Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Trip Comes to a Close

Fred and Wayne had another great week cycling, generally eating well, maybe losing a pound or too, getting a little fitter, and leaving another claw mark in the dirt as we get drug fighting and kicking into old age.

We would have cycled the rest of the way from Oceanside, but we were tired and sore and we would get the full day 'on the trip' regardless of whether we were riding or not. Beside, that's why we call the blog 'OLD GUYS on bikes,' not 'healthy young studs on bikes.'

3 things NOT to say to your wife after returning home from a bike trip:

#3 "We found four new kinds of beer just in Santa Barbara."

#2 "There sure are a lot of women bike touring this year."

And the #1 thing not to say to your wife when you get home from a bike trip:

#1 "I think dancing tired my legs more than the bicycling."

Fred and Wayne are planning a China bike trip late spring 2010.

Day 9 Tuesday May 12 San Clemente to San Diego

Up before 7:00 again. We are both tired with sore legs. Too many hills are hard on the thighs.

Rode 1/2 mile to Cafe del Sol for breakfast rolls and coffee. They have really good coffee.

It was after 9:30 before we started riding south. It is good riding through the San Onofre area. They allow dogs on two of the beach trails. But there is also a preponderance of rattlesnakes. ACTIVE rattlesnakes, per the notice at the guardhouse. Hmmmmm. Dogs, yes. Nudity, no. Rattlesnakes, yes. What about nude dogs?

Roadside memorials. We saw way too many of them.

Not a bad ride through Camp Pendleton. A lot less traffic than riding on the I-5 shoulder. After 23 miles we arrived in Ocean Side.

We had lunch at the same organic restaurant we ate at the last time we biked thru here. Then we hopped the Oceanside 2:12 train 2 stops to downtown San Diego. 6 miles later we were at Fred's place in Ocean Beach.

Another good week. Another good bike trip.

Firsts:
We've made this trip several times. This time we found a new route south of San Clemente Pier along the beach. We also stayed in a new campground - San Clemente State Beach. And most importantly, we found a new coffee stop just south of San Clemente. We found 'downtown' Seal Beach after riding by it on past trips.

Today
Distance 26 miles

Total trip
392 miles

Day 8 Monday, May 11 Dana Point to San Clemente State Beach


Today is a planned easy day. We packed up and rode 4 1/2 miles to San Juan Capistrano...and Starbucks (surprise!). Patrons there suggested Mollie's Famous Cafe, the local's favorite for a late breakfast. Not Mollie's Cafe. Mollie's FAMOUS Cafe (32033 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949-240-9261. Ask for waitress Tami and tip well).

We rode around the San Juan Capistrano historic District. There were some interesting fountains in a shop next to the train station (photo below). The public restrooms suck. I am writing the mayor (separate photo not include in the photos below).

We rode back to Dana Point and followed the seaside bike path to San Clemente Pier. Took a break at the pier, walked out to the end and watched the fishermen. We talk to everyone. Part of the path is firm dirt right along the water. The same going south from the pier to San Clement State Park and the Hike and Bike. $3 each.

We found dinner at Cafe del Sol Restaurant on the north I-5 access road (3817 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949-492-7120) across the free from the campground and 1 mile south. This is probably the only meal on the trip where we overate. It was good, but a lot of food.

A homeless, obviously mentally deficient, bicyclist arrived after us. Singing to himself was ok, but the dancing kinda made me nervous. I moved my tent closer to Fred's.

Showers $.25 for 2 minutes. Typical for the hike and bike sites.

Today
Distance 18 miles

To view the photos click on 'View All Images' below.

Day 7 Sunday, May 10 Torrence to Dana Point


Out of the Travelodge 1/4 mile to Starbucks. Down Crenshaw Rd. toward the Coast Highway. Southeast thru Long Beach industrial area. We pulled into recently opened Vespa Long Beach (795 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, http://www.vespaoflongbeach.com, ask for James Lamb 562-216-7280[they work on commission]). Fred was thinking I looked kinda tired and might need something with an engine... James says they'll beat the price of any dealer on the coast.

The beaches of Long Beach are surprisingly nice and clean.

We rode south to Seal Beach along a long, very nice seaside bike path adjoining the beach. At Seal Beach we went to Beachwood BBQ for lunch (131 1/2 Main St., Seal Beach, 310-428-2723, info@beachwoodbbq.com). AAA magazine recommended the restaurant and the fried green tomato sandwiches. The waitress had a fascinating tattoo. Note the scary eyes on the skull tattooed on her upper arm. Yikes !!

The seaside bike path continued thru Manhattatan Beach. The beach allows dogs. Bart would be thrilled. "Obviously an area of enlightened citizenry," Bart said.

There were some tired riders, obviously taking a break, at Manhattan Beach. When Fred and I get tired we just pull over for a cool drink.

Further south we took the car ferry from Balboa Peninsula to Balboa Island at Newport Beach. $1.25 each. Balboa Island is a crowded tourist area and a perpetual traffic jam.

We followed the Coast Highway up and down hills to Dana Point State Park and the Hike and Bike. $5 each. Tawny and her colleague at the main gate were especially pleasant. The newly completed bathrooms and showers are the nicest on the coast. YIPPEE! We met the cleaning crew. As usual, we are the only ones in the hike and bike.

Today
Distance 55 miles
Saddle time 7:20

To Date
Distance 246 miles
Saddle time

To view the photos click on "View All Images" below.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Day 6 Saturday, May 9 Malibu to Torrence (LA)


Up early again, about 6:45. It is a cool, misty morning. Luckily there is a big uphill 1st thing out of the campground so we warmed quickly. 3 1/4 miles and we FINALLY reached a Starbucks. (I dont know why they put them so far apart).

There were other cyclists at the Starbucks and our bikes attracted the usual attention. We met Bruce Tenny, CEO of yikesid.com (www.yikesid.com, 888-842-2305x13, mobile 310-567-0067). He has developed a medical ID which attached to a strap on a bike helmet. He agreed to 'ID' Fred and I for our China trip.

More hills like yesterday thru Malibu. Not fun.

There is a 22 mile on the beach bike path from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach. Nice!


Lunch at Cora's Coffee Shop (1802 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica 90401, 310-451-9562), where we stopped on our last bike trip. GREAT Coffee. Tastes like Italian coffee; strong but not bitter. As for Jose, the waiter. Nice guy.

We walked our bikes through Venice Beach. Lots of interesting people. Weird and interesting. Lots of street vendors and performers.

I passed 9 ice cream push carts and didnt buy an ice cream bar. We I saw the 10th one, I figured it must be God's will, and who am I to rebuke God. But I did wait until the evening. When I saw the Baskin Robbins, I knew it was meant to be. Fred, showed stoic discipline and didnt have any, probably because God wasnt giving the signs to him.

We saw several interesting beach houses. Interesting modern architecture with lots of glass.

Muscle bound guys were lifting weights at Muscle Beach. Fred and I decided to keep our shirts on.

Arrived at the Travelodge in Torrence about 6:00. Showered then went out for dinner (getting tired of grocery store salads) at The Hawaiian King. Hawaiian chicken for each.

Today
Distance 39.5 miles
Ave speed 8.3 (we walked our bikes through Venice beach)
Max speed 32 mph
Saddle Time 4:43

Total to Date
Distance 191 miles
Saddle Time 27:45

To see today's photos click 'view all images' at the bottom of the slide screen.

Day 5 Friday, May 8 McGrath to Malibu

Up early and riding after 0800 to Oxnard for Starbucks. We sat at the table, Fred with his minicomputer and me with my microcomputer. Times have changed.

We rode through an agricultural area. The smell of strawberries permeated the wind. And they were growing sod.

Stopping at the display of airplanes near the entrance of Ventura Naval Air Station, Pt Magu is always interesting. A little out of the way display you would never see unless you were on a bicycle.

We rode past the Pt. Magu Nature Preserve as Hwy 1 reached the Pacific.

In West Malibu Fred found a cell phone in the bike path. Eventually it rang and we spoke with the owner. He requested we leave it at customer service in a nearby grocery store, which we did. But first we had a passerby take a photo of Fred and me with our bikes. Imagine his surprise when he looks at his photos later. Good joke.y.

Lots of hills in the Malibu area. Not fun riding.

Dinner of grocery store salads from Von's.

We arrived Malibu RV Park about 6:00. $29 dollars ! And it wasnt a very nice site. Small, uneven plots for tents. There were 15 tents in the tent camping area. A lot of young German tourists.

Lights out for us at 9:30.

To view the photos click 'View Images' at the bottom of the slide screen.

Today
Distance 45 miles
Saddle Time 5:05

Total to Date
Distance 151 miles

Friday, May 8, 2009

Day 4 Thursday, May 7 Carpenteria to McGrath State Beach


Up for breakfast at the Worker Bee. Before leaving Carpenteria, we saw serious felons outside the grocery store lined up in a chain gang. Their lips are discolored because they were forced by their teacher (oops, I mean "guard") to eat popsicles.(photo)

A leisurely ride to the downtown Ventura Historic district for healthy salad lunch at the Natural Grill. We are both eating healthily. No sodas yet. Generally only 2 full meals each day, and the afternoon meal is usually a large salad.

A nice ride around Ventura Harbor. We stopped at the Channel Islands national Park HQ. The Channel Islands sound like a great place to camp, snorkel and kayak. No bicycles or dogs allowed. Bart will be angry.

We arrived McGrath State Beach about 5:00 after a grocery stop at Von's. It isnt much except a campsite for sleeping and not a very nice campsite at that. Worse are the 60 year old showers which have hot water issues. We were each in our tents before dark. $5 each for the Hike and Bike.

It was another good day on bicycles.

Today
Distance 32 miles
Ave Speed 9.4 mph
Max speed 22.5 mph
Saddle time 3:25

Total to Date
Distance 106 miles
Saddle Time 13:05

To see the photos click on 'view all images' at the bottom of the slide screen.