A nine day ride around

[Way Rebb]

Hello,

I took a little vacation last week. Spent nine days hike'n and bike'n
the California State Parks, meandering my way from Livermore down to
Big Sur and back up the coast.

The first day was rough: Livermore to Santa Cruz. Blazingly hot by
the time I hit the hills outside of Los Gatos, fifty miles into the
ride (about 70 total). Traffic on Old Santa Cruz Hwy was heavy
because Hwy 17 was stopped. I traveled most of the hills pushing the
bike to keep away from the RVs. Almost ran out of water but a
fireman at a fire station let me fill my bottles at the outside faucet
and finally hit that great cooling descent down Soquel San Jose Road
about twelve hours after I started. Whew, I was beat but I made it.

The days after that were great. Miles of bike paths toward Monterey,
zippy traffic on highway 1 around Moss Landing, back roads through
quiet strawberry fields outside of Watsonville; tough climbs and fast
descents in the hills approaching Big Sur; ferocious headwinds,
sidewinds, tailwinds; several why am I doing this moments but many
more I gotta do this again moments and on and on.

I was planning to go further south, maybe to Santa Barbara or
somewhere, but when I found out they allowed two nights of bike
camping at Big Sur I stayed and enjoyed the park. Pushed backed up the
coast with overnights at New Brighton, Half Moon Bay and, during the
trek around Devils Slide via the mystery road, I thought why stop now,
China Camp is just up the road! Maybe I can get in one more night of
camping. Quite an adventure to find China Camp since I'd never been
there. Beautiful park!

Maybe it is to early in the touring season but I didn't see may others
out on the roads. I was the only one at New Brighton. I did see a mint
'83 Specialized Expedition loaded for a trip across the country. He
bought the bike from a neighbor who bought it new but never used it.
I told him the bike waited all these years for him to take it on a
trip.

Hillborne handled the ride perfectly and I really got to know my
little chainring. I knew it was there never understood how useful it
was, big gear too…anyway…here are a few pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrebb/sets/72157630307669764/

Regards,
Ray

[Michael_S]

great photos and a great trip Ray. I really enjoyed them. 

I'm dying to do the SF to Ventura section this year. Just need some other interested riders..

~mike
Carlsbad Ca.

[Addison Wilhite]

That looks like a great trip.  Did you map it on google and save it so you could share a link?  I've been mulling some sort of tour in CA this summer since my bike tour across Nevada fell through.

--
Addison
http://reno-rambler.blogspot.com

[Manuel Acosta]

Looks like a great trip. Funny that I ran into you on the pier on your way back.

-Manny

[dougP]

Ray:

Can you detail the "trek around Devil's Slide via the mystery road"?
I worked out something via Google earth a couple of years ago but
never got to try it out. I've since found Google's aerial views can
be out of date.

Thx,

dougP

[Mike]

Ray, that looks like a great trip. Thanks for sharing the photos.

--mike

[Olivier Chetelat]

I second that. Great trip, and well documented.

Thanks for the inspiration. I do want to ride Devil's Slide bypass even more so now... One day...

Oli

On Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 12:14 PM, Mike <mjaw...@gmail.com> wrote:

Ray, that looks like a great trip. Thanks for sharing the photos.

--mike

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[John Blish]

Thanks Ray.  Love the description of "why am I doing this" vs. "gotta do this again."  The ups and downs of touring.

Great photos too.  Glad you had a good time and that you posted this summary.

-jb

 

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[Way Rebb]

dougP,

The trek around Devil's slide...don't tell anyone about this... but if
you approach from the south on Hwy 1, as I did, a little before you
hit the slide area there is small tree lined turn out with a wooden
gate and sign that looks like it might be a park or private road.
Ride over there and you've found it. The path is well marked with a
map at the beginning and then signs through out the road. Old San
Pedro road is what this is called. You can google map Montara and
move the little guy up to Old San Pedro road on Hwy 1 and you will see
it.

From the north there might be a couple of ways, it doesn't end on Hwy1
but you can turn left on Linda Mar Blvd, go up a ways, turn right on
Adobe then left on Higgins. Higgins will take you out to Old San
Pedro.

-Ray

[Way Rebb]

Manny,

Yes, it was a surprise to see you. I would have stopped a little
longer but you looked busy.

-Ray

On Jun 28, 6:40 am, Manuel Acosta <manueljohnaco...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

[Way Rebb]

Addison,

Saving google maps and I don't get along too good. I will try it
again and post a link if I ever figure it out.

-Ray