A couple of the guys at Colliers have great sayings they've shared with me. Scott Daugherty taught me "start slow and taper," and that adage is one I lived by when I was hurting. Don Reimann says "yesterday's history, tomorrow a mystery, and today is a gift." He reminded me of that after the miserable conditions I encountered yesterday, and wouldn't ya know it, today turned out to be a perfect gift! I had such an enjoyable ride, I stretched it out until about 6:15, and now I'm thinking I'm not ready for this ride to end in two days. So how about I keep going to Cabo and you all meet me there in a couple of weeks for cold cervezas?
Ya, it was a great day to be happy
I've never liked L.A and to me everything from Ventura to San Clemente is L.A., but today I got a new perspective. Granted, it was probably the best weather day on the coast all year. Temperature was perfect and you could see the mountains to the east, Catalina to the west and even the horizon to the further west. It was the first time I've cruised the coast here and I have to say, the coastal towns are way-past-cool, the beaches are maybe the best I've seen anywhere, and everyone looks like they're totally enjoying life. I'm not saying I'd want to live here, but I'd sure like to come back and maybe do a 3-day coastal trip with Kelley on beach cruisers. Whatcha say, Kel?
The beaches stretch to forever and everyone has a beach cruiser and plays volleyball
....and everyone has a boat they don't use, even on the nicest day of the year!
It was nice being on my own schedule again, and I took advantage of it. I was in no hurry to leave Manhattan Beach, I enjoyed coffee and a bagel on the pier, and I stopped dozens of times to take photos and video. The winds were calm, which was a huge relief, and better yet, they were at my back when I was cruising the coast - and that's exactly what I was doing. I didn't even go faster than 20 mph until a short downhill at mile 50.
Hanging out in Manhattan Beach
Hanging out in Hermosa Beach
Hanging out in Dana Point
The ride out through Torrance wasn't great and I had a little headwind to deal with as I moved away from the coast. I also got my first flat after more than 1,600 miles of cycling. I don't mind fixing flats, but it would have been nice to change it at the beach instead of out by the refineries. Regardless, it was a non-event, and the journey just seems more complete now that I can't answer "none" when someone asks me how many flats I got.
Nobody around to impress with my flat-changing abilities
Actually, maybe it was a good thing nobody saw me. I ended up with chain grease all over my hands, and then I forgot to check the inside lining of the tire for the culprit, and of course you know what that means.....another flat. Actually, it was a slow leak, and I really didn't want to get greasy again, so I refilled my tire a couple of times until I was able to limp into the best bike shop I've encountered in 1,600 miles, Laguna Cyclery.
These guys rock, and they definitely have my bike primed to make it to Cabo
I was just looking to get my flat changed, but Jeff at Laguna Cyclery was in a good mood after getting their sound system rocking. He hooked me up with a couple of new parts, he made some gearing adjustments, tuned and cleaned Willie, and fixed the flat. I kicked back, listened to old-time rock & roll, shared a couple of stories from the road, and most importantly, stayed clean.
Jeff dialed-in the tunes, then dialed in the Willie
Once I returned to the coast in Long Beach, I slowed down again, stopped for tacos and a beer, then spent a lot of time on the coastal bike path through the Huntington Beach area. These paths go for miles and miles and the beaches are at least a couple hundred yards wide the entire way. They are so vast and expansive that they're really not too crowded, even on a day like today.
Surfboard art in Huntington Beach
After a late afternoon stop at the Shake Shack in Newport, I finally made my way into Laguna for that tire repair, then leisurely rode into Dana Point as the sun was getting low on the horizon. The lighting in the early mornings and late afternoons is the best for picture taking and for cycling, and even when I got to Dana Point, I continued to cruise around before I finally checked into the Dana Point Marina Inn at about 6:15. This is the one place that offered me a free room when I initially booked, and it's a decent hotel in an awesome location.
View from the Shake Shack (I had chocolate chip cookie dough and banana)
Shakin' things up!
Home stretch today and home stretch for the whole enchilada
Dana Point before dropping down to the marina
Clear to the horizon
If you ever have a chance to see Laguna's Pageant of the Masters, you'll come away amazed
Day 27 Recap: Huntington Beach, CA to Dana Point, CA
Actual Miles: 66.9
Cumulative Miles: 1,775.7
Elevation Gain: 1,079
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 69,145'
% Distance to Mexico: 94.3%
Actual Miles: 66.9
Cumulative Miles: 1,775.7
Elevation Gain: 1,079
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 69,145'
% Distance to Mexico: 94.3%
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