Tres Goes Riding

A wet night made for a cloudy morning. Off we went with overcast skies and a willing spirit. It is the shortest and the hilliest part of the trip. This was true. After a couple of miles the mist started and if you were not wearing your raincoat it came on at the vista stop.

It was by far, the hardest 31.7 mile ride I had ever done. Tons of elevation with rain coming down harder as the temperature kept dropping. Then the wind began to pick up in blasts that would you sideways. This rider had a flat in the small flat on the last hill of the day with the wind just ripping by. Many thanks to fellow riders John and Jim for stopping and Coach, one of the mechanics on the trip. Got to the final stop freezing. Back in camp and clean, dry and ready for the nap of choice.
And now this is the later afternoon.

The first day of the rest of our lives, maybe.  A stalwart group of 37 rider souls and 19 veteran previous cross country grizzled Bubba veterans as staff, waited with baited anticipation of the start of their own vision quest.  The start was slowly coming with a 9 am rear wheel dipping in the Pacific Ocean.

It was a really wavy day and this rider went down to the water, after the group picture, and stuck his hand in the water and dripped the water from the Pacific Ocean onto his back wheel. A fellow rider got caught in a wave up to his waist. SO that’s how it can go.

This rider 2 miles into the ride was out the gate early basically coming out of his shoes, too excited for his own good, got to do an extra 5 miles today. It would figure into a monster hilly day. This was one of the toughest days of the trip with another hilly day tomorrow but with less miles. 

Sunset in tent city:

A long dedicated meeting to explain all the logistics of the next two months.

The place we ate was Wonderland Bar on the beach it was great. The group is so nice. A few fellow bloggers have been talking with this author.  We will have the wheel dipping at 9:00 am and take off for Alpine tomorrow. Here we go.

A lovely dinner with my brother Joe, the featured image, on the Queen Mary overlooking downtown Long Beach.We strolled the promenade deck and saw some of the memorabilia that made the Queen Mary famous. This artistic clock was on the mantle of the fireplace in the first class Grand Salon. The elegant wood and Art Deco trimmings and railings were amazing. I am packed and am ready to have Joe take me down to San Diego to meet my new “adopted” family. I am ever so grateful to my family and friends for the incredible generosity and support. My brother lives in this section of cycling and walking heaven. It is tough to go, spoiled I guess. Onward it is.

My roommate is Larry Sharkey from San Diego. He has done cross country solo. He is riding a Surly Long Haul Trucker. I got real fortunate. We had a big meeting with Bubba and staff.

Hard to believe another chamber of commerce weather day. Took off again to Downtown on the LA River bike path and wandered through the downtown where they had begun set up of the Long Beach Grand Prix.

I went to a real collector’s bike shop in Belmont called The Bicycle Stand. It had all kinds of  Classic vintage bicycles, Italian Masi, Colnago to die for, Hetchen’s, Bianchi and others. Very nice shop with attentive staff. They were preparing bicycles for an Eroica ride in Paso Robles in April in the middle of the month. Check out the event poster. Very cool. Hard to believe I did not take a picture must have been too engaged. Ventured back downtown to see a hub of mass transit. Hello Hillsborough County.

Strong meets SoCal low rider at the Cog and Crank bike shop in Bixby Knolls. Queen Mary for dinner.

Another gorgeous day in LA.  From the featured image above, the bike path is shared with horses especially at the busy roads when an underpass is used. On my ride, I experienced a horse rider waving from his dirt trail below. A 33-mile round trip north on the LA River bike path. A much more industrial corridor, but really a good plan for the freeway corridor.

Underpasses makes all this work.

Some straight outta Compton graffiti.

The trail just ended and it seemed such a shame.

There was a neat park in Maywood, California that had a cool presence on the bike path.

Lunch in Bixby Knolls. Sweetness.

Arrival at my brother Joe’s house in the Bixby Knolls section of Long Beach. Beautiful day and plenty to do.

Now that the bike is together it was time for a 25-miler south on the LA river bike trail to downtown Long Beach, Belmont Shores and Naples to ensure a smooth running machine.  A gorgeous bike trail in a dense urban center. Kayaking done in the more inland protected bodies of water.

Another section of the LA river path north from my brother’s house today.

I was able to ride with 4 close and dear friends a couple of days before I left that I have known for over 30 years. This was what my cycling has come to mean to me. It was an expression of that joy and togetherness.

As the day to go to San Diego fast approaches with all the necessary preparations in place, no small agenda. I will meet my brother in LA put my bike together.  I am struck I am leaving the littlest free wheeler for longer than I wanted.

Off I go at O dark thirty to LA to meet my brother and get my bike and mind together.

I had a 49-lb bike box and a 51-lb rolling duffel checked in. The other stuff hanging off the back pack was the essentials that were pared down to keep the baggage at limit. Onward. Tough scene leaving the littlest free wheeler behind. Onward to LA.