Indeed, here we are at the last leg of Geoff Aird’s amazing excursion down the West shore of the US that began in Seattle, Washington and will end in San Diego, California. In this leg, we leave San Francisco and the famous Brilliant Door Scaffold after some merited rest for Geoff. In this last leg, Geoff go on down the pacific coast bicycle course, through Los Angeles province and down to his last objective of San Diego.
Assuming you have partaken in this series, look at Geoff’s presentation novel “Inside The Walls” that is accessible on Amazon uk or in a loval bookshop where the novel is set – G C Greave bookshop in Berwick upon Tweed.
San Francisco, California to San Diego, California ( Eleven days – 574 miles)
Cycling Day 15 and 16
I set off ahead of schedule and traversed the city rapidly then back onto Parkway 1. I halted at Pacifica for lunch at a promenade bistro then had an oar in the ocean as I wasn’t in the water the entire excursion! South of Pacifica there’s a street burrow which I wasn’t anticipating. As I entered the passage the primary vehicle that surpassed me then, at that point, dialed back to my speed, put on its peril lights and gave me an escort the whole way through! What an exquisite signal and none of the vehicles upheld behind me appeared to mind by the same token. My location that evening was Half Moon Inlet, a wonderful humble community encompassed by pumpkin fields.
Next morning I ate in a coffee shop on the all-American central avenue then, at that point, set out for St Nick Cruz. Parkway 1 embraces the shore so I had perspectives on the Pacific day in and day out. Entering St Nick Cruz it seemed to be a small scale Blackpool with its classic Ocean side Promenade, Goliath Scoop exciting ride, merry go rounds and sky rides. Surfers from everywhere come here to ride the waves at this accommodating ocean side town.
Cycling Day 17, 18, 19 and 20
Between St Nick Cruz and Monterey Roadway 1 circles inland through farmlands brimming with strawberry fields. I got lost at one point and wound up on an off-road bicycle trail, yet the bicycle held up well. At this point there was a heatwave, and I could feel the temperature taking off. That evening in Monterey I got together with Steve and Brita, the couple I’d met in San Francisco, and we had an extraordinary night out at the suitably named bar, the Brittania, and it was great to see them once more. I was in a situation with the following day’s course as the Enormous Sur coast was sliced off because of an avalanche and obstructed. I chose to go inland and remain at Ruler City then, at that point, back to the coast. I set off promptly the following day, went through the modest community of Carmel Valley and afterward up into the mountains prior to dropping down into level nation once more. Today the temperature arrived at 38 degrees Celsius and I truly endured. Sooner or later I ran out of water and was that frantic, I walked across a rancher’s field to ask a jug of water from a person in a work vehicle! It was barely sufficient to get me to my objective, Lord City, where the populace all appeared to be Mexican, and everybody communicated in Spanish! I had an erratic night’s rest as I continually awakened with horrible leg cramps, yet I was fine the following day as I traveled down to Pismo Ocean side and the coast once more.
Cycling Day 21 and 22
The following day was a simple day, it was cooler with a sound tailwind. I ate in Guadalupe, another little ‘Mexican’ town then a sluggish move up to Lompoc to complete the day. Another simple day followed, and my typical speed today was 17mph, however this was helped by a long, long downhill to the coast and the town of Gaviota. From here it was a consistent evening along to St Nick Barbara, a town which impeccably encapsulates California’s two characters: beachy easygoing meets glamour! Brilliant sea shores brimming with fair haired riding divine beings! It seemed like an European town with its red-tile rooftops and adjusted arcades.
Cycling Day 23
St Nick Barbara to Santa Clause Monica was 100 mile day yet the delightful climate and ravishing ocean sees made the miles fly by. After Malibu it got precarious as the hard shoulder was brimming with vehicles where the surfers leave so I was continually looking behind prior to moving onto within path. St Nick Monica is all charm and bohemia! I walked along the promenade, past Muscle Ocean side rec center where Arnie Schwarzenegger used to work out and onto my convenience at the Foghorn Inn disregarding the Marina Del Beam.
Cycling Day 24
Crossing Los Angeles, the next morning began well, and I eat breakfast at a cyclists bistro on Hermosa Ocean side. The day went downhill after that as I lost all sense of direction in Lengthy Ocean side which is brimming with petro-compound works, gigantic big haulers and glass flung hard shoulders. It was the main modern region I experienced overall excursion, and it took me the entire day to get past LA and back onto the coast at Newport Ocean side which is only south of the city. Clear white sand welcomed me here in this princely town where the well off come to have fun.
Cycling Day 25
In this way, I at last showed up at my last day of the outing. Newport down to San Diego. I had a delayed breakfast in The Lost Dock, Laguna Ocean side. There was an ocean side volleyball contest occurring and many individuals were spectating. As a setting the shore was loaded up with surfers doing their thing while pretty young ladies roller coasted along the promenade, and everybody looked tanned, lean and cheerful!! This is life in southern California! A cycle way brought me down the coast, through Oceanside and little unstable ocean side towns onto my objective. I looked into the inn in Mission Cove, San Diego at around 4pm in the early evening. Mission complete despite the fact that I felt a piece miserable that the excursion had reached a conclusion.
Last Contemplations From Geoff
The absolute mileage was 1497 and I figured out how to keep to the timetable I’d set. Aside from the derailleur occurrence my bicycle didn’t let me down once. I utilized Mainland Fabulous Prix Four Season tires and had no cuts, and they kept their tension the entire excursion! I spent over £1500 on food yet I wanted the fuel. The Pacific Interstate is still wild, open and lovely. Regularly I cycled for a significant distance and had all the view to myself. On occasion I ended up roaring with laughter at the sheer pleasure in everything; blue skies, sun on my back, tailwind, calm streets on smooth landing area and staggering view all through; be it the Pacific Sea or inland through the Redwood woods. A totally splendid experience!
Geoff Aird
Last Considerations from us at Edinburgh Bicycle Coop
We as a whole need to say thanks to Geoff for getting some margin to impart this unbelievable experience to us of his once in a blue moon trip down the Pacific coast course from Seattle, close to the Canadian Boundary to San Diego on the Mexican line – essentially the whole length of the US of America. We followed the (somewhat not many) lows including a messed up derailleur, running out of water on a boiling day and a brief, however unnerving time on a San Francisco motorway. This, in any case, was all offset by the perfect perspectives on the Pacific Sea, the incredibly well disposed individuals Geoff met and the thoughtful time out and about that a bike can give.
About Geoff
Geoff Aird is a deep rooted cyclist and resigned fireman who has turned his hand to composing books when not on his bicycle. Geoff’s introduction novel “Inside the Walls” follows a criminal examination that uncovers a vile underside to the apparently calm ocean side town of Berwick upon Tweed. You can track down Geoff’s presentation novel on Amazon uk or in G C Greave bookshop, Berwick upon Tweed, where the novel was set.
