VANCOMEX

Sunday, 23 September 2012

23rd September - Santa Cruz to Carmel and a bit

Santa Cruz to Carmel - we had a logistical issue to sort out for today and tomorrow's ride. The lodging arrangements had had to be rearrangd and this meant that we were only due to ride 80kms (50 miles) today but then a very long and hilly ride tomorrow (Monday) of 200kms (125 miles). Over dinner on Saturday we decided to ride further today, past Carmel, and complete an additional 50kms. The plan was for Scott to pick us up and take us back to the lodging at Carmel. This would even up the rides over the two days which is important as we are due to ride over the Big Sur area which is very hilly.

Arrangements in place, we left at 8am after breakfast, but detoured to the beach at Santa Cruz to have a look at the Broadwalk. Being a Sunday most places were still closed when we arrived, but it was nice to meet up and have a chat with Eric and Jane. Eric was due to particiape in the Santa Cruz tri-athlon which had been delayed because of early morning fog.

We pushed on out of Santa Cruz towards Monteray. We experienced a different terrain from the usual coastal or mountainous vista in the morning - lots of flatish cycling over farmlands. At Moss Landing we had our traditional coffee stop (including waffles and blueberry pancakes) and then got onto a great stretch of cycle paths which led us all the way to and through Monterey. After Monterey our easy day finished abruptly with some stiff climbs towards Carmel. After another 40 kms of riding we were pleased to reach lunch which we took on the beach at Carmel River State Beach - a good 6 inch subway, coke and snickers bar!

After lunch the terrain was very hilly, but the good news was that every kilometre done was a kilometre less for tomorrow. After 4.00pm, the weather closed in with much sea fog, so we decided to call it a day at 6.00pm. Scott came to pick us up and we loaded our bikes into the trailor and then returned to our hotel in Carmel. We completed a 130kms ride today which shortens tomorrows ride to 150kms! It's been difficult to judge what clothing to wear over the last few days - one minute we are in glorious sunshine at 70+F the next we are in sea fog at -55F. Overall, the weather has been splendid with just a couple of brief spells of drizzle in 17 days cycling - this can't be bad. We have Dimitri to thank for our good fortune.

Tomorrow we hope for clear skies as we tackle the remainder of Big Sur.

For the second day in succession Tim won TWIT of the day. He managed to leave his Wiggle ruck sack at the lunch stop. Tim is never without his Wiggle bag as it has his cash, passport and other life essentials. However, he abandoned it - but Team Vancomex saved him! In addition, whilst checking in at the hotel this evening he spotted some 'sweeties' in a class jar (plus birro pens in the same jar) and soon began tucking in only to find they were in fact glass beads. Tim is on a roll! Will he get a hat-trick of successive TWITS?

Meet Eric and Jane - Eric was a participant
in the Santa Cruz tri-athelon today

Farmland scenery today between Santa Cruz
- see the individually irrigated ridges and furrows

Strawberry Fields forever

Bike paths leading to Monterey

Didn't realise the Northern line went
out as far as Monterey

Beach at Monterey - Karen, remember
fish and chips on the beach there!

Harbour at Monterey

Which one was your boat Maurice?

Made me laugh but all tough hills are called
Rat Bastards by the Vancomex team

Chris punctured towards Big Sur

Vancomex team tree watering

Tom and Chris getting their legs over!

On the way back to hotel after pick
up on Big Sur

In the boot on the way to the
hotel from Big Sur

Saturday, 22 September 2012

22nd September - San Francisco to Santa Cruz

We were concerned about how long it could take to cycle out of San Francisco, so we agreed to set off at 7.30am and Scott would use his local knowledge to lead us out on his bike as far as the Golden Gate Park. Before setting off there was an official 'map and navigator kit' handover from Chris to Brian (see picture). Brian takes over the navigator role for the next 5 days of the tour. Simon (Maurice's cousin) has joined Team Vancomex for the remainder of the journey and today was his first day of riding with us.

It was great to cycle through San Francisco early on a Saturday morning when the traffic was light and see again a number of the glorious sites we had seen on the city bus tours the previous day (Tom for the first time as he slept through the tours!). Cycling through the Golden Gate Park was a particular pleasure. Scott left us to find our own route from the park to Santa Cruz - not a peddle revolution wrong the whole day!.

Once out of San Francisco we hit some headwinds with Maurice leading our Peleton. He continued to lead when we hit the hills at Daly City and blasted on even harder leaving us all behind. This was followed by some more high speeds (40+kms) along flat roads for over 5 kilometres. Maurice had returned to San Diego for business and missed a day of the ride before rest day. The Vancomex team, after experiencing his performance on the bike today, are now questionning whether his absence was in fact work related or a visit to Lance Armstrong's chemist or an overnight stay in an oxygen tent?

At 10.30 we stopped off at Half Moon for coffee and waffles with blueberries, cream and maple syrup- magnificent. After our stop we continued to hug the coastline and stopped off at Pigeon Point lighthouse, the tallest in the USA and California's oldest working lighthouse. A very enjoyable detour where we met an American family on a three berth tandem - mum, dad and daughter cycling to Los Angeles for a date with Disney World (see picture).

Around 2.00 pm we stopped at a campground at Ano Nuevo for lunch - 3 eight piece pizzas between six of us made the hills that followed a bit more challenging!! Reaching rolling roads again we pushed on through Davenport to our lodging for the night at Santa Cruz.

Today was a relatively easy day, only 87 miles of cycling and 4000 feet of hills to climb, but we all suffered at various times throughout the day with tiredness. However, another excellent day's cycling. Commendably, Simon, despite jet lag and riding a borrowed bike from Maurice easily kept pace with the group. For this we rewarded him 'Outstanding Cycling of the day' during our evening meal.

Also during the evening meal we had the nominations for TWIT of the day. The award went to Tim for leaving his favourite sweater in the restaurant at the previous evening meal. It was only retrieved by the waitor running along the street to return it to Tim. Another contributory factor was his keenness to show Brian and Chris how to operate the hotel's guest washing machine.

Pre dinner drinks bar in San Fran

A sign in the bar - raised a smile

Kitty supplies all our refuel requirmements.
Needs feeding regularly!

Over to you Brian

Formal introduction of Simon to the Vancomex team

Views near Daly City

Have you any idea where we are Maurice?

Maurice punctured at Daly City

Views near Montara

Wake me up when your ready to go go !

Don't step back !

Don't step back!

Waffles with Blueberries - lovely !

Cousins - Maurice and Simon

Looks like a hunter to me - can anyone name this bird?

Where have the handle bars gone Simon!

American family travelling to Disney World, LA

Cranberry juice all round - looks a bit gay to me!

Pigeon Point lighthouse

Friday, 21 September 2012

21st September - Rest day in San Francisco

A lie in today, but an early call from Tom alerted us to an opportunity we couldn't miss - the space shuttle was due to fly across San Francisco at 9.30am and up over the Golden Gate Bridge. So off we trotted down to Fishermans Wharf to get a spot to take photos. Just like British Rail the shuttle was 45 minutes late, but it was well worth the wait - we had no idea that the shuttle was going to pass so low to sea level. It was spectacular - see the pictures below.

We had a great brunch of omlettes and 'all the trimmings' on Pier 39 and discussed our plans for the day. We wanted the day to be relaxing, but also get a feel for the city of San Francisco. Tom was keen to ride a city tour bus. We took the Downtown and Golden Gate Park tours - great views from the open top and useful commentary gave us a good feel for the city in beautiful weather - great stuff.

We felt obliged to have a quick beer on the way back to the hotel, but then reality kicked in that "rest day" also meant "laundry day", as restaurants may start refusing us entry if we don't start to freshen up the lycra!! So Tim gave Chris and Brian a quick lesson on the operation of a washing machine and spin dryer and we loaded up for a spin! At 7.00 in the evening Simon joined us at the hotel and was given 15 minutes to shave, shower and get ready to go out for an evening meal and a few beers. These are essential for the 150kms (95+ miles) ride planned for tomorrow. We were all pleased to have Maurice rejoin the tour this evening and immediately take charge of the 'kitty'. Maurice we missed you.

Kimberley, Scott's girlfriend, judged the TWIT of the day award - an unbiased view! After hearing all the evidence she nominated Tom as TWIT. The reason being, Tom slept on both the site-seeing tour buses, and after lengthy negotiations to buy fruit in China Town declined not to purchase because he had no means to peel the fruit. Other candidates palled into insignificance. After the award for today Tim made a strong bid for tomorrow's award, but all will be revealed later! Simon stayed the pace despite his 30 hour day - and feels he will soon be a contender for TWIT of the day.