John, who went on a 3 month bike ride four years ago and a 2 month tour last year, remembered how kind people were to him so he invited me to join his family for dinner last night. Today I took their picture . They were camping in tents & a big RV.
The other picture is of UCSB, a bike oriented campus with many confusing bike paths. This time directions didn't help, a tour guide manifested and led me out of that wilderness.
I am in Carpenteria, there were no cheap motels in SB.
Got lost today and spent a few hours doing smart phone things after over two days of bad connections. As usual, the only way to get good wi fi is to patronize overpriced coffee establishments. So, I made few miles today.
I ended up in Guadalupe - no motel and no campground for miles. I asked a fire department if could camp there and Captain Pat said yes, leaving the showers/restroom unlocked. The pic is of him. The other pic is to show how the landscape had changed from Big Sur.
More wildlife today: a stork in flight, 4 vultures eating a car-killed deer, a colony of elephant seals, and zebras grazing on the San Simeon ranch.
I am staying in Los Osos. The picture is of George and Pat who put me up as part of the Warm Showers program that caters to long distance cyclists. It is free but you promise to host other bikers in the future. All that is required is use of a privy, warm shower, and a place to tent bu they also provided a bed, use of a washer/dryer, detergent, and breakfast - plus conversation.
Big Sur lives up to its rep. Here are some pictures of my State Route 1.
Lots of wildlife. Large flocks pelicans, a family of turkeys crossed in front of me, and I could hear sea lions often (not something you'd hear in a car.
I camped in Lucia. There were porposes in view. I didn't use the camp food storage box and racoons got into my food bag. They got my cashews which they only slightly liked, leaving pieces scattered about. They also ate every one of my large cache of prunes - serves them right.
