Nice pics, sounds like a fun trip. And you went over the 150 from carp to venture, you had your legs on for sure, great views though.
and tailwinds almost the whole way Rob On Jul 30, 12:04 am, manueljohnacosta <manueljohnaco...@hotmail.com> wrote: > Just got back from a tour. Many things learned, lots of things seen, > reflected on the important things. > My second long bike tour, I felt much better about this one than last > years, more because it was causal, nothing really planned out just > kinda going. Didn't really train for this tour but I wasn't planning > to go fast anyway. > > First day I took the train to Santa Barbara to meet with my buddy Duy. > As I get off the train I meet one of many bike tourers going in the > same direction. After some friendly nods, we take a short ride down to > Carpinteria State beach and got dinner ready. That night we got to > meet a ton of people touring down the coast. We met a father and son > on a tandem on a quick overnighter, a retired guy riding his way up > north, a young guy riding solo from seattle who went by Ezra and we > also caught up with the traveler from the train who went by Jean- > Pierre, who was riding from Toronto down to Mexico. We all eat our > meals, share our stories and tried sleeping with the amtrak roaring > through at 1am in the morning. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624607224862/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > The second day we said our good byes, wished each other a safe journey > and rode down to Leo Carrillo. When we get there we were surprised to > see Ezra at the campsite before us, we greeted one another and hanged > out on the beach, played some frisbee, and got washed up by the waves. > Ezra rode with Jean-Pierre, but Jean-Pierre decided to ride further > down to LA. As we finished our meal we are greeted by two buddies > riding super late into the campsite. These guys brought the party; one > iron skillet, a huge dutch oven and a ton a of beer. We offered our > fire and they cooked and shared some grade A lamb. We slept that nice > with good food in a belly and great people to talk to. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624607372192/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > The third day we ride into LA early, since my buddy Duy hasn't ridden > in a bit we decided to take really slow so we try to go early. Along > the way we pass Ezra and Ezra passes us it becomes kinda like a yo-yo > all the way till we reach Vince Beach. Along the way I learn that Ezra > just finished college with an Architect Major and is moving to Oakland > to find a job. We promise to go riding next time we're both in the > East Bay. Riding through L.A. Duy would always tell me that the > drivers are crazy and cyclist risk their lives riding on the streets. > I always figured that Duy was a big complainer, so I took the lead. As > I was telling him that riding in L.A. wasn't so bad a guy gets out of > his car and almost doors me. I guess I was wrong. We finish the day at > Duy's apartment drinking milk teas poolside and eating at the famous > Gloria's downtown. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624488433817/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > The fourth day I had to ride the rest of the way solo so Duy offered > to take me a few miles closer from his school UCLA. It took me a while > to figure out how to get out of East L.A. but after being chased by > some stray dogs I find my way along the San Gabriel bike trial. I took > the trail all the way to Seal beach and rode the rest of the way along > the highway 1, passing by Huntington Beach, Laguna beach finally > stopping at Doheny State Beach. Using the left over pasta I had I > cooked some mean Alfredo sausage pasta. I even shared it we some > fellow hikers who were hiking up toe Santa Barbara to find some work. > I shared my meal and their shared their lives. One of the fellows left > his hometown of Ohio with nothing more than 500 dollars to California. > He has only 80 dollars left but for the things he experienced he > wouldn't change a thing. Despite their freedom they learn life's > problems the hard way and they made me put my trip into perspective. > Where I was doing a long journey trip for leisure, they were doing > their long journey trip to live. It made me really grateful for what I > had and I was more the happy to share what little food I had with > them. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624488916793/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > The fifth day I took off early because I was on a mission to visit > Velo Cult in San Diego. I rode my way down to UC San Diego to meet up > with my triathlon buddy, Nick. Figuring that I just rode 60+ miles to > UCSD Nick took me on his training route on through some "small" hills > on Genesse road. On our way downtown I get pull over by a bike > mechanic named Mark from Quality Bicycles asking about my trip and for > some tips since he was planning he's first tour. After getting lost a > number of times we finally reach Velo Cult. great looking bikes and > awesome staff, we asked suggestions of places to eat and the > recommended the place next door, which had awesome burgers. We then > rode to the Youth hostel downtown and low and behold I meet up with > Jean-Pierre from the train! Apparently we were saying at the same > hostel. After saying my good byes to Nick, I go exploring downtown San > Diego which was quite buzy with bicycle rickshaws and a baseball game > going on. There was a huge party at the hostel and my chances of > sleeping were very dim. Getting only two real hours of sleep I planned > to just sleep on the train back home. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624489091211/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > The six day I took the Amtrak early to get home in a reasonable time. > I had to take the train, then transfer to a bus and then transfer to > the last train to get back into oakland. I got to share the ride back > with Jean-Pierre and talked to him about his trip and his suggestions > for other trips. He told me the best tour that he's ever been too was > riding the Alps in Europe. He directed me to his website. > ( ww.newtrails.ch) and told me if I ever plan to ride the Alps to > shoot him an email. Being on the train and passing by the places I've > stayed at and seeing the roads I've biked on gave me time to reflected > on what I learned on this trip. All along the way down to San Diego, > kindness was the biggest factor when it came to meeting people. > Kindness brought interesting incounters, amazing experiences, great > food, and unforgetable relationships. Being kind to others by offering > what little you have can bring upon amazing adventures. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624613799254/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > -Manny "Damn I write a lot" Acosta > > P.S. > Sorry for the long write -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
