95 miles from Palos Verdes (LA) to Faria County Park
Test
So I'm finally on my way north after a great week with my old friends the Bracegirdles (not a nickname). LA was much as expected, a place of extremes, but amongst the madness I enjoyed great walks, a few cool rides, baseball (watching the Dodgers, watching my godaughter, and hitting imaginary home runs at the batting cages), much throwing of footballs, and of course plenty of burgers and beers. 7am Monday 11th April however, it was time to head for San Francisco...
7.30am I headed off. The delay was not due to tearful goodbyes, I swear Pete was welling up though, but was down to an unforeseen blood bath that morning on the patio. The scene was like something from CSI, but the cause much less worrying, Missile's bloody bloody tail. To cut a long story short and avoid a shaggy dog story, the previous night Missile (a Pointer) had decided to try and cut her own tail short and had nibbled it, cutting it badly. She's a furious tail wager too and blood was everywhere before we knew it. The next morning I discovered her bandage had not worked when I stepped outside to get on my bike. I managed to wash most of the blood off, but if I get stopped by the Police I will need a good alibi.
Anyway, off I rode eventually, fully laden for the first time, and straight down a 20% descent. At the previous night's weigh-in the bike and panniers came to 87 lbs. I think about 30 of that is the unloaded bike and the other 57 lbs is tent, sleeping bag, food, clothes, electronical equipment, chargers, maps, book etc. And I thought I had been frugal! Time will identify redundant baggage. Luckily my Long Haul Trucker (LHT or Trucker) handled beautifully and even stopped when asked to do so at the Stop sign at the bottom. Phew.
Progress was swift at first across LA bay, on the pan flat 20 mile bike path with a slight helping tail wind. Venice beach was just waking as I peddled past, quite a sight - them and me I'm sure.
The next stretch I was dreading. The route moves onto a 2 or 3 lane (both directions) highway for about 10 miles past Malibu. Luckily, for all of it there's either a bike lane, or hard shoulder. The riding was pretty good surprisingly as I sped past some pretty swanky back doors to houses fronting the Pacific ocean.
Luckily the road quietened and narrowed after that, but I hit my first real climb. Within about 50 yards I was in bottom gear, of 27! It's been nearly 2 years since I've done fully loaded touring and I had forgotten the feeling of just grinding it out, lifting all that weight against gravity. Some sweat.
I was now looking for a breakfast stop, but despite this being a coastal route, much of this part has no access to the coast. It wasn't until Paradise Cove, an omen, that I was offered my breakfast table. 42 miles, in about 3 hours. Chuffed I was as I sat on the beach munching a beef sandwich (thanks Suzi), half a packet of biscuits and a banana.
Then it got tough. A beautiful stretch of proper Pacific coastline introduced me to the prevailing northerly wind that must pick up around lunchtime. I then dropped into a flat farming stretch around Oxnar that offered me no respite with a block head wind. Lots of Mexican workers here picking the crops, then literally running back to the tractor to drop off and then running back to their slot. Looked like tough work, and I felt a little less sorry for myself.
I eventually ran out of energy in Ventura and succumbed to my first McDonald's, sorry. It was the only restaurant in sight, had a bike stand outside, and I was by now desperate for lunch (it was about 3!).
Finally my destination was within striking distance, and the route followed the beautiful coast again all the way to Faria County Campground, right on the beach.
I put my tent up immediately, good discipline I intend to stick with, and then sat on a rocky headland contemplating my first day on the Pacific Coast Route. It was a weird day of contrasts, but great fun, and offered me a strong taste of what's to come... beautiful coastline, tough climbs (well any climb is tough with the equivalent of a small person onboard), headwinds (I knew this before starting out but chose to ignore it), and good times.
Oodles of noodles for supper, shower, and lights out at 8.30!
