Day1

Colma to Manresa State Beach[MAP]

For the past week, some good friends have let me stay on their spare couch in Oakland. It’ll probably be the last really comfortable bed I’ll be in for some time. I got up at 3:30am in order to catch the first BART train over to Colma, south of San Francisco. My friends were nice enough to wake up to see me off, as well as to ask when I would be back. It was still pitch dark when I left the Colma station and as I struggled up the first slight hill I asked myself why on earth anyone would choose to do this. It was to be my mantra for the next week.

Got my first rear flat tire when I got to Santa Cruz, not before being stopped by the Californian highway patrol for riding on the freeway.

 My fantastic route planning (which basically was to work out where I’d camp the first night and then wing it from then on) meant I had to do a 90 mile day. I was turned away at the first state park because there was no camping allowed and turned away at the second state park because it was camper vans only. I finally struggled into Manresa State Beach where I tried to cook fried rice and fresh vegetables. Learnt that brown rice was a pretty dumb thing to bring on a camping trip, even after having soaked all day in my pannier, it took fifty minutes to cook. It’ll be five-minute instant rice from now on I think. And fresh veggies…well that was the first and last time I’ll be cooking them on this trip.

Day2

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park[MAP]

Pacific Coast Highway, on the way south to Monterey

Pacific Coast Highway, on the way south to Monterey (Day 2)

Big Sur, big climb, busted my arse (Day 2)

Big Sur, big climb, busted my arse (Day 2)

It took me three hours to pack up my tent and cook breakfast this morning. Got another rear flat tyre as I was pulling into a cafe/restaurant place for a second breakfast. My plan was to have a short ride today and camp in Carmel. The AAA map I had (a friend had ordered me about $90 worth of maps through her car insurance membership but I only ended up bringing the California/ Oregon ones) showed a camping symbol beside the town.

I stopped at a small hotel to ask of its whereabouts only to discover it was a mistake. After having to ride an extra 26 miles through the Big Sur coastal hills with really strong winds I’ve decided I’ll have my first rest day tomorrow.

Pebble Beach golf course wildlife (Day 2)

Pebble Beach golf course wildlife (Day 2)

Cycling towards Monterey (Day 2)

Cycling towards Monterey (Day 2)

Monterey seals (Day 2)

Monterey seals (Day 2)

Last night I met two guys, Reed from Seattle and Sean from New Jersey who are riding from Tijuana to Vancouver as quickly as they can. They basically have no gear; no tent, no tarp, one didn’t have a sleeping bag, no flashlight and not even a can opener. I thought I’d introduce myself when I saw them trying to break open a can of baked beans in the dark.

We hung out for a while and when they discovered I was carrying a guitar Sean put on an impromptu performance of “Wish they all could be Californian girls” while Reed did the harmonies.

I’m ashamed that I didn’t learn any campfire songs before I left on this trip.

Cactus on walk from Big Sur to Mount Manuel, elevation 3380 ft (Day 3)

Cactus on walk from Big Sur to Mount Manuel, elevation 3380 ft (Day 3)

Mount Manuel peak (elevation 3380ft) overlooking Big Sur (Day 3)

Mount Manuel peak (elevation 3380ft) overlooking Big Sur (Day 3)

View from Mount Manuel (elevation 3380ft) overlooking Big Sur (Day 3)

View from Mount Manuel (elevation 3380ft) overlooking Big Sur (Day 3)

Day4

San Simeon State Park[MAP]

The Big Sur hills are killing me. I called a friend today and told him I wasn’t having much fun after spending the day again asking myself why anyone would be so stupid to try doing this. He was good enough to remind me that Barbara Savage had hated riding at the start, and not started to really enjoy herself until two weeks into her trip.

­I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait that long. (Barbara Savage and her husband sold their house and everything they owned, and took off to ride around the world back in the ‘70s, her book was called “Road to Nowhere”).

The Big Sur Coast (Day 4)

The Big Sur Coast (Day 4)

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