Our credit card lodging tour started with an Amtrak ride from Irvine to Simi Valley, then a 40 mile meander into Ventura. We stumbled onto a bike path behind the train station that took us all the way across Simi to Moorpark, much preferable to surface streets. From Ventura, a 30 mile jaunt along the coast landed us in Santa Babara & dinner on Stearn's Wharf, viewing the kayakers, paddleboarders & outriggers. The train between Santa Barbara & Lompoc Surf follows the coast across Vandenburg AFB & provides views not possible any other way. The ride from Lompoc Surf (truly the "end of the road") to Buellton along Santa Rosa Rd had a great tailwind & beautiful vineyards. Then it was inland to Solvang (we were told to watch out for the ostriches & there they were), then up to Los Olivos & over Foxen Canyon, stopping for lunch at Zaca Mesa Winery. Seems like all the wineries are pretty user friendly, even if you don't buy anything. Our digs for the night were in the village of Los Alamos at a restored 50s era motel. Best bed & nicest A/C on the trip! Our longest day was 48 miles to Arroyo Grande, home to Doc Bernstein's ice cream parlor, a welcome relief from the heat. Our last day was an easy 20 miles from AG to San Luis Obispo, with lunch in Avila Beach and lodging at the Hostel Obispo. Total mileage for 6 days riding was 220, with zero mechanicals & only 1 puncture.
As we rode into San Luis Obispo, we saw a couple on a tandem with "Just Married" signs on the panniers. Later, a guy caught up to us and asked about the plural of "Atlantis". I told him it was a common question but I hadn't the answer. He mentioned he had a 68 cm Atlantis at home, & he was tall enough to ride one. Later on the return Amtrak, the conductor spotted our panniers & asked if those were our Atlantis in the bike area. Turns out he was avid bike tourist who lusts after someday getting a "nice" touring bike. He even had some tips on what all the straps did on our borrowed Ortleibs. Altogether wonderful trip, and completely accessible to anyone in decent cycling shape. 30-40 mile days mean late departures work and early arrivals aren't hard to achieve. No need to knock down big miles. It always feels like traveling as long as you end up in a new place each day. And this time, I've got pictures to prove it happened: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33786397@N03/sets/72157634458293660/ dougP -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
