more.  Usually do this stretch of the 101 by Ventura too fast.

bike path along 101 between Santa Barbara and Bentura

nic accent on the railings CALTRANS

been by here a hundred times, but now enjoying the views

a reason for heading south, this is a good thing, notice the flag… 🙂 riding with the wind!