Day 50: August 30, 2010 (Route: Santa Cruz, CA to Big Sur, CA)

Day 50: August 30, 2010 (Route: Santa Cruz, CA to Big Sur, CA)

Technical Data:

Distance, miles: ~80 (Power Tap full of memory)
Ride Time: 6-7 hours
Work, kJ: 3K+
Average Power, watts: 159+/-
Normalized Power, watts: 207+/-
Average Speed, mph: 12.04+/-

Forecast: Sunny with an Ocean Breeze early, later in the day cloudy with a strong head wind.

Up early to ensure my bag is still in the shower, in safe reaches of the little rascals the night before I decide to go ahead and get up. I have not had an early start in a while due to the colder temperatures in the morning so why not I think. Its chilly but ridable. My phone is dead and the computer could use some electrons too so I figure maybe ride 10 to 20 miles and hit up a coffee shop or something for a bit.

Rolling out of the campground is easy, however navigating a city I have never been in is rather difficult. I want to be on Highway 1, however its prohibited so I need to find an alternate route. I ride in and out of some neighborhoods before coming up onto a little shopping center. I decide to go ahead and charge my phone there, however the clerk didn't seem real thrilled about a cyclist being in "her" store! She kept complaining about the electricity bill. My thoughts were, "Is she kidding me or what"? I know the state of California is struggling but please, just allow me to charge my phone so I can find my way out of your town. I did ask for directions from the ladies at the coffee kiosk and a guy over heard that was kind enough to help me find my way.

Back on the road I navigate safely out of town and onto a street that should take me on down the coast. I pass thousands of acres of strawberry fields and the smell of them is so strong I just want to stop and pick some, however with crews picking them, I thought it would be too keen to do so. The mind was spinning back to normal now, the last couple of days mentally I have been pretty upset, however today was a different story!

I ride through the fields and hear some music, some spanish music playing while the workers picked Strawberry's and had some thoughts on immigration and all those I have overheard talk about other races and think. If you have ever had fresh strawberries from the store you might want to thank the farm worker that you just put down, I had a million thoughts about this, so I just might have to write a short essay on it.

Continuing on I stop at a junction to eat a little and to really stop and think. The mind was clear however still had some residue from the last couple days going through it at this point in time. The legs were feeling pretty good, however I wasn't really motivated so I figured a little rest then hit up a shop a few miles down the road if I can find one. Once into Moss's Landing I find a little Surf shop with a coffee shop and hang out for a couple of hours to write and catch up on the world. I'm not very far into my ride now, close to 30 or so and ask the Barista how far to Big Sur. He thinks 30 or so, however having the internet handy I decide to check and its close to 50 so I'll have to get a move on pretty quick if I want to make it before sun down compared to last night.

Leaving Moss's Landing, I have a pretty stiff head wind and I'm not sure how long it will take to get into Big Sur, however I'm determined to press on! Once into Monterey I locate a bike path and ride it for about 10-15 miles. I was fortunate to get some local cycling help on this stretch as a guy who used to tour help me navigate through the city and gave me impeccable direction!

Once out of Monterey I stopped at the Safeway to pick up some 50-75% off food, scored a box of Cap'n Chrunch's Chrunch Berries! I wouldn't normally eat high sugary food but at $1.50 a box and with 2,300 calories thats a great deal on fuel today! Grap a pint of chocolate milk for a $1.00 and figure that will have to do for dinner tonight.

Signs reads 26 miles to Big Sur now, forwarned there's a lot of climbing and questioned that I was going to push on this late in the day I continue south! Talk about some of the most beautiful terrain I have seen so far! What a beautiful coast...words cannot descibe the beauty of the place! A true romantic coast line, though not to think of romance when so many couples are parked on the side of the road taking pictures and kissing while they enjoy the views. Keeping to my thoughts of avoiding those thoughts I just stick to the game plan on getting to Big Sur. Okay, I did pass a couple when they were taking a photo and said "That's going to be a good one" as they snapped off a picture!

The climbing here was great and I hope to return to this section of the California coast someday to ride! Once into Big Sur I pick up a couple post cards and head to the camp ground for some Chrunch Berries and a good nights sleep...